Why Remembering Matters - the Anniversary of Their Passing

Grief doesn’t end after the funeral. In many ways, that’s only where it begins. For those who have lost someone they love, the anniversary of their passing - the day they left this world can feel heavier than most.

The days, hours, and even seconds leading up to that date can be filled with a unique kind of pain. Many describe it as being pulled back to the moment it happened, reliving the shock, the emptiness, or the final goodbye. Even years later, anniversaries have a way of stirring emotions that lie quietly beneath the surface.

For someone who is grieving, these days aren’t just dates on the calendar -  they’re milestones of love and loss. They can be both a time of remembrance and a time of deep aching. While grief looks different for everyone, what often helps most is knowing they don’t have to face those days alone.

One of the most meaningful ways we can support someone in grief is to remember that day with them. A simple act of care can ease some of the weight they’re carrying, showing them that their loved one’s life is not forgotten and that their pain is seen.

Here are some gentle ways you might acknowledge the anniversary of a passing:

💛 Set a yearly reminder in your phone – Grief anniversaries are hard enough to carry, and remembering for someone else can show them they’re not alone in remembering.

💛 Send a thoughtful text or card – Even a simple, “I’m thinking of you and remembering [their loved one’s name] today,” can mean more than you know.

💛 Drop off a small gift – A small token to bring comfort and remind them that others care.

💛 Call just to check in – Sometimes hearing a voice and knowing someone is there to listen makes all the difference.

These may seem like small gestures, but to the person grieving, they can feel like lifelines. They remind them that their grief is valid, that their loved one’s memory still matters, and that they don’t have to carry it alone.

Grief is often described as love with nowhere to go. On anniversaries, that love can feel overwhelming. By reaching out, you give it a place to land - in connection, in kindness, in remembrance.

Sometimes, simply knowing that someone else remembers the day their loved one passed can make all the difference.