TL;DR
- Memorial ornaments are keepsake decorations — usually hung on a Christmas tree or displayed year-round — that carry the name, photo, or memory of someone who has died.
- They matter most around the holidays, when an empty chair is felt most sharply. A memorial ornament gives a grieving family a small, intentional way to keep a loved one present at the table.
- The main types are photo ornaments, engraved or personalized ornaments, keepsake ornaments that hold a small amount of ashes or a lock of hair, and handmade DIY ornaments made from a loved one’s belongings.
- What you write on it matters: a name and dates, a line they always said, a favorite verse, or a short tribute can turn a simple ornament into a keepsake the whole family treasures.
- An ornament holds a moment; a digital memorial holds the whole story — photos, voice, and tributes a QR code can link to forever, so the memory outlasts any single object.
What Are Memorial Ornaments?
The first holiday after losing someone is one of the hardest stretches of grief. The traditions that once felt warm — trimming the tree, setting the table, pulling familiar decorations out of a box — suddenly carry the weight of an absence. Memorial ornaments exist for exactly this moment. They are small keepsake decorations, most often hung on a Christmas tree but increasingly displayed year-round, that carry the name, photograph, or memory of a person (or pet) who has died.
An ornament might seem like a modest thing next to the size of a loss. But that is part of why it works. A memorial ornament doesn’t ask you to “move on” or perform happiness you don’t feel. It simply gives the person a place on the tree — a quiet, visible signal that they are still part of the family and still part of the celebration. For many grieving families, that small act of inclusion is more comforting than any words.
This guide walks through what memorial ornaments are, the main types to choose from, what to write or engrave on one, and how to make a meaningful one yourself. It’s part of a wider family of meaningful ways to remember someone who has passed away, and it pairs naturally with the other rituals families lean on through the year.
A memorial ornament isn’t about decoration — it’s about presence. It says, gently and without words, “you are still here with us.” That is what makes it one of the most quietly powerful keepsakes a grieving family can own.
Why Memorial Ornaments Matter, Especially at the Holidays
Grief and the holidays are a difficult pairing, and the numbers back that up. In one survey of 2,000 people, more than a third — about 36% — said they did not want to celebrate the holidays at all because of grief or the loss of a loved one. The season is built out of memory and ritual, which means every familiar song, recipe, and decoration becomes a reminder that this year is different and someone is missing.
Grief experts consistently point to the same coping strategy for that first holiday season: don’t try to skip the loss, build a small ritual that honors it. Lighting a candle, displaying their photo, playing their favorite music, or hanging an ornament in their name all do the same gentle work — they give the grief somewhere to go instead of forcing it underground. A memorial ornament turns a painful absence into an intentional moment of remembrance you can return to every year.
of people surveyed didn’t want to celebrate the holidays because of grief — a small ritual like a memorial ornament can help
There’s also a practical, long-term reason these ornaments matter so much. Unlike flowers or a one-time gesture, an ornament comes back out of the box every single year. It becomes a recurring tradition that lets children and grandchildren who never met the person learn their name and ask about them. In that way, a single ornament quietly carries a story forward across generations — much like a thoughtful written tribute does in words.
Types of Memorial Ornaments
There’s no single “right” memorial ornament — the best one reflects the person it honors. Here are the main types families choose from, and who each tends to suit best.
1. Photo memorial ornaments
The most popular option. A cherished photograph — often paired with the person’s name and dates — is set into a frame, printed on a glass or metal disc, or sealed inside a clear bauble. A lovely variation is pairing a childhood photo with a later one, so the ornament celebrates an entire life rather than a single season of it. Photo ornaments are immediate and personal; the moment you hang it, the person is looking back at you from the tree.
2. Engraved and personalized ornaments
Engraved ornaments — metal, wood, slate, or ceramic — carry a name, dates, and a short message or quote etched permanently into the surface. Because there’s no photo, they suit families who prefer something more understated, and they hold up beautifully over decades. Many include a line from a poem, a favorite saying, or a short phrase like “Forever in our hearts” or “First Christmas in heaven.”
3. Keepsake ornaments that hold a piece of them
Some memorial ornaments are designed to physically hold something of the person: a small amount of cremated ashes, a lock of hair, a few drops of perfume, or a tiny pressed flower from the funeral. Glass globe ornaments with a removable top make this easy to do at home. This category overlaps closely with memorial jewelry made to hold ashes — the same comforting idea of keeping a part of someone close, expressed as a decoration rather than something worn. If you’re still deciding what to do with a loved one’s ashes, our guide to what to do with cremation ashes covers keepsake options in more depth.
4. Handmade DIY ornaments
For many people, making the ornament is itself part of the grieving. Common approaches include cutting a piece of a loved one’s clothing or a favorite shirt into a fabric ornament, tucking a snippet of their handwriting behind glass, or filling a clear ball with small pieces of their jewelry. The act of choosing the materials and assembling them by hand can be as meaningful as the finished piece.
5. Pet memorial ornaments
The loss of a companion animal is a real grief, and pet memorial ornaments — a photo, a name, a paw print, sometimes a tag from their collar — give that loss the same dignity. They belong on the tree alongside the people we’ve lost.
