“Life is what you celebrate. All of it. Even its end.” – Joanne Harris 

Death is a painful yet inevitable event of life. It is an unfortunate truth of life, and one day, everyone will have to face it.

It's just a matter of time of who goes first. And if your loved ones, family, or friends go ahead, you are left with that unbearable ache and inconsolable empty feeling.

They say that the people left behind have the losing end of the bargain, and while this is true, there is still something oddly beautiful in remembering the people close to your hearts.

Take comfort in the knowledge that although the grief is overwhelming, you can navigate your way through the first few months a few minutes at a time. Your loved one would want you to remember them, but also find comfort and solace to continue without their physical presence.

Death is not meant to be celebrated, but the person that was and the life they lived undoubtedly is. Celebrate your loved one's life and remember them with beautiful keepsakes and memorials that you and your loved ones can cherish.

Today, more and more families are opting to hold a celebration of life for their deceased as another form of letting go and saying goodbye.

What is a celebration of life?

Celebration of life is a remembrance event that combines the formality and solemnity of a funeral and the informal gathering of friends and loved ones of the deceased.

This hybrid gathering is intended to uplift the spirit of the bereaved family and friends. Instead of focusing on the loss, a celebration of life focuses on the positive memories with the departed.

It is an assembly of people who share the same loss, love, commitment, and passion with the deceased. During the celebration of life, stories about the deceased and fond memories are shared.

A celebration of life is generally held after the prerequisites of handling the deceased's physical remains are over, when the departed has already been buried or cremated.

This type of memorial service provides you with more creativity and flexibility. It is a lighthearted gathering to celebrate the deceased's life, personality, and achievements without making the ambiance somber and too painful.

Difference between a Celebration of Life and a Memorial Service

The simplest way to differentiate a celebration of life from a memorial service is to view the former as modern and the latter as conventional.

Memorial services are the traditional and solemn way of saying goodbye to your departed. It has a religious and serious tone and is generally completed soon after your loved one’s passing.

A celebration of life provides you with more flexibility, creativity, and time. It is more relaxed since the objective is to remember life and celebrate the departed one's existence. Usually, there is no religious aspect to this kind of celebration.

Understand that there is no set way of saying goodbye to your loved one. There is no right or wrong way of doing it.

You can even have both gatherings if you want. If you have the financial resources, human resources, and people who want to be there, then have both—a memorial service and a celebration of life.

Traditional memorial services are usually somber. This service doesn't fully represent your loved one and how they lived their life, unlike celebrations of life where you can share memories and even learn how to live life to the fullest in all positivity, as your loved one did.

If your departed loved one has specific instructions on this matter, then, by all means, honor it. Else, celebrate life and hold the good memories in your heart as your departed loved one transitions to life after death.

Difference Between A Celebration Of Life And A Funeral

The main difference that sets apart a funeral from a celebration of life is the presence of the body or ashes of the departed.

In a funeral, the remains are present, and you can physically see (or view) and touch it. And the emphasis on a funeral service is death, loss, and sorrow. Unlike in a celebration of life where the focus is life and joy, a picture of the departed is usually placed as a representation of the life and person being celebrated.

In a celebration of life, it is common to say and hear "let's raise a glass in memory of…" while in a funeral, you'd hear "let us pay our respects to our dearly departed…."

Condolences and words of sympathy are exchanged during both gatherings, but the mood is relatively lighter during a celebration of life.

Celebration of Life Ideas

When the burial or cremation is over, you have time to process and reflect on your loved one's life and passing. If you are planning a celebration of life for your departed loved one, you now have the time to prepare for the gathering.

Overall, you want the celebration of life to be joyous and comforting. You want to remember your loved one as someone who was loved, appreciated, and a member of a community.

There is no right or a fixed way to do a celebration of life. It affords you to incorporate as much inspiration as you want.

