How To Preserve Keepsakes From Loved Ones

Many times hospice patients like to make sure that they give away some of their most cherished possessions in person before they pass. This allows them to make sure that the objects are given to the right person, but also allows them a chance to make sure the receiver of the object understands their significance.

Keepsakes can include photographs, artwork, clothing items, or even locks of their hair. Here are a few tips and tricks for storing and preserving these treasured items.

Photographs

Nowadays, most photos are digital, but there is a very high chance that any photographs that you are given by a loved one in hospice are printed. Over time, improperly stored photos can fade, stick to each other, and become damaged. Be sure to purchase an archival-quality album, and add the images to it as quickly as possible.

Many people like to lightly write the details about the photograph on the back. That way, you can always remember who everyone is in the photo, where the photo was taken, and any other interesting details about the story. You could also write the information on a small piece of paper and place it behind the photograph in your album or create a scrapbook with the details written around the photo.

Clothing and accessories

There are so many ways to store and preserve your loved one’s clothing items. One way is to make them into a keepsake. That means you can display pieces of clothing that represent your loved one, whether it is their outfit for a special occasion or something they wore every day. Heartwarming places to hang these items are on the back of chairs, from the back of a door, or from a coat tree in the hallway. If the items are damaged, you could snip off buttons, patches, or interesting parts of the fabric so at least part of their outfit can live on. Finally, you can put them in storage bags to protect them.

Locks of hair

Locks of hair are a charming, if not old-fashioned, way to preserve the memory of someone. They can be used as a reminder of someone's personality and the way they were. These can be stored in frames, small jars, or photo frames.

Christmas Ornaments

Many cherished ornaments have stories attached to them. Be sure to get as many details as possible, and, once again, be sure to write the story down so you’ll remember. Obviously, you can display these ornaments on your holiday tree, but you could also make wreaths out of them or purchase special wire ornament hangers so you can show off the ornaments in a more jewel-like way.

Books

Perusing a loved one’s library can tell you a lot about what they valued, what they loved, and how they developed their belief system and thought process. Many bookworms leave notes in the margins of their favorite tomes, while others dog-ear pages or fill their books with bookmarks so they can easily find cherished passages. Ask your loved one to tell you about their favorite parts of the book, or spend some time reading the book to them so you can enjoy it together. Also, consider asking them to write their name inside the cover so you never forget where the book came from.

All Together Now

You may consider gathering all of the objects together that your loved one is passing on to you and purchasing a special keepsake box to store them in. Bring out the box on your loved one’s birthday or during holidays like Thanksgiving or Christmas so you can keep their memory alive even after they have passed.