In olden times, relatively well-off families who held memorial services for a recently departed family member gave away black gloves, black ribbons and memorial jewelry to special people who came to pay their respects.  This is especially true if the person who passed away is a cherished member of the family and is a notable citizen of the community.  The memorial jewelry serves as a commemoration of this person’s passing as well as a show of the family’s wealth and influence in the community.

Although the politics of such memorial jewelry are now forgotten, the practice of giving them away to special people still lives on among many families.  These unique jewelry pieces are now considered as keepsakes and a way of saying “thank you” for sharing the family’s grief.

The Purpose of Memorial Jewelry

As mentioned above, memorial jewelry pieces are now seen as keepsakes and tokens of appreciation for showing up at the memorial service.  As keepsakes, they are meant to help the recipient remember what kind of person the departed was while he or she was still alive, as well as what kind of life the departed had lived.

Memorial jewelry are also given away as souvenirs, just like favors that people distribute at weddings, baby showers and birthday parties.  However, due to the nature of a memorial service, memorial jewelry pieces hold a deeper meaning than just being party favors.  They are a way by which the loved ones that the departed left behind show their appreciation to their special guests for sharing their grief.

Memorial Jewelry Styles

In the olden days, memorial jewelry pieces usually come as engraved silver rings, mostly because silver is a cheaper metal than gold and looks better when worn against black.  Today, however, cremation keepsakes can come in various kinds and styles.

Aside from rings, these jewelry pieces are now available as lockets, bracelets or bangles.  There are also some designs that are not really meant to be worn.  Some memorial jewelry pieces can have engravings of the departed’s name as well as his or her dates of birth and death.  Lockets and pendants can have a picture of the departed.  Some jewelry pieces can also serve as cremation jewelry, where some of the ashes of the departed are stored within.

No matter what form or style memorial jewelry pieces can take, it is always an honor to receive one.  It means that the family of the departed considers you special enough to have a memento of the departed in your keeping.

Advertisement