With this in mind, here are some celebration of life ideas that you can incorporate into the gathering. It is essential that you tap near and dear ones willing to share and open up themselves to others.

#1. Share stories.

Everyone whose lives your deceased loved one has influenced and changed would have a good story to tell. Share these real-life stories with each other.

This idea can evoke all sorts of emotions, and the changes in moods can be overwhelming, but it is a great way to celebrate the life of a loved one. Encourage those who would like to share or show a photo or video of the memory. After the celebration, these souvenirs can all be turned into a scrapbook.

#2. Release sky lanterns.

Eco-friendly lanterns are widely available online, so you can order several of these and light up the sky to cap off the celebration of life.

You can attach notes of love, hope, and wishes on the lanterns and just let them go up in the skies. This is one of the physical ways of representing how you are letting go of your beloved physically while holding onto the memories in your heart. This idea brings finality and peace to everyone who joins the gathering.

Balloons are an alternative to sky lanterns but are not recommended because of their negative environmental impact. If you are near the beach or a body of water, you can release paper boats instead.

#3. Plant a tree.

Promote new life that will continue and flourish even after your own time has come.

This is a beautiful way to remember your departed, and you are leaving a physical legacy with its own story. Your loved one doesn't necessarily have to be a gardener or a green thumb for you to do this.

Imagine a garden full of celebration of life greens that is not only a sight to behold but also memorializes a well-lived life and a well-loved person.

#4. Register a star.

Get a star named after your departed loved one, and every time you see that star twinkle and light the night, you also remember the life of your departed. You can visit the star registry and choose your constellation.

You will soon receive your certificate and sky chart, and you can view this star of hope with everyone who was part of your beloved departed's life.

#5. Decorate a tree.

If you have a backyard and there’s one favorite tree that your loved one used to favor, you can memorialize that tree by placing mason jars filled with water.

You can put tea candles or petals on these mason jars and light them up in the afternoon. You can also hang these decorations on the tree and sit around the tree to share stories.

#6. Create a playlist.

A lot of people find comfort in listening to music. A song or artist can be associated with memories, so during the celebration of life, create a playlist contributed by people who find specific songs memorable because of your departed.

You can also ask some of your friends to sing songs and share why this particular song reminds them of your departed loved one.

#7. Create a memorial wall.

You can ask all the people gathered in the celebration of life to share a quote, song lyrics, or phrase—any notes that best represent your loved ones.

You can have post-its, a stack of notes, or a large piece of fabric stuck on the wall so everyone can conveniently write on it using chalks and whiteboard markers. There are plenty of ways to create and design your memorial wall. And after the gathering, these notes can be given to the family to read and keep.

#8. Name a rose.

This is an excellent idea for someone who loves flowers and for mothers, grandmothers, and maternal models in your life.

This is similar to registering a star under the departed one's name, but it is a rose this time. You and the bereaved family can vote on which of the available roses to name and have it registered with the International Cultivar Registration Authority.

You can continuously share this legacy because other friends and loved ones can also buy cuttings that they can plant.

#9. Hold a paddle out gathering.

This is another celebration of life activity that you can incorporate, especially if your departed loved one had a great love for water or was an avid surfer.

Paddle-out ceremonies are beautiful and quite spiritual. This floating remembrance gathering would entail having your guests paddle out on their surfboards, and they form a circle using flowers or leis on the beach.

If your loved one was cremated, you also have the option to scatter some of the ashes during this ceremony.

#10. Be involved in their charity.

It would be a productive and helpful idea to adopt one of the charities that your loved one had supported. You can even have the celebration of life there.

You can participate in any of the ongoing activities of the said charity, like run in a marathon or come up with an activity that will involve your loved one's advocacy.

Planning a Celebration of Life

Like any sort of gathering, a celebration of life also needs careful planning to ensure that you can celebrate your loved one's memory the best way you can. You can tap the assistance of family and friends and designate tasks following a divide-and-conquer approach.

