Finding ways to memorialize a loved one can be a powerful step toward healing. According to the Cremation Association of North America, 1 in 4 U.S. households keep the ashes of loved ones at home. That’s nearly 22 million families with parents, grandparents, and extended family members who don’t have a dedicated place to return to for remembrance. While some prefer to keep their loved ones close, others may desire a final resting place they can visit.
Although there’s no right way to remember a loved one, what matters most is finding something that honors their legacy and feels meaningful. Choosing a permanent final resting place in nature can provide comfort and peace to loved ones. A unique final resting place option is a Memorial Forest—a serene, natural option where families can celebrate life in the forest.
What is a Memorial Forest?
A Memorial Forest provides a natural and sustainable final resting place. Cremated ashes are scattered at the base of a designated Memorial Tree during a Forest Memorial ceremony, creating a lasting connection to a loved one, rooted in the cycle of life.
Memorial forests allow families and friends to visit, reflect, and feel close to their loved ones while surrounded by nature’s tranquility. Each Memorial Tree serves as a permanent marker of remembrance and a place to celebrate life in a peaceful environment.
Keeping Memories Alive Through Traditions
A Memorial Tree is more than a final resting place for a loved one’s ashes—it’s a living symbol of remembrance. Instead of holding onto ashes, imagine transforming loss into growth. By laying a loved one’s ashes to rest at a Memorial Tree, you create a space for healing that offers closure while preserving a deep emotional connection.
Memorial forests aren’t just tranquil sanctuaries. They’re unique spaces where families find peace, celebrate legacies, and foster traditions that keep memories alive for generations. Discover 10 traditions you can create in one of our Memorial Forests to honor a loved one while finding comfort in nature.
1. Host a Family Reunion
Your Memorial Tree serves as a unique gathering place for family reunions. Instead of meeting at a grave, families can visit a living Memorial Tree in a protected forest. It’s a space where generations can come together, share stories, reflect, and enjoy the outdoors. Many families have found this creates lasting bonds as they celebrate and share memories of their loved one’s legacy annually.
“When I go to a cemetery, I feel uncomfortable, there are rows and rows of headstones, it’s cold. Better Place Forests St. Croix Valley is a place that we can all enjoy. We can go for a walk with the kids and the grandkids, and reminisce about Grandpa and Grandma. It’s a place where the entire family can visit and connect, as well as a final resting place for future generations.” Read Steve’s story
2. Make it a Weekend Getaway
Visiting the Memorial Forest makes for a meaningful weekend getaway. For many, it becomes a special way to create new traditions, replacing annual hiking or camping trips with something deeply personal. Spending time surrounded by nature’s beauty, exploring nearby trails, or simply enjoying quiet moments by your loved one’s dedicated Memorial Tree offers not only a unique opportunity to honor their memory but also a chance to find healing and rejuvenation. This special trip can become a beloved tradition, blending relaxation and remembrance.
“Having our Memorial Tree has given me a gift. It’s as if Matt wanted me to have this special place to visit. It gives me a journey in place of our camping trips. It reminds me of the beautiful forests we explored over our 30 years together.” – Kim A.
3. Observe The Seasons Change
Witnessing the seasons change in the forest can be a powerful symbol of renewal, growth, and life’s continuity. From vibrant spring blooms to golden autumn leaves, each visit to your Memorial Tree offers an opportunity to reflect on new beginnings and enduring memories. Many families and friends often find comfort in visiting the forest, seeing it thrive and evolve season after season—a powerful symbol of life’s continuity and resilience. This connection can be especially meaningful for those navigating the loss of a child, offering a moment of reflection and renewal among living, growing nature.
“We make a trip every year to see my dad’s Memorial Tree since we spread his ashes,” shares Rachel S. “My brother, who lives in Paris, doesn’t come as often as us, but we were out there once and he slapped his hand on the tree and goes, “You’re looking a little fat, dad! You’ve gained a little weight!” It was really funny. But it’s because the tree keeps growing. I love to see the differences every time we come back season after season.”
