At Sunset View Cemetery & Mortuary, we prioritize helping families pay meaningful tribute to the loved ones they’ve lost. Our compassionate staff members assist families in El Cerrito, Pinole, and Alameda County with grief support even after the funeral has ended. No matter how long it’s been since you lost your loved one, their death anniversary can be an especially challenging experience. There are some simple things you can do to help yourself feel more at peace as you navigate this difficult season.  

Visit a place they loved in life.  

If your loved one chose traditional burial, spend time at the gravesite on the anniversary of their death. On this day, you may also wish to visit places that were special to your loved one. Perhaps they frequented a certain local park or hiking trail, or maybe they enjoyed visiting a specific restaurant for dinner. Stopping by these places may help you feel closer to your loved one.  

Spend quality time with loved ones.  

 A loved one’s death anniversary can leave you feeling lonely and missing them even more than usual. To combat feelings of isolation, plan to see family and friends on this day. Whether you share a meal or go for a walk, you’ll likely feel comforted in the presence of loved ones.  

Create a new tradition.   

If you’re approaching the first anniversary of your loved one’s death, consider creating a new tradition you can uphold every year to come. This is a beautiful way to honor their memory and also provides the comfort of a routine act you can carry out on the same day each year. Perhaps you leave a bouquet of their favorite flowers on their memorial site or visit the spot where their cremated remains were scattered. Maybe you invite friends and family to join you in honoring your loved one’s memory on this day in future years.  

Leave your calendar blank.   

Sometimes, especially in the early years of mourning a heavy loss, what feels best might be doing as little as possible on the anniversary of the death of your loved one. If your schedule allows, move any appointments or meetings to a different date and take the day off work if you can. Spending quiet time alone in reflection and beginning a grief journal may be the thing that feels the most healing to you at this stage of grief.  

If you need help planning a funeral or cremation with us, contact our staff. We are always available to help you find the healing support you need