CREATING A CELEBRATION OF LIFE

When someone dies we want the chance to say goodbye, honor their memory, and look for meaning in the death. For most of history, we have turned to funerals to serve these purposes. And, without a doubt, holding a ceremony to memorialize someone we have lost holds an important place in the process of handling grief.
While the need to mourn hasn’t changed, the ceremonies we use to help us through the process has. For example, as the use of cremation has increased, holding a memorial service rather than a traditional funeral has become popular. The difference being, during a funeral the body is present while at a memorial service it is not. Memorial services also provide the flexibility our diverse, more mobile society requires since they are not tied to a specific time or place.
But for many people, traditional funeral rituals have become too impersonal. And so we have seen the rise of “The Celebration of Life.”

WHAT IS A CELEBRATION OF LIFE?
A Celebration of Life is a ceremony that is held either in concert with a traditional funeral or memorial service or instead of a traditional service as a stand-alone event.
What makes a Celebration of Life different is the level of personalization and tone. A Celebration of Life is not a somber affair. Instead, we find lots of laughter and storytelling. The focus is not on the death of the person, but on the joy that the person brought to others.

HOW DO YOU PLAN A CELEBRATION OF LIFE?
Planning a Celebration of Life is much like planning any other gathering that commemorates a life event. You’ll need to decide on the specifics (time, place, etc.), how you will get the word out and what elements you would like to incorporate. If your situation doesn’t offer the time or resources to undertake such an effort, you can take advantage of the services offered by a Celebrant.

You do not have to hold your Celebration of Life in a funeral home. It doesn’t have to be religious or conform to any particular rules or guidelines. Your celebration can be as unique as the person you are honoring. It is entirely up to you to decide what is suitable for your ceremony. You are free to include only those components that your loved one would approve of or that you and your family are comfortable with. Ceremony planning can seem overwhelming. Just take it step-by-step. Don’t hesitate to ask for help. In no time at all, you will create an event that is the perfect final sendoff to celebrate an extraordinary life.

Let our professional and caring team help you