A celebration of life provides an opportunity for family and friends to pay tribute to a loved one while saying goodbye in a uniquely personal way. There are many different ways you can honor your loved one and their legacy. By holding a celebration of life after the remains of been cared for, you can ensure you plan an event that reflects the life your loved one lived.
When you sit down to plan a celebration of life service, you need to first consider three things: who, where and how.
Who is the event for? While the purpose of the event is to honor the deceased, understand that this event is for family and friends as well. It is about more than just saying goodbye, it’s about helping loved ones cope with the loss and begin the healing process.
Where will the event take place? The great thing about a celebration of life event is that it can take place anywhere. The deceased’s home, a local park, even at the funeral home. It doesn’t matter where you hold the event, as long as there’s adequate space for people to gather and celebrate.
How will you honor and celebrate the life of your loved one? Some celebrations include an officiant and others do not, the choice is totally up to you. Some families choose to have someone move the ceremony along and others hold a more informal party with guests simply interacting and sharing stories.
A celebration of life service is similar to a memorial service, in that it is a funeral alternative; combining the flexibility of a celebration of life with many of the activities within a traditional funeral service.
There's greater opportunity for creativity in a celebration of life, rather than a funeral. Since a celebration of life service is typically held weeks or even months after the individual's physical remains have been cared for through burial or cremation; there is much more time available to plan the event. This allows you to make better decisions about how you'd like to celebrate, rather than mourn, the life of someone you loved dearly.