Celebration of Life Service Information
Many families today want a service which celebrates the life of their loved one. We introduce them to the concept of a celebration of life ceremony, and provide support in designing a celebration of life that is as unique as the life of their loved one.
We always enjoy working together with families in
planning a celebration of life for their loved one. While it can be a challenge to put together an event that both pays tribute to and celebrates the life and spirit of a complex individual, it's also one of the most rewarding things any one of us can do for someone we've loved and lost.
Sarah York opens her beautifully-crafted book,
Remembering Well , with the very personal story about how her family chose to pay tribute to her mother. "My mother died in April 1983... She didn't want a funeral. 'Get together and have a party,' she had said when the topic was allowed to come up." However, she was quick to tell readers that the survivors did not honor the request. "We needed the ritual. We needed to say good-bye, but we also needed a ritual that would honor her spirit and would be faithful to her values and beliefs."
When Ms. York acknowledges the position of her family—that they needed not a party but a ritual—she teaches us all something important: the celebration of life events we plan with families should be shaped as much by their own emotional and spiritual needs as their desire to celebrate the life lived.
Celebration of Life Services vs. Funerals
It's interesting; funerals and celebration of life serviceshave much in common, yet they often appear very different. Each is a ceremony; a gathering of people who share a common loss. It's just that one is more rooted in tradition, while the other is the result of recent changes in social values. But both serve to do three things:
- Help the bereaved family, and their community, publicly acknowledge the death of one of their own
- Support the grieving family by surrounding them with caring friends, co-workers, and neighbors
- Move the deceased from one social status to another
Yet they achieve those things in very different ways. First, let's take a closer look at what most of us commonly see as very traditional funerals.
What is a Celebration of Life Service?
Author Barbara Kingsolver, in her book The Poisonwood Bible, wrote “To live is to be marked. To live is to change, to acquire the words of a story, and that is the only celebration we mortals really know.” We think this reflection is at the heart of a celebration of life. While a funeral, as we've described it above, has more to do with the orderly and often spiritually-defined, a celebration-of-life is more concerned with telling the story of the deceased. Celebration of life ceremonies are just that: a time people come together more to celebrate the unique personality and achievements of the deceased than to merely witness or mark the change in their social status.
Celebration of life ceremonies are similar to memorial services, which can be described as a hybrid event: combining the flexibility of a celebration of life with many of the activities of a traditional funeral order-of-service.
There's more room for creativity in a celebration of life service than a funeral. Since celebrations of life are commonly held after the individual's physical remains have been cared for through burial or cremation, there is much more time available to plan the event. And without doubt, this allows you to make better decisions about how you'd like to celebrate the life of someone you dearly loved.
While celebrations of life ceremonies are not burdened by social expectations—they can be pretty much anything you want them to be—it's important to realize that the event you're planning should meet the emotional needs of the guests. So, think about exactly who will be there, and what they're likely to want or need. Then, bring in those unique lifestyle and personality characteristics of the deceased; perhaps add live music or refreshments, and you've got the beginnings of a remarkable celebration of life.
Celebration of Life Benefits
Here are some benefits of choosing a celebration of life over a funeral
Storytelling
Celebrate your loved one's life journey and accomplishments with their favorite people in attendance.
Flexible Scheduling
Life celebrations can be scheduled at any time and do not have to adhere to the guidelines of a traditional funeral.
Creative Freedom
As long as the person planning the celebration of life has made sure that all facets of the event are legal and approved, the celebration of life can be hosted anywhere, at any time, and can include completely unique activities.
Financial Control
One of the greatest benefits of celebrations of life is that they can cost as much or as little as you would like.
Celebration of Life Ideas
While celebration of life services are not burdened by social expectations—they can be pretty much anything you want them to be—it's important to realize that the event you're planning should meet the emotional needs of the guests. So, think about exactly who will be there, and what they're likely to want or need. Then, bring in those unique lifestyle and personality characteristics of the deceased; perhaps add live music or refreshments, and you've got the beginnings of a remarkable celebration of life.
One of the advantages to choosing a celebration of life for a loved one is that they are so customizable. This allows you to host a memorial service that celebrates the uniqueness of the individual. Here are a few celebration of life ideas that have grown in popularity over the years.
The Foodie
Perhaps your loved one enjoyed the culinary arts more than the average person. In this case, a luncheon at their favorite restaurant could be a great way to honor them and stir up old memories. If they had a passion for home cooking, invite their closest friends and relatives to a potluck at which everybody showcases their best recipes.
The Music Lover
If your loved one enjoyed or even played music during their lifetime, consider music as the theme of their celebration of life. This could be as simple as booking a musical group that covers their favorite songs, a small music festival, or even a standard memorial service culminating in a dance.
The Sports Fan
If your loved one was an avid sports fan, consider adding pieces of their favorite team's memorabilia in to the event's decorations. Another great way to honour their love for sports is to sponsor an athletic event in their name.
Are You Undecided? Turn to Us.
- Barbara Kingsolver, The Poisonwood Bible
- Joanne Harris, Chocolat
- Sara York, Remembering Well: Rituals for Celebrating Life & Mourning Death