Here is a checklist of what you need to do to plan a celebration of life.

• Create a guest list.

Setting the ongoing pandemic aside, everyone's welcome in a celebration of life – everyone who was friends with, worked with, and interacted with the departed is most welcome.

The guest list can be long, with friends, family, classmates, workmates, neighbors, and others included.

Controlling the guest list is a family decision. It is up to you if you want everyone to be there or just limit the people to those who really had a deep relationship and impact on your loved one (or vice versa).

It would be best to consider first the people who are willing to share and talk during the celebration of life—circle through the names of immediate family and friends. Then extend the invite to the rest of the colleagues, classmates, workmates, and others.

To have a tentative idea of the number of people attending, always ask for a response like "Yes," "Maybe," or "No." It is also up to you to let the listed guests extend the invitation to other people.

Knowing how many people to expect is vital because this dictates the venue, food, and other preparations for the celebration of life. It will also give you a heads-up if it’s time to control the crowd or just keep the invitation open.

• Set your budget.

With all the prior expenses with the funeral and possibly even hospital bills that needed to be closed out, identify how much you can spend on the celebration of life.

By assessing your budget, you will know how to allocate your funds and come up with ideas that will not go over your financial capacity.

This is an excellent time to identify if other family members or friends may be planning to contribute something—in cash or kind—so you would know how to stretch your budget.

• Choose a date.

Today, this is a much doable task thanks to the help of social media. You can have an event created, for example, on Facebook and just have everyone confirm their attendance once the date is set.

Consider the attendees' circumstances as well—will they be traveling to attend the gathering? Will there be any long weekend coming up to make it easier for them to be there?

• Select the location.

There are many considerations regarding the venue of your loved one's celebration of life. It can be held in a church, park, or rented events space.

Consider the idea that, usually, the most straightforward gatherings are the most memorable of them all. You can have the celebration of life at home, which is also cost-efficient, in a garden, or at a friend or relative's home if they are willing to open their home to this gathering.

You can then incorporate the unique character of the deceased into the photos, music, food, and other activities of the celebration.

There is no limit when it comes to choosing locations but take into account an area with a special meaning to the departed. It can be a natural setting like a beach or park they liked to visit or a closed-spaced venue.

It would also be smart to think about the number of people attending, the weather, the accessibility, and the parking space, among others, when choosing the location.

• Send the invites.

Today, this is easier to do since the celebration of life invitations can be made and sent out virtually. If you want to have a printed copy of the invite, you may opt for that.

Should you prefer to have printed invitations, make sure that the following information is included on the invite:

• • • The name of the deceased
    • The date of birth and death of the deceased
    • The location of the gathering
    • The date and time of the celebration of life
    • Special instructions like “No black” or “Kindly bring a white rose.”
      

• Make the program.

There are a plethora of activities that you can include in the program. You can have a video or a slide presentation to remember your departed loved one with music and some storytelling.

You can derive inspiration from the celebration of life party ideas mentioned above and, at the same time, ask close friends and relatives if they want to specifically have roles in the celebration. Some may want to do a speech or sing tribute songs—be open to these ideas.

Once you have finalized the activities of the celebration of life, make sure to share them with the guests. You want them to come prepared for the occasion. You have to know if adjustments need to be made prior to the celebration of life.

• Prepare the food and drinks.

 You can serve some of the favorite food or snacks of your loved one as another way of remembering. Food brings back a lot of memories, and it can kick start conversations and form new friendships.

Telling stories over food is a relaxed and happy way of cherishing the past. Just like what Luana Brandt said, “They’re the stories you tell around the table over good food. Those are the treasured memories that people carry with them.”

Usually, the food served is also a way to remember the departed as their favorite food or drinks are part of the menu.

• Decide on favors.

This is entirely optional, but if you have the time and the resources, plus if it is something you want to do, you can give all those who attended a token or favor to commemorate the deceased.

