To read or not to read? How to handle a deceased family member’s personal letters

Discovering a stack of handwritten letters can feel like winning the family history lottery—but is it always the right thing to read (or share) them?

dawn's musings, family history, remember lost loved onesDawn M. RoodeMay 27, 2024is reading my ancestor's letters an invasion of privacy, is it wrong to read letters from someone who died, should i read someone else's personal letters, are letters always valuable for family history Comments

3 Tribute book ideas that honor lost loved ones

Go beyond a memorial slideshow and honor your lost loved one in a more permanent way. These three ideas for tribute memory books are easier than you think.

remember lost loved ones, book ideas & inspirationDawn M. RoodeMarch 11, 2024ideas for memorial tribute books, easy ways to honor deceased relative, how to memorialize someone in tribute bookComment

Missing a loved one this holiday season?

Dawn Roode offers up four suggestions for further reading (and listening) for anyone who, like her, is missing a friend or family member during the holidays.

dawn's musings, remember lost loved onesDawn M. RoodeDecember 14, 2023holiday grief, remembering lost loved ones, sharing stories about lost loved onesComment

Wish you were here, Mom

When Mother’s Day is hard due to feelings of loss, allowing ourselves to linger in our memories may help (and, yes, hurt). A tribute made in grief, and love.

remember lost loved ones, why tell your stories?Dawn M. RoodeMay 12, 2023healing grief through remembrance, Christmas memories, sharing stories about lost loved ones Comment

How I’ve gotten to know more than 50 people I’ve never met this year

How lucky I am to "meet" your loved ones through the tributes you and others share in their honor! The stories that memorialize them live on for generations.

remember lost loved ones, dawn's musingsDawn M. RoodeNovember 7, 2022lost loved ones memorialized in tribute book, remembering different aspects of those who have died, celebrating family members who have passedComment

Who (or what) are you missing this holiday season?

I hope you'll take comfort in these personal stories of vulnerability and loss during the holidays. (Sharing memories about loved ones is always a good thing.)

family history, remember lost loved ones, why tell your stories?Dawn M. RoodeDecember 14, 2020Christmas memories, holiday memories, storytelling for healing griefComment

8 tips for creating your own tribute book in honor of a lost loved one

Writing a tribute book is a meaningful way to create a lasting legacy for a lost loved one. These expert tips from a personal historian will help.

book ideas & inspiration, remember lost loved onesDawn M. RoodeMay 11, 2020tribute book in honor of a lost loved one, how to remember a deceased family member, legacy and memory books, planning tipsComment

A gift to myself on my 50th birthday

As I turn 50, I have one wish: For those who knew my mother to share with me stories of her life, and for those who didn't, to share a remembrance with loved ones.

remember lost loved ones, dawn's musingsDawn M. RoodeFebruary 10, 2020healing power of remembrance, healing grief through remembrance, story sharing in memory of the deadComment