It was my father’s birthday last week. My father died several years ago but his birthday still causes me to take some time to pause and remember. 

The first thing I always do on his birthday is to call my brother and sister. We find comfort in talking about my father with one another and exchanging stories and memories. 

I also light a candle on my father's birthday. In Judaism, we light a candle for our deceased loved ones on the anniversary of their death, their yahrzeit.  Instead of marking my parents’ deaths, however, I prefer to light the candle on their birthdays. I prefer lighting on their birthdays because I just prefer to honor their birth. My father was raised in a religious home. So, I am unsure as to what my father would think of the way I changed this custom   I like to think that he would approve.

 How do you honor or remember your deceased loved ones?