Giving out small tokens of remembrance is a good and personalized way of ending a gathering. Who knows when you are going to see or meet the same people again?

Tokens can be a good reminder of the beautiful life lived by the deceased. If, for example, the person used to be an enthusiastic golfer, you can thank and say goodbye to your guests with personalized golf balls.

Or, if the deceased was a great cook, you can give out some select copies of well-loved recipes so the legacy and beautiful creations in the kitchen can continue. Favors can be in the forms of tangible things, food, and laminated notes.

Suggested Decorations For A Celebration Of Life

Before deciding on the decorations, make sure you already have a location. Some decorations are not feasible when placed in specific venues, and the last thing you want is decorations collapsing and falling before and during the celebration of life.

Keep in mind to decorate with things that are meaningful. And the decorations can further represent the life of the departed. Snippets of hobbies, interests, and favorites are good starting points for decorations.

You can have floral arrangements too but not those usually arranged for funerals. Instead, you can coordinate with local and even online florists to make tributes in shapes or, even better, arrangements spelling the departed one's name or initials.

Regardless of the occasion, flowers have a way of brightening up the venue. Additionally, candid and happy photos of the deceased also trigger a visual memory, and these can function as focal points or a life timeline of the departed.

There are no fixed rules to set up the decorations. Just ensure that it is cohesive and contributes to sharing a story about the departed person's life.

You can all get together to create the decoration too as a pre-bonding activity prior to the celebration of life.

What to Say at a Celebration of Life Service

If you are the immediate family, speaking during the celebration of life service is non-negotiable. And if you are asked to share your thoughts during the service, it can cause you both joy and even fear.

You don't want to say the wrong things. What you can openly talk and joke with your departed loved one may not be appropriate to share with other people. Finding the right words can be a real struggle, especially since it is done publicly.

Expressing your grief and feelings of loss is hard, and you also want to take this opportunity to pay your respects and share how this special person made a difference in your life.

When you need some guidance or inspiration, here are some thoughts to express during the celebration of life.

• Share a good and life-changing memory.

Sharing a story or experience that actually happened between you and the departed is always interesting, with friends and family members eager to learn more about their loved ones.

Remembering it from experience also evokes the emotions of the past, so depending on which story you share, expect to be overwhelmed with nostalgia and all the feelings that come with it.

• Say something inspiring.

Some experiences are best left between the people involved. A little secret in the past that belongs only to you and your departed loved one. So if this is the case, saying something inspiring can be more suitable in a celebration of life.

This can be something you learned from the departed or a life lesson they shared with you.

• Read a special poem, anecdote, or saying.

You can also honor your departed loved one by reading a thoughtful poem or anecdote and relating it to their life.

It is also worth sharing if you know a favorite passage, verse, or saying of your loved one and incorporate that into your tribute.

• Deliver a message of hope.

The pain that you experience when someone dies is profound, and grief is not an emotion that can easily be managed. The loss that the immediate family is experiencing is immense.

You can drop messages of hope and encouragement to the family during the celebration of life and assure them of your presence and support, especially if you are close to them. The support system that the bereaved family has around them is critical as they take steps towards recovery, acceptance, and healing.

Saying something during the celebration of life should be heartfelt and sincere. Sure, it can be challenging to keep it light and not make the occasion somber, so choose funny and entirely laid back memories, especially if the departed was a free-spirited and chill person.

Happy memories naturally draw peaceful and satisfied smiles. Focus on what a celebration of life is all about—a life well-lived. If the departed went through health challenges prior to death, focus on the pre-hospital or treatment days or years.

And of course, there are just things that should not be said in a celebration of life like:

1. Don’t offer the standard platitudes of comfort like “It’ll get better or easier” or worse, “At least he/she didn’t suffer.”
2. Don't make the conversation or sharing of memories about yourself. The one that needs to be highlighted is the deceased and not you.
3. Try your hardest to mask the sadness or grief you are feeling. Instead, focus on the happy memories and the stories worth sharing.
4. When sharing stories, never intentionally speak ill of the deceased. It may be an attempt at humor on your side, but it can cause embarrassment or discomfort to the family.
5. Never reveal confidences to family members and friends.

