A white roses symbolizes spirituality and peace.

They also symbolize respect and honor and are often used for saying goodbye to loved one.

White roses are also associated with new beginnings.

I painted both of these white roses for my mom in the final month of her life. I cared for her in my home for nine months, so when I knew her time was close, I wanted to do something special to honor her. I can’t remember what prompted me to search for the meaning of a white rose, but I’m glad I did. She lived to the age of 97 and a half!

Afterwards, I had prints made of the top rose to give to my two sisters and a couple of close friends who had also lost their mothers a while back. One of the prints I matted and framed and gave it to the Hospice company as a thank you for all their help during that trying time. It now hangs in their office lobby! It felt good to share my painting with all of them because of meaning behind it. All were thrilled and very grateful!

If you have lost a loved one that you would like to honor, you can order a 8.5″ x 10″ print of either rose here.

And to all of you out there currently caring for an elderly parent or loved one, my heart goes out to you. I know how hard and stressful the job can be. Please make sure you make time to care for yourself and find the help you need with this job.