Keeping our Loved Ones’ Legacies Alive
August 3, 2026 marks fifteen years since my beloved husband, Andy Trattner, died.
One of the ways I honor Andy’s memory is by creating commemorations for him—and for friends and family members who have lost someone they love.
I created this year’s commemoration to honor Andy’s love of Israel. He served on the board of ARZA and on Orlando’s Sister City Commission, which partnered with Kiryat Motzkin. The photograph was taken during one of Andy’s many trips to Israel, while he was sitting on a camel.
In the early years after Andy died, the commemorations I created did not include photographs. I found comfort in putting pen to paper, grief journaling, and creating art that helped me process my loss.
Since then, as this art form has evolved, I have created hundreds, if not thousands, of personalized commemorations for families, congregations, and communities. It’s a meaningful way to honor their loved ones and keep their legacies alive.
These are a few of the commemorations I have created for people I love.
A meaningful commemoration is more than a photograph, name, or set of dates. It is a visual interpretation that honors the person who died. It offers a connection to the life they lived, what they loved, what they contributed, and how they continue to influence the people whose hearts they touched.
May Their Memories Be for a Blessing
Last year, when I was invited to be the Artist-in-Residence for the ALEPH Kallah, I was touched to learn that they have an entire room at Kallah devoted to Remembrance, and decided to create commemorations for all of the Jewish Renewal teachers and leaders who were being remembered.
The commemorations were displayed beneath a painting I created that reads, “May Their Memories Be for a Blessing,” along with copies of the book I wrote after Andy died, When You Lose Someone You Love.
People brought photographs of their own loved ones to the Remembrance Room and spent time reminiscing about the teachers and leaders who had touched their hearts.
Watching people pause in front of the commemorations, recognize a familiar face, speak a name, and share a story affirmed the power of remembering together.
Here’s a closer view of some of the commemorations honoring our ALEPH leaders.
Create a Gift of Remembrance
All of the commemorations I created for the Jewish Renewal leaders were made in MyZenScribe.com.
When I developed the platform, I wanted to make it possible for others to create meaningful, personalized artwork—even if they do not consider themselves artists or designers.
MyZenScribe.com includes several hundred templates featuring my art and prayers, and the Memorial section holds a special place in my heart. It includes a variety of designs—all of which were originally created for someone I care about—that can be personalized with a photograph, name, life dates, and a message. By selecting an appropriate design and adding personal details, you can create a tribute that reflects something meaningful about the person being remembered.
You can create a piece to honor someone you love or make one as a gift for a person who is grieving.
The finished commemoration can be printed and framed, included in a funeral, memorial service, shiva, or yahrzeit observance, emailed to family members, or shared online.
A Gift in Andy’s Memory
In honor of the fifteenth anniversary of Andy’s death, I would like to invite you to create a commemoration for someone whose life deserves to be celebrated and remembered.
Through August 15, use the coupon code REMEMBER15 to create and download one Memorial design at no charge.
CREATE A FREE. COMMEMORATION IN MyZenScribe.com
Choose a design that reflects the interests of the person you are honoring, upload a photograph, add their name, life dates, and a meaningful message, and then save, download, and share your creation.
You might make one for someone you miss.
Or you might think of a friend whose loved one’s birthday, yahrzeit, or death anniversary is approaching and create a commemoration as a gift of comfort.
A thoughtful gesture cannot remove the pain of loss, but it can help someone feel remembered, supported, and less alone.
See How Easy It Is
I created two short tutorials to guide you through the process:
Creating a Commemoration in ZenScribe
Creating a Beautiful Memorial Tribute
The tutorials show how to choose a template, add a photograph, personalize the words, and create a meaningful finished piece.
My hope is that MyZenScribe.com will make it easier for more people to offer the gift of remembrance.
And, you are welcome to share your creation in our new ZenScribe Creative Community Facebook Group.
Supporting Someone on Their Grief Journey
Creating a commemoration is one meaningful way to support someone who has experienced a loss—but it is not the only way.
We cannot fix someone’s grief or take away the pain of losing a person they love. We can, however, accompany them on their journey.
We can listen without trying to fix things.
We can offer specific, practical assistance instead of saying, “Call me if you need anything.”
We can make space for tears and stories.
We can say the name of the person who died.
We can remember birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, and other significant dates.
And we can continue to show up—not only during the first days and weeks after a death, but throughout the first two years and beyond.
Several years ago, I created this list of ten ways to help someone who is grieving:
The final suggestion is especially important: do not expect someone to “get over” a loss in a few weeks or months.
Grief often lasts much longer than people who have not experienced a profound loss may realize. Continue reaching out. Put important dates in your calendar. Call, text, send a card, share a photograph, or tell a story.
It matters.
In Andy’s memory, I invite you to reach out to someone who is grieving. Say their loved one’s name, share a memory, or let them know that you remember and care.
Guided Journaling Questions
How can you support someone who is grieving the loss of a loved one?
What kind of support would you personally find helpful after a loss?
Whose name or story can you help preserve and share?
Is there a significant date you could add to your calendar so you remember to reach out?
What could you create or offer to help someone feel seen and supported in their grief?
Remembering with Love
May we find meaningful ways
to honor those who have died
and support those who continue to love them.
May the stories we share
and the names we speak
become lasting gifts of comfort.
May those who are grieving
feel held by the love of community.
And may the memories of our loved ones
become enduring sources of
love, light, and blessing.
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