At Life Forest Conservation Cemetery in Hillsborough, NH, each memorial tree tells a story. Families choose trees that reflect the personality, passions, and cherished memories of their loved ones. Some trees were selected to honor lifelong dreams, while others celebrate a love of beauty, joy, or even holiday traditions.
Personal Stories Behind Memorial Trees
Elise Dubuque: A Dream Fulfilled
“The beautiful flowering dogwood tree, right there in the yard.” — Elise Dubuque
Elise Dubuque was the first person memorialized at Life Forest. Known for her frugality and selflessness, Elise often imagined a flowering dogwood tree outside her kitchen window. Though it didn’t exist, she pictured its beauty every day.
When she passed, Mel Bennett, the creator of Life Forest, planted a dogwood tree in her memory, her very first tree at the cemetery.
Christopher Nolet: Style and Humor
“He would never have had the shoes for the forest!” — Family anecdote
Christopher Nolet was a designer with a love for beautiful things. His family chose a Pink Diamond Hydrangea to reflect his refined taste. Humorously, he would never have wanted to be buried deep in the forest, so his widow selected a plot right by the parking lot. Now, his hydrangea greets visitors with elegance and charm, just as Christopher would have wanted.
Memorial Tree Categories
Dogwoods (Classic, Cardinal, Bailey’s Red Twig)
Dogwoods are beloved for their brilliant spring flowers and resilience. They symbolize endurance, hope, and rebirth.
Learn more: U.S. Forest Service – Flowering Dogwood
Cherry Blossoms & Weeping Cherry Trees
Cherry blossoms represent the fleeting beauty of life. Their soft, graceful branches symbolize love and serenity.
Learn more: National Park Service – Cherry Blossom Trees
Hydrangeas (Limelight & Pink Diamond)
Hydrangeas symbolize transformation, grace, and heartfelt emotion. Their lush blooms reflect beauty, elegance, and enduring remembrance.
Learn more: University of Minnesota Extension – Hydrangeas
Apple, Crabapple, and Elberta Peach Trees
Fruit trees symbolize nourishment, generosity, and the gifts one leaves behind.
Crabapple trees are especially beloved, with dazzling spring blooms and small fruit that feed birds in early fall—offering a tribute that gives back to nature as well as honoring a loved one.
Learn more: Arbor Day Foundation – Crabapple Trees
Evergreens (Blue Spruce, Arborvitae, Juniper, Holly, Winterberry)
Evergreens are treasured for year-round beauty and holiday symbolism. Families often choose Blue Spruce, Arborvitae, Moffat Blue Juniper, American Holly, Hybrid Holly, and Winterberry to honor loved ones whose favorite holiday was Christmas.
These trees remain vibrant even in harsh New England winters, symbolizing enduring love and resilience. Some families decorate them seasonally as a living tribute.
Learn more: Missouri Botanical Garden – Evergreen Trees
Lilacs (Dwarf Korean, Reblooming, Japanese Silk)
Lilacs are cherished for their fragrance and delicate blossoms, symbolizing love, renewal, and cherished memories.
Learn more: Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University – Lilacs
Redbud
Redbuds bloom with heart-shaped leaves and vibrant pink flowers, representing love, renewal, and new beginnings.
Japanese Maple
Japanese maples are admired for elegance, striking leaf color, and graceful structure. They symbolize peace, wisdom, and quiet strength.
Serviceberry (Bush or Tree)
Serviceberries bloom early in spring and produce berries that feed birds, symbolizing generosity, connection, and continuity.
October Glory Maple
This maple is known for brilliant red foliage in autumn, representing strength, passion, and lasting impact.
Magnolia
Magnolias symbolize dignity, perseverance, and beauty. Their large blossoms honor remarkable lives.
Weeping Pussywillow & Black Pussywillow
Willows represent remembrance and renewal, with flowing branches symbolizing adaptability and enduring love.
Sweet Pepper Bush & Viburnum
These shrubs offer fragrant blossoms and attract pollinators, symbolizing joy, connection, and harmony in the natural world.
Honoring Life Through Trees
Every tree at Life Forest has a story. Some, like Elise’s, fulfill a lifelong dream. Others, like Christopher’s, bring beauty, elegance, and a touch of humor to the forest.
By choosing a memorial tree, families create a living tribute that reflects the qualities of their loved one, contributes to conservation, and provides a space of remembrance and peace for generations to come.
