Memorial Scrapbook ?

[JohnsonsLoveDisney]

Hi! I need some help. (well more than usual today ) Sorry this is long.

I have a friend that I have known most of my life. I was also friends with his younger brother, Dan and his mom. Shes the greatest. We've all be very close for a long time. Anyhow.... Dan committed suicide 2 1/2 years ago.

I took all the pictures I could find in the house and garage. Made copies, make posters and displays, arranged them for the slideshows for the memorial service etc. I have been trying to give them back to her for awhile now and she wont take them. Avoids the subject all together. She did take the poster boards home. But I think thats because they were just dropped off at the house.

I have all of his photos in an envie sitting in my scrap room. I want her to have them, because they are not mine. I feel that she needs them.

I have the brother talked into sorting them out for me. I wasnt around when they were little so I can do them any justice.

But after that how should I proceed? I want to put in some quotes, sayings about embracing the memories but I just dont know what.

I dont have dates and places etc.

Should I traditionally scrap them? patterned papers and embellies?

Or just put them in order on black pages?

Any help or advice would be great. I want to make this super special for her.

 

[AlexWyattMommy]

I love that you want to do this for her.
I wish I had some advice on how to proceed.

Hopefully someone can help.

 

[TinkerBean]

Here is my 2 cents...

I lost my mom to suicide 5 years ago. Photos are really difficult for me look at, still. Literally painful - and forget about video's (and we have hundreds of hours of her with my kids).

A memorial scrapbook is a wonderful gift. I would go with patterned paper and quotes and captions rather than the black paper. His life should be celebrated. Scrap it as you would if he were alive to capture his spirit. She may not be able to look at it right away, but when she does she'll appreciate it

HTH

(still haven't been able to scrap any of my own mom's photos - they are in a box - what you are doing is a TRUE gift)

 

[pjlla]

My SIL's sister died in a car accident a few years ago. She was EXTREMELY close to my 3 nephews (SIL's boys) and they were devastated by her loss. They were about 13, 10, and 6 at the time. About a year and a half later I made them each a small scrapbook full of pictures of them with her (fortunately there were a LOT). I did some small amount of journaling on each page (basics about who, what, where, when) and any tidbits that my SIL was able to tell me about the event. Plus I left blank spaces and blank journaling blocks for the boys to fill in their own words. Other than that it was just my regular kind of scrapping.

She lived on the beach in FL and was an avid sanddollar collector. I made a foamcore frame for each book and I included one of HER sand dollars in the frame in each book. I included pictures of her home because they loved to visit her there and it was a special place. I did include some scripture, because they are Christians and that seemed fitting. I included the program from the funeral, as well as a copy of the obituary, and a copy of the eulogy that the boys wrote together that my brother read. I also included a pretty portrait of her that had been taken a few years previous.

I did NOT give these as gifts. I gave them to my SIL and told her to give them to the boys when she thought it was right. I didn't want them opening something thinking it might be a toy (especially the youngest) and open something sad (I think that was a good bit of advise I got here on the DIS).

She gave them the books right away and I think that they really appreciated them. They each sent me a sweet thank you note and the middle boy even commented "I know I will appreciate this even more when I am older."

Anyhow, just my experience with things like this. HTH............................P

 

[pixiedustforever]

I agree with Tinkerbean -

Celebrate his life. Bring out the positive - quotes and captions don't necessarily
have to do with the picture - just positive, uplifting things.

I love that you're willing to do this for her.
You're a sweetie!

Marylee

 

[JohnsonsLoveDisney]

Thanks everyone for the advice. I have been wanting to do this for her for a very long time. I have been putting it off probably just as much as her. I think it will be good therapy for all of us. I am kind of excited too since I have never scrapped "boy".

to those that have been through this too.

(still haven't been able to scrap any of my own mom's photos - they are in a box - what you are doing is a TRUE gift)

Another friend of mine lost her mom in a tragic car accident in her own front yard. She scraps her photos a few at a time. Mostly her faves and incorporates them into her own kids albums. It is always bittersweet for her.

 

[JohnsonsLoveDisney]

After Racking my brain for the last few days and the help from you ladies I have enabled my self to buy the all about boys stack. I also need some rockstar stuff. He was very much into guitars. Hmm wonder what else. Since I only scrap girls I dont have much boy stuff on hand. Off to shop!

Thanks again for the input.

 

[JandJ]

That is a beautiful gift. When my Gram died I made a memorial book of her life for my mom. I included all sorts of pictures and positive quotes and embellishments. I also included the prayer cards and memorials people sent. Mom really enjoyed looking through the book. Now that I've lost both of my parents I've been slowly gathering paper and pieces to make a memorial scrapbook of them but I haven't been able to start yet. I made a program for their burial at sea and that went well so I need to jump in and do it but when I start I just get bogged down in memories - more happy than sad ones! Good luck and I know the scrapbook will be treasured!

 

[ilovemickeymost]

You could add solid paper for journaling, but leave it blank & when she's ready or his brother. Once its done, I'd put it in a photobox & attach a card. In the card I'd explain what is in the box & that when she is ready she can look at it. That way she will get the photos back, but won't have to look at them until she's ready.