Finding 1st Death Anniversary Messages

We at Lighten have worked with many families who believe that honoring a loved one on both their death anniversary and other life milestone dates does not need to be a somber affair. In fact, the anniversary of a loved one’s passing can be a beautiful reason to celebrate life. But we also understand that trying to find the “right” 1st death anniversary messages to send to your friend or family member who has lost their loved one can be difficult. 

There are no right or wrong 1st death anniversary messages 

Writing a note or sending a gift to loved ones in remembrance of someone who passed is a gesture that will likely provide comfort in and of itself. In other words, there is no right or wrong way to honor a death anniversary. In this article, we are providing potential starting places to help you in crafting unique, personalized 1st death anniversary messages. 

Celebration of Life Phrases     

Recognizing a death anniversary can be just as meaningful as celebrating a birthday. Rather than expressing sorrow or pain, you might find it uplifting to focus on the life that was well-lived in your message. Below are a few phrases that may inspire you to think about ways you can provide comfort to those closest to the loved one who passed and show gratitude for how that special person had an impact on your life. 

• “___ would be happy to know that over the past year you…” 
• “One of my favorite memories of ___ that has kept appearing in my thoughts over the past year is…” 
• “Remembering the way ___ lived their life has inspired me over the past year to…” 
• “In honor of ___, I hope to bring a smile to your face today.”    

Quotes & Poems of Remembrance

When searching for words to include in 1st death anniversary messages, you might turn to published works to get yourself started. The following quotes can help you bring loved ones comfort and maybe uplift them in what might be a time of need for them. (You can also find more celebration of life quotes from Lighten here).

• “Love grows more tremendously full, swift, poignant, as the years multiply” – Zane Grey
• “Those we love and lose are always connected by heartstrings into infinity” – Terri Guillemet
• “Loss can remind us that life itself is a gift” – Louise Hay and David Kessler

Gifts to Honor the Loved One 

Sometimes a gift that is thoughtful and deeply personalized to the one who was lost can be just as comforting as the words in a 1st death anniversary message.  

• Prepare a favorite recipe – It is a common practice to bring food to the family of someone who has passed away during the immediate period of mourning. You might apply the same practice on a significant day when they are observing their loss. To personalize the experience to the unique identity of the loved one lost, try making a dish that was one of their favorite foods. It is a meal that celebrates something that brought joy to your loved one. 
• Present the loved one’s favorite flowers –  Just as food is often prepared as a gesture of comfort, flowers are widely used in honor of a loved one. Tradition often dictates that funeral or sympathy flowers be white roses. But you might consider the loved one’s favorite flower or plant, even if it doesn’t suit the “customary” bouquet. This small gesture of personalization could make a great deal of difference in showing your family member or friend that you are taking the time to remember the loved one who is being honored. 
• Send their favorite song – Music is one way to bring a little bit of joy to what may be a somber day in the life of someone who has lost a loved one. In the spirit of celebrating their life, you might choose a song that represents a date of significance, such as the loved one’s wedding song. No matter what song you choose, accompanying virtually-sent 1st death anniversary messages with music is a lovely way to bring life to your words of comfort. 

Lighten believes that death doesn’t have to be morbid. Taking a moment to reflect on the joy that someone has brought you and sharing that with others on the anniversary of their death is just one more way to celebrate a life.