4. Participate in Community Events
Connect with others who share similar experiences of loss by attending community events hosted by Better Place Forests. From ornament-making during the holidays to autumn gatherings like the beloved Pumpkin Roll in Litchfield Hills, these events foster connection, comfort, and a shared sense of belonging.
5. Create a Mandala
For centuries, mandalas have been used to mark sacred spaces. At Better Place Forests guests return to the forest and create mandalas using natural elements like leaves, wildflowers, and twigs to create a tribute around their Memorial Tree’s Memorial Marker. It’s a beautiful and symbolic way to commemorate your loved one. Many families find this practice both grounding and healing.
“Putting my mother to rest at Better Place Forests allowed a large part of my grief to rest as well. When I visit, I walk and find nature’s way of decorating our tree. What a blessed feeling.” —Amanda M.
6. Appreciate Wildlife
Better Place Forests’ nine Memorial Forests are home to a thriving ecosystem of trees, wildflowers, and remarkable wildlife including deer, birds and more. Many visitors find immense joy in observing the incredible species that call the forests home, a reminder of the cycle of life.
“You drive past a cemetery and there’s no warmth like in the forest. I saw deer tracks at Tim’s Memorial Tree one morning I was there. Another day there were swans on the pond. It’s such a peaceful place teeming with life.” – Jan A.
7. Keep the Conversation Going
Losing a loved one is challenging to navigate. Visiting a Memorial Tree for frequent conversation can preserve the feeling of connection. Whether it’s sitting with a piece of needlework or bringing a favorite chair for a chat, you can create shared moments that honor your time spent together.
“As I am sitting there talking to him, it feels like we are just at home,” shares Mary Jo K. I imagine him telling me to ‘shut up’ like he did when I’d chat to him while he watched football,” she laughs. “Other times I bring needlework to do just like when we were hanging out at home. It’s perfect, it’s just so beautiful there.” Read Mary Jo’s story
8. Honor Veterans
Each Veteran’s Day, Better Place Forest invites families to visit the forest in remembrance of their Veteran loved one. Guests are encouraged to commemorate loved ones with photos and flags at the base of their loved one’s Memorial Tree in a proud salute to those who have served our country.
“We’re a military family. Walking through the forest just clears your mind and brings so much peace and closure.” – Danielle J.
9. A Place for Pets
Not only are Better Place Forests’ memorial forests pet-friendly, but they also allow you to memorialize beloved pets. Whether you spread their ashes beneath the family tree or simply enjoy visits with your furry friends on leash, it’s a meaningful way to cherish those moments with them.
“It made my heart more at peace knowing that Louis is at our Memorial Tree and he’s gonna be part of this beautiful forest where we can visit him regularly and that eventually we’ll be there with him.” —Jessica N.
10. Bring Your Children
Better Place Forests’ Memorial Forests are welcoming and vibrant, making them an ideal place for children to play and connect with their surroundings. Instead of somber visits, kids can explore, climb, and learn about their loved one’s Memorial Tree in an environment that feels uplifting and full of life.
“When I would go to a traditional memorial in a cemetery while growing up, I was very scared,” shares Yesenia L. “That’s because everyone was crying and that isn’t the way I want my family to remember our loved ones. Better Place Forests just makes the whole experience very pleasant. Not only for the adults but for the children, as well. The more we go back to the forest, and the more we talk about my father, it isn’t a scary thing, it’s a part of life, recreation and everlasting love.” Read Yesenia’s story
Memorialize Your Loved One in a Way That Grows
No matter how you choose to honor a loved one, creating lasting traditions offers a sense of peace, renewal, and connection. Each visit becomes a testament to their life, love, and legacy while finding peace in the beautiful, natural space they now call home.
Better Place Forests helps families select a Memorial Tree that fits their values and vision. Learn about our sustainable options and find your perfect Memorial Tree today.
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