Picture this, someone in your life has just passed away and it’s time for the funeral service. Chances are, you spend the morning getting ready. You change into a suit or dress, mentally prepare yourself, and then head to the funeral home for the service. When you arrive, you offer condolences to the deceased’s family. Perhaps you mingle for a few minutes, and then you head into the chapel. As the service begins, stories are shared, hymns are sung, and prayers are said. As you look around, you likely see friends and family members overwhelmed with sadness. People are crying and filled with grief. Afterwards, there’s a reception and people share some memories of the deceased and talk about how beautiful the service was.
That’s one way to honor a loved one. But what if you could make it more personal? What if it was less about saying goodbye and more about celebrating a life well lived?
In recent years, more and more families have begun to hold celebration of life services. Instead of a traditional funeral service, families want to personalize the service to reflect the things the deceased enjoyed during their life. It can include their favorite foods or music. Some families decorate the venue with memorabilia from their loved one’s favorite sports team. Others transform the service into a casual party. The possibilities are truly endless. Some people even have rules that there is to be no crying at the celebration.