A quick comparison
| Type | Best for | Personal touch |
|---|---|---|
| Photo | Seeing their face every year | Name, dates, dual photos |
| Engraved | Understated, lasts decades | A message or quote etched in |
| Keepsake | Keeping part of them close | Ashes, hair, a pressed flower |
| Handmade DIY | Grieving through the making | Their clothing, handwriting |
| Pet | Honoring a companion animal | Paw print, collar tag, photo |
What to Write or Engrave on a Memorial Ornament
The words on a memorial ornament are what lift it from a decoration to a keepsake. You don’t need much — a single well-chosen line carries more weight than a paragraph. A few directions that families return to again and again:
The essentials. A name and the years of their life (for example, “Mary 1948–2025”) is timeless and never feels like too much. Many families add a small relational word: “Mom,” “Grandpa,” “our friend.”
Their own words. A phrase they always said — a greeting, a piece of advice, a joke — keeps their voice in the room. This is often the most powerful choice precisely because it’s specific to them.
A verse or quote. A line of scripture, a song lyric, or a comforting saying can anchor the ornament in faith or meaning. Our collections of comforting grief quotes and Bible verses for the loss of a loved one are good places to find the right few words.
A short tribute. Phrases like “Forever in our hearts,” “Loved beyond words,” or “First Christmas in heaven” are gentle and widely loved. If a death anniversary falls near the holidays, you might draw from our guide to death anniversary messages and ways to honor a loved one.
If you’re unsure what to write, start with the one thing you never want to forget about them — a sound, a phrase, a way they made you feel. The right words are almost always already in your memory.
The five main types of memorial ornaments, and what to engrave on one.
How to Make a Memorial Ornament: A Simple Step-by-Step
You don’t need to be crafty to make something meaningful. Here is a gentle, low-pressure way to create a memorial ornament at home, whether on your own or as a family.
Step 1 — Choose the form. Decide between a clear glass ball (best for holding small keepsakes), a fabric or wood ornament (best for photos and handwriting), or a simple disc you’ll write on. Pick whatever feels least intimidating.
Step 2 — Gather what represents them. This might be a photo, a square of a favorite shirt, a handwritten note, a few beads from their jewelry, a pinch of dried flowers, or a small amount of ashes. Choose one or two things, not everything — restraint reads as intention.
Step 3 — Add the words. Write or print the name, dates, and your chosen line. A paint pen works beautifully on glass and metal; a slip of nice paper works inside a clear ball.
Step 4 — Assemble slowly. Let this part take its time. Many people find the assembly is when the tears and the smiles arrive together, and that’s exactly what it’s for. If grief feels overwhelming as you work, that’s normal — our guide to grief counseling and support can help you find someone to talk to.
Step 5 — Give it a place. Hang it where you’ll see it, or make a small ritual of placing it on the tree first each year. Some families turn this into an annual moment alongside a celebration of life tradition.
Beyond the Ornament: Keeping the Whole Story Alive
A memorial ornament holds a moment — a face, a name, a line. But a life is so much more than what fits on a bauble. The photos a person took, the sound of their voice, the stories only a few people know, the recipes and inside jokes and small wisdoms — those deserve a permanent home too.
That’s the idea behind a digital memorial: a private, shareable page that gathers a loved one’s photos, videos, voice, and tributes in one place that the whole family can add to over time. You can even link it to the physical world — a small QR code on a memorial ornament, a frame, or a headstone lets anyone scan and step straight into the full story. If you’d like to build one, our walkthrough on how to create a digital memorial page takes you through it step by step.
Think of it this way: the ornament keeps them on the tree, and the digital memorial keeps the rest of who they were — safe, complete, and ready for the grandchildren who’ll one day ask, “tell me about them.”
Frequently Asked Questions About Memorial Ornaments
What are memorial ornaments?
Memorial ornaments are keepsake decorations — usually hung on a Christmas tree or displayed year-round — that carry the name, photo, or memory of someone who has died. They give a grieving family a small, intentional way to keep a loved one present during the holidays and beyond.
What should I write on a memorial ornament?
A name and the years of their life are timeless. Beyond that, families often add a phrase the person always said, a favorite verse or song lyric, or a short tribute like “Forever in our hearts” or “First Christmas in heaven.” One well-chosen line carries more weight than a paragraph.
Can a memorial ornament hold ashes?
Yes. Clear glass globe ornaments with a removable top can hold a small amount of cremated ashes, a lock of hair, or a pressed flower. This is a popular way to keep a physical piece of a loved one close, similar to memorial jewelry designed to hold ashes.
Are memorial ornaments a good sympathy gift?
They are one of the most thoughtful sympathy gifts you can give, especially before a first holiday season after a loss. A personalized ornament with the person’s name shows you remember them by name, which grieving families find deeply comforting.
How do I make a memorial ornament myself?
Choose a form (a clear glass ball, a fabric or wood ornament, or a disc to write on), gather one or two things that represent the person such as a photo, a piece of clothing, or their handwriting, add their name and a short line, and assemble it slowly. The act of making it by hand is often as meaningful as the finished keepsake.