What To Wear To A Celebration Of Life

A celebration of life meaning is focused not on sorrow but on a happy story-telling of the life of the departed.

There should be joy in knowing that the deceased has touched so many lives and has built relationships with many people, which is a reason for celebration.

So at this joyful gathering, there’s no room for somber funeral clothes in black unless the family specifically asks everyone to wear black.

But you still have to dress appropriately for the occasion. Here are some things you need to consider.

• What type of celebration of life is being held?

Will it be a formal celebration of life with a strict dress code, or will you be meeting everyone at one of the rented gardens? This information dictates everything.

•  Where is the event taking place?

Location matters. You have to find out ahead of time if the celebration of life will be held inside a funeral home or a rented and upscale place. This will dictate the appropriate dress code.

• Is there a color theme?

Celebrations of life are rarely done with guests in black. Again, this gathering is not for mourning. But the family may request for you and the guests to come there in another color, usually in shades of the deceased’s favorite color.

• Will there be any activities?

Asking beforehand if there’ll be any activities can also help you plan the right outfit. Will the group gather for storytelling, go planting, or engage in physical outdoor activities?

• How is the weather?

You have to ensure that you are dressed comfortably when attending a celebration of life. Given that this event can last for a couple of hours, you can’t focus on the gathering if you are sweating profusely or if your feet are bruised and swollen.

For adults, it is recommended to stick to the side of caution by wearing conservative and respectful clothing. Make sure you wear an ensemble that you'll feel confident and comfortable with, as if you are going to a casual workday.

If it is suitable for a casual day in the office, then it is already ideal for a celebration of life.

Bringing kids can be a real challenge, and getting them to dress up cleanly is twice as hard. They can mess up their outfits in a matter of minutes and not care about it.

The good news is that kids have more flexibility in the dress code than adults. As long as it is clean and decent, you can just let the children wear a mini-version of your casual workday outfit.

As far as colors are concerned, steer clear of blacks and grays. Instead, pops of color would be appreciated. Yellows, pinks, greens, and blues are generally safe colors. Or you can opt for some pastel hues.

You can also take it upon yourself—given that there are no guidelines from the family— to wear an outfit that bears the deceased's favorite colors. It is a subtle touch of remembrance that you can easily pull off.

What To Bring To A Celebration Of Life

Bringing a gift to a celebration of life is not mandatory, but it doesn't feel right to attend empty-handed, especially if you are close to the family.

Although given with good intentions, you don't want your gift to be a source of awkwardness. So if you're going to bring something or anything to a celebration of life, it is better to do a little DIY project instead of store-bought gifts.

Gifts that are personally made come from the heart, and the family would certainly appreciate the time and effort that cost you to make it.

Here are some gift ideas that you can do or mix and match:

#1. Create a photo album

Go through your Gallery or Photos and find pictures of the deceased. Have these pictures printed and put them in an old school album.

You can use this present to share a story during the celebration of life and give it as a memento to the bereaved family afterward. This can provide them with a glimpse of their loved ones outside their family.

#2. Traditional hand-written letter

Immortalize your message of sympathy, joy, hope, and love by writing on beautiful stationery. You can put into words your feelings and even the depth of your relationship with the deceased. Describe the life that was lived beautifully and your loss.

The letter doesn't have to be singular in emotion. It will be better if you can share the ups and downs with the family and then end it with a message of hope, faith, and courage.

#3. A pledge to charity

One of the most beautiful and memorable ways to remember someone is to support their advocacy. You can donate in honor of the deceased and promote what they support. This is a full-proof way of providing assistance to an organization.

