Celebration of Life

Planning a celebration of life is a personal and unique way to commemorate the loss of your loved one. Here you will find a checklist to get your started and the difference between a traditional funeral and a celebration of life.

As the popularity of cremation continues to rise, more and more families are moving away from holding traditional funerals or ceremonies and are opting for celebrations of life instead. A celebration of life is an opportunity for friends and relatives to pay tribute to a loved one while saying goodbye in a unique and personal way. As you explore ideas for a service, consider what the deceased would enjoy, but also ensure you meet the emotional and spiritual needs of your guests.

The best way to start planning a celebration of life is by doing so while your loved one is still with you. By having the talk of a lifetime, you can learn what your loved one values most in life and have a better understanding of how they want to be remembered. With this knowledge, you can begin to plan a service that will recognize this and celebrate it.

Benefits of A Celebration of Life Service

The biggest and often most cited reason that people hold a celebration of life service is personalization. Many people are no longer interested in holding a traditional funeral that follows religious customs especially if the deceased was not an overly religious person. A celebration of life service allows you to create a meaningful and personalized celebration that reflects the personality of deceased.

A second benefit of holding a celebration of life is convenience. Unlike a funeral service that must occur before the body is cremated or buried, a celebration of life occurs after the remains have been cared for. This allows the family more time to plan the event but also schedule it around a time that is convenient for everyone. It is not uncommon for families to hold the celebration of life days, weeks, or even months after the body is cared for.

Funerals vs. Celebration of Life

It's interesting; funerals and celebrations-of-life have 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 neighbours.
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.

Funerals vs. Celebration of Life

Just as each person is unique, each celebration of life service is personal and unique as well.

As you explore ideas for a service, consider what the deceased would enjoy, but also what the attendees will enjoy, and what will meet their emotional and spiritual needs.

We have provided a few ideas, but this list is by no means completed. Use these ideas as a starting point to plan the perfect service to suit your unique needs.

Ask attendees to bring along a story or memory of your loved one. Guests comfort levels will vary – you may want to provide time for some to publicly share their memory, but also note cards for those who prefer to write their memory privately.

Enjoy songs, bands or the genre of music that were favourites. Music is an integral part of life for many people, and a celebration of life service is the perfect event in which to showcase the meaningful music of your loved one's life.

If planning for snacks or refreshments, plan to enjoy your loved one’s favourite dishes or treats. Perhaps they even had a recipe that they were known for? This will allow the attendees to feel a sense of connection with the deceased.

Display a photo memory board, a memorial table or a memorial DVD of images of your loved one doing what they enjoyed most. Photos, which capture a moment, often spark conversation and bring up forgotten memories.

A balloon release is often a feature of a celebration of life service. However, there are alternatives that may better suit your loved one’s personality including, tossing wildflower seeds into a field, blowing bubbles or lighting luminaries.

Plant a memorial garden. If you have the space, consider planting a tree or flowers that your loved one may have enjoyed, or even a full garden where you can grow some of their favourite foods to share with their favourite people.

Are You Undecided? Turn to Us

If you’re still unsure about a funeral service vs celebration of life, we invite you to contact us to speak with a member of our staff. Whether you are interested in preplanning a service or in immediate need, we would be honoured to assist you.

We understand that every family is unique and our caring and experienced funeral directors would be more than happy to assist you throughout the planning process. No matter the type of service, we will work with you to personalize the service and honour your loved one with dignity and respect.

Planning a Celebration of Life