Your loved one had a very special life; they had beliefs, dreams, troubles they dealt with and things they loved that brought them joy. A meaningful event shares those things that are uniquely theirs and allows people to acknowledge and feel your loved ones life.

The person who died had and impact on everyone who attends the service. They had a special gift that everyone felt. It might have been strength, or humor, or even stubbornness. Whatever it was, it was a quality that touched people’s lives.

"Celebrating Life" means sharing memories of the person, and how they affected your life.

• The adventures or quiet moments you shared,
• The ways they inspired you, or
• The little things they did to make you laugh.

Memories can be funny, sad, happy, or bittersweet, but they all tell a story about the person.

It might be as simple as reading a favorite poem, or singing "Take Me Out to The Ballgame," or even telling a joke or funny story they delighted in. For a child, it might be reading their favorite book, or having their most loved toys present for the service. All those things that had meaning to the person who died will give meaning to the service.

Creating Meaningful Events that Celebrate Life.

All people can create services that are meaningful events.

You can do so, beginning with the obituary notice, by acknowledging the life of the individual, their values, qualities and accomplishments. For some, the obituary provides the only means they will have to reflect on the life of a family member, friend, or colleague.

When planning the services, all you need to create a meaningful event is your knowledge of the person:

• Special things they did
• Things they loved and
• Shared memories.

Our funeral directors can help you plan an event that captures the spirit of the person, and brings meaning to everyone who attends.

A few examples might help

One woman, whose husband had died, put together a picture board that displayed photographs of him taken at different stages in his life – from childhood to a recent vacation they had been on. It made people feel good to see parts of his life that they knew and remembered.

You can celebrate the life of your loved one in a funeral service by encouraging people to share their memories of the person and the meaning that person had in their lives.

A funeral is an opportunity to celebrate the life and accomplishments of a loved one and an opportunity to reminisce. One way to make this time more special is through personalization. There are many ways to accomplish this. Some ideas include:

• Creating a collage of pictures
• Displaying paintings or drawings that were special to your loved one or your family
• Playing your loved ones favorite type of music in the background
• Playing home videos
• Bringing a dish of your loved ones favorite candy or cookies to share with everyone
• Creating a memorabilia table of things that were important to your loved one
• Burning candles that remind you of your loved one
• Placing special items in the casket, such as letters, photos, stuffed animals or coloring book pictures

Bringing in personal items that were important to your loved one, or to you, as a family will initiate memories and conversation. It will also remind you and your family how many lives your loved one touched in his/her unique ways. Surrounding yourself with items that are more familiar and comforting to you and your family may also help you feel more relaxed in the funeral home.

We encourage you to make our home yours.