Of course, it is very tacky to share the amount of your donation, so simply put your pledge or confirmation inside an envelope or tucked into a card.

However, if you are pressed for time and won't be able to make the gifts yourself, there are still appropriate gifts that you can purchase from stores or order online.

#4. Customized bereavement candle

Candles are not just for mourning and remembering the dead. They can also be used to soothe and relax, so give that candle of hope and light up the bereaved family's life with personalized candles.

You can just have the deceased's favorite quote printed on the candle bottle or have it scented with a soothing aroma. Either way, it is a valuable gift that is poignant and even relaxing.

#5. Food trays or a grazing table

During the celebration of life, part of the planning will be preparing food. If you want to participate in this, you can communicate with the organizer and discuss what you can bring or sponsor.

Grazing tables and sweet corners are always real winners, and you can't go wrong with food. Just make sure that you check with the family, so you don't end up offending anyone with your good intentions.

#6. Gift certificates

Gifts baskets are given with the intention of giving the family some time so they can grieve instead of spending their time cooking.

Although you can still gift them food, it would be better to encourage them to be outside and busy with activities. With this in mind, you can give them passes or gift certificates for an air balloon ride, winery tour, or even movie tickets.

Make sure that you don’t give out single tickets because a party of one will definitely emphasize a loss. Group tickets are better and more fun.

You can also give them gift cards so the grieving family can choose the best memorial to honor their loved one. The family may decide to preserve their memories in hand-blown glass urns too. Offer them the opportunity to do so with a thoughtful gift card.

#7. Glass cremation arts

These are creative keepsakes that make a tremendous and moving gift. Honor your loved one through art. For example, these unique hand-blown glass paperweights from Reminiss Memorials are something that the bereaved family of the departed can display in their homes. There are also votives, vases, and globes that you can choose from.

You can make these paperweights more personal by adding some of the departed one’s ashes—if you have access to it and you have the family’s permission. The ashes will appear as a white or grey ribbon in the memorial. If there is any remaining ash, they will send it back to you via the ashes priority express as per USPS regulations. You will need only to cover this charge. Usually, there is very minimal ash left, so if you allow it, they will respectfully scatter it at the Puget Sound or at the base of Mount Rainier. You may rest assured that this company will handle the ashes in a dignified manner.

Essential Celebration Of Life Etiquette

It would help if you observed the same etiquette in a celebration of life as you would at any celebration or gathering. And these should come easily, especially since most of the time, the guests are all familiar or at least acquainted with each other.

• Be on time. Never be late for a celebration of life.
• Sign the guestbook if there’s one.
• Dress appropriately and follow the dress code set by the family of the departed.
• Pay your respects to the family. If applicable, introduce yourself.
• Participate in the activities planned by the family

Why Celebrations Of Life Are A More Feasible Choice

It can be a little overwhelming for the bereaved family if they want to hold a celebration of life for their loved ones. But more and more people are considering this gathering instead of the traditional memorial service because of its advantages.

Again, there’s no stopping the family from having both a memorial service and a celebration of life. Here are some of the benefits of a celebration of life over a traditional mourning gathering.

• Creative Freedom

A celebration of life breaks away from the stiff parameters of a traditional memorial service (and even a funeral service).

The bereaved family can incorporate whatever ideas they want to so long as the objective is to celebrate the departed's life and character.

You won’t feel guilty or even remorseful about having people laughing and having a good time in a celebration of life because overall, life still needs to be embraced and enjoyed after the passing of a loved one. That is what they would want for their loved ones too.

• Flexible Schedule

There’s no pressure on when a celebration of life needs to happen. It is not a time-sensitive gathering, so there are zero timelines. Again, you don't need to adhere to the "immediate" need to get it done, unlike a memorial service.

You have the time to think things through and decide on when you want the celebration of life to take place.

• Storytelling Gathering

Hearing stories about your loved ones and how they positively impacted other people's lives can make you feel accomplished and further proud of who they were.

