31 Memorial Ornaments for the First Christmas Without Them
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The first Christmas after someone dies is the one nobody prepares you for. The tree comes out, and in the box there is an ornament with their handwriting on the label.
A memorial ornament doesn't fix that. What it does is give the family a way to include the person instead of avoiding them — a deliberate object on the tree rather than an absence. These are the ones we send most often, grouped by what the family is likely to want.
Before you choose
- Don't lead with the photo. Some families want a face on the tree immediately; others cannot look at one yet. If you don't know them well, choose a symbol piece.
- Put both years on it. A name with a date range reads as a life rather than a loss.
- Give it before Christmas Eve. They need time to decide whether to hang it — not to open it in front of everyone.
- Say the person's name out loud when you hand it over. That is the part people remember.
Cardinal designs
In much of the US a cardinal is shorthand for a visiting loved one. If the family has ever mentioned seeing one, start here.
- Cardinal Memorial Arch Acrylic Ornament — $14.95. Layered acrylic in an arch, name and dates beneath the bird.
- Cardinal Memorial Crescent Moon Wood Ornament — $14.95. Laser-cut wood. Warmer than acrylic and better on a traditional tree.
- Red Cardinal Memorial Gold Arch Ceramic Ornament — $19.95. Ceramic printed on both sides, so it reads correctly however it turns.
- Cardinal Memorial Photo Heart Suncatcher — $27.95. A window piece rather than a tree piece — it doesn't have to come down in January.
- Cardinal Night Sky Photo Memorial Suncatcher — $23.95. Night-sky background. The most striking of the photo pieces.
Butterflies and dragonflies
Softer than cardinals, and usually the choice when the person who died was a mother, a sister or a daughter.
- Blue Butterfly Memorial Heart Acrylic Ornament — $14.95. Heart-shaped, layered blue acrylic. The most requested single piece in the range.
- Butterfly Memorial Galaxy Acrylic Ornament — $14.95. Deep galaxy background. Good for someone who loved the night sky.
- Angel Wings & Butterflies Heart Memorial Ornament — $14.95. Combines both symbols without becoming crowded.
- Teal Dragonflies Memorial Acrylic Ornament — $14.95. Dragonflies carry the same meaning as butterflies for many families, and far fewer people give them.
- Pink Roses & Yellow Butterflies Memorial Suncatcher — $23.95. Stained glass. A good choice for a grandmother.
"My mind still talks to you"
The line that does more work than any design element. Five versions, so you can match the family's colours.
- Blue Butterflies Heart Ceramic Ornament — $19.95. Heart-shaped ceramic, printed both sides.
- Forget-Me-Not Heart Ceramic Ornament — $19.95. Forget-me-nots rather than butterflies. Quieter.
- Jeweled Butterflies Round Ceramic Ornament — $19.95. Jewel detailing catches tree lights.
- Jeweled Turquoise Butterflies Memorial Ornament — $19.95. Turquoise rather than blue — better against a warm-lit tree.
- Blue Jeweled Butterflies Medallion Ornament — $19.95. Medallion shape, which hangs flatter than a round.
Angel wings, crosses and faith designs
- Angel Wings & Pink Roses Heart Memorial Ornament — $14.95. Laser-cut wood, softer in tone than glass or acrylic.
- Angel Wings & Rose Heart Memorial Ornament — $14.95. A simpler single-rose version of the same design.
- Jeweled Angel Wings Heart Ceramic Ornament — $19.95. Ceramic, printed both sides, with jewel detailing on the wings.
- Angel Wings & Forget-Me-Not Medallion Ornament — $19.95. Carries a longer memorial verse than the others.
- Cross, Roses & Butterflies Memorial Wood Ornament — $14.95. For a churchgoing family, where a cross is the expected symbol.
- Candle, Roses & Butterflies Memorial Ornament — $14.95. A lit candle rather than a cross — usable for any faith or none.
- Memorial Bench, Roses & Angel Wings Ornament — $14.95. An empty bench. Restrained, and often the one people choose for a father.
"Our missing piece" — for a whole household
These are written in the plural, which makes them right when a family is grieving the same person together.
- Our Missing Piece Family Tree Memorial Ornament — $14.95. A family tree with one piece cut out of it.
- Our Missing Piece Puzzle Heart Ornament — $14.95. A heart made of puzzle pieces with one absent.
- Our Missing Piece Puzzle Candle Ornament — $14.95. Adds a lit candle, which families often prefer to an empty gap.
For a father specifically
- Peaceful Sunrise Memorial for Dad Medallion Ornament — $19.95. Written for a dad rather than adapted from a general design.
- Crescent Moon Rocking Chair Memorial Suncatcher — $23.95. An empty rocking chair under a moon. Quiet rather than mournful.
Photo memorials
Only when you are confident the family wants a face on the tree. If in doubt, choose from the sections above.
- "Forever In Our Hearts" Photo Butterfly Suncatcher — $27.95. The most substantial piece here — usually bought by siblings together.
- Roses & Hummingbird Heart Memorial Suncatcher — $27.95. No photo, just name and dates, if you want the size without the face.
For a pet
The first December without a dog or a cat is real grief, and almost nobody acknowledges it.
- Rainbow Arch Pet Memorial Photo Ornament — $14.95. Photo under a rainbow arch, with name and dates.
- Crescent Moon Angel Wings Pet Memorial Ornament — $14.95. Quieter than the rainbow version, and not dog-specific.
How personalization and shipping work
Every piece on this page is personalized at no extra cost — names, dates and photos are included in the price, not an add-on. Each one is printed and finished in the USA and ships from a US facility, and personalized orders are made after you place them.
For US delivery before December 25, order by December 10. Photo pieces take an extra day, so treat December 8 as the cutoff for those. Everything is covered by our 45-Day Happiness Guarantee.
Browse the full Memorial Ornaments collection for more.