Remembering a loved one through a personal and meaningful service brings comfort and shapes lasting memories for family and friends. Your service can include special moments, favorite stories, achievements, and adventures as well as hobbies and interests that reflect the unique personality of your loved one. If you choose, we’ll help you use photographs, music, and other items to create a service that honors and celebrates your loved one. If you don’t know where to begin, you can count on us to listen carefully and lead you through the creation of a customized traditional or celebration of life service.
Recommendations to help create a Memorable and Personal Service
1) Personalization prior to meeting with your funeral director
As you begin to think about ideas to make your service memorable and personal, think about the life that the person has lived.
Consider his or her:
• hobbies and pastimes
• military background and/or honors
• personal achievements
• musical and artistic interests
• special memories to share
• community involvements and contributions
2) Personalization during the service
Once you have considered the unique life of your loved one, you may want to begin utilizing those thoughts when working with one of our funeral directors. Consider involving friends and family during the arrangement process to help generate ideas.
Using your personalization ideas during the common elements of funeral ceremonies:
•The viewing or visitation- Display photographs, utilize Memorial Tribute Videos, distribute Customized Memorial Folders or Prayer Cards, play their favorite music, proudly show memorabilia, artwork, etc. Often times these items can be incorporated into your celebration gathering or luncheon following the service.
•The funeral or celebration of life funeral service- When meeting with your clergy or celebrant you may want to consider using special hymns or songs which were important to your loved one, having particular scriptures or poems read by the clergy or celebrant, friend or family member. You may even decide to utilize your Memorial Tribute Video during the service, as well.
•The committal service – During the committal service, whether at a cemetery, mausoleum, or a natural earth environment for scattering, if cremation is selected, consider using special readings and songs to be used during the interment. Consider asking pallbearers to wear the same ties or colored shirts. A nice touch would also be to consider a butterfly or dove release to conclude the committal service.
•The Celebration Gathering or Reception- Following the committal service, many families opt to ask friends and families to meet for a time of fellowship which may take place in a variety of locations. Some common choices are: the church or place of worship, a favorite restaurant, VFW or other organization hall, a country club, or at a friend or family member’s home. During this celebration gathering you may want to consider utilizing similar items which were displayed during the viewing or visitation, such as: photographs, Memorial Tribute Videos, Customized Memorial Folders or Prayer Cards, favorite music, memorabilia, or artwork.
We urge families to take the time to consider utilizing some of these suggestions as we feel it truly helps to make the service of your loved one personal and especially meaningful. A service consisting of your personal touches may help in your healing process.
Need Suggestions? Contact one of our licensed funeral directors to discuss your personalized service options.
