Comments on: Ideas for memorials in Austin, TX?

Question: Ideas for memorials in Austin, TX?

jpziller — Sun, 07 Oct 2012 08:33:28 -0800

Ideas for memorials in Austin, TX?

A friend of mine from El Paso, TX passed away about a year ago. I would like to arrange for some kind of memorial to her in Austin, Texas (which is where myself and a number of mutual friends met her and got to know her), but I have since moved away.

Another friend has spoken to St. Ed's university (the school that our deceased friend attended) but that looked like a no-go.

I'm looking for any ideas for public memorials in Austin (a bench? a paving stone in a park? a tree?). The friends would be happy to donate money to an appropriate organization to make something like this happen. Since I'm not there any more, a friend in Houston would be taking care of any details that need to be taken care of in person.

Any ideas?

By: grouse

grouse — Sun, 07 Oct 2012 09:13:48 -0800

I'm sorry for your loss. It is good that you are trying to memorialize your friend in this way.

The Austin Parks Foundation says a park bench costs $500–$1100 to buy, plus installation costs. A more specific park association might manage the process for you. I'd contact the foundation and ask for suggestions.

By: parmanparman

parmanparman — Sun, 07 Oct 2012 09:17:47 -0800

Best to learn what your late friend was into, if she left specification in her will, etc. Suggest you talk to family and see if they have done anything themselves or if there was a will.

By: jpziller

jpziller — Sun, 07 Oct 2012 09:20:10 -0800

parmanparman: Part of the reason that the friends would like to do this is that there have been some difficulties in communication with her family. Without going into much detail, we have decided it is best to do this on our own without input from them.

By: drlith

drlith — Sun, 07 Oct 2012 09:36:09 -0800

The Umlauf sculpture garden accepts donations of trees, and the Zilker Botanical Garden has a "walk of friends" memorial walk where you can purchase a memorial paver.

By: Houstonian

Houstonian — Sun, 07 Oct 2012 09:52:18 -0800

There's the Christi Center memorial tree grove.

Because of the drought conditions from last year, they aren't planting trees until about a year from now. They hold a dedication ceremony, plant the tree in the grove (Lady Bird Lake and Zilker Park), and your friend's name will be on a marker.

It costs $350. With this money, (in addition to the ceremony, planting the tree, and maintaining the grove) they provide grief counseling and support for children, teens, and adults who have lost a loved one, with special additional help to those who lost them due to crime and suicide. They've been doing this for a quarter-century now, so it is sustained.