And from the testimonials of other people, you will find closure and healing. The comical highlights and experiences can be openly shared, unlike in a memorial service where you have to be solemn and serious during the event.

• Economically Friendly

Those restricted with a limited budget can still hold a celebration of life because this kind of gathering is more financially feasible.

The activities and expenses can be customized and adjusted at will so you can stretch your budget further if needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the best time to have the celebration of life?

A celebration of life can be set any time after the passing of your loved one.

You can opt to make the arrangements immediately, especially if this will replace the memorial service. But it is still acceptable to have it several weeks after the memorial service. Set a tentative date that will work for you and those people closest to the departed.

Consider that delaying or planning too long poses a higher risk of having lesser attendees, especially if the people you want to be there are coming from different states. Timing is critical here, and the success of the celebration of life is highly based on the people joining the gathering.

But it is still recommended to have the celebration of life whenever you feel the time is right. And this can be after a few days, after several weeks, and even months after the death. You can also plan it so the celebration coincides with another occasion like your loved one's birthday to make it more significant and powerful.

Who should speak at a celebration of life?

With the premise that celebrations of life are informal events, you can have more people speak and share fond memories with the departed. You can start with family, relatives, and close friends first, and from there, you can welcome anyone who wants to share.

Unless every attendee is willing to speak, which is unlikely, the celebration of life is full of conversations about the deceased's life and impact on others.

How long should a celebration of life last?

The duration of a celebration of life is entirely up to the deceased’s family members.

A celebration of life can be planned to last an hour or a maximum of 2.5 hours, especially if there is a program that includes food and drinks. You want to ensure that the time is well-spent without idle minutes.

While eating, other activities can be done simultaneously. Although this is a gathering to remember the life and impact of the departed, the emotions and exchange of memories can still be overwhelming for many, especially for the immediate family.

But it can also last the entire day—especially if you have plenty of things planned and your guests are agreeable to an extended celebration.

This is another beauty of a celebration of life; it is a gathering of joyful memories so you can make it last as long as you want, so long as you have willing participants.

Do you bring flowers when asked to attend a celebration of life?

Unless the family provides you with specific instructions like bringing a single white rose or any kind of flower, that is the only time you need to get one.

The general rule is, you don't need to bring flowers for this gathering. If you still want to, though, as a sign of your grief and respect, you can send the flowers privately to the departed one's home with notes of condolences.

Are there organizers for a gathering like a celebration of life?

Yes, organizers and event planners also offer their services for this kind of gathering. It is understandable that not all families have the time to go through planning a celebration of life.

Depending on the circumstances surrounding the death, the family needs to attend to other necessary and more urgent things, but this doesn't mean that a celebration of life cannot be accommodated.

Select a team and let them know what and how you want the celebration of life to be, and leave the planning and logistics to them.

Are there prayers, eulogies, and readings in a celebration of life?

With the premise that you have complete liberty on how to celebrate this gathering, you can opt to incorporate these elements if you want.

But funny and life-changing stories are greatly encouraged instead of somber narrations. Happy times and how the deceased lived a good life is always the focus of this get-together.

The Celebration of Life After

A celebration of life is not just to place emphasis on and appreciate the life of the departed. It is also an avenue to love, cry, and laugh with people with whom you have something in common—touched by the life of a loved one that has passed on.

This is a joyful opportunity for closure, healing, and moving forward.

Get in touch with Reminiss Memorials to find the perfect memorial for your Celebration of Life After. Every one of their memorial products is handmade and unique in form. Their artisans will even inscribe up to eight characters free of charge on your full-sized memorials. You may share personal stories or the nature of your relationship with the decedent, but this is left entirely to your discretion and comfort.

Memorials are a beautiful way to keep a part of your loved one with you even as they move on peacefully to their life after.

“May there be comfort in knowing that someone so special will never be forgotten.” – Julie Hebert.