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.
Celebrate your loved one's life journey and accomplishments with their favorite people in attendance.
Life celebrations can be scheduled at any time and do not have to adhere to the guidelines of a traditional funeral.
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.
One of the greatest benefits of celebrations of life is that they can cost as much or as little as you would like.
Planning a celebration of life is really a process of asking–and answering–questions. Sit down with other family members, at least once—but maybe even more than once—to explore the celebration of life ideas which arise from answering these questions:
We've got years of experience listening, brainstorming, and advising families how they can best pay tribute to a beloved family member. That means we're the perfect people to help you decide between a funeral and a celebration of life service. We'll explore your service options with you in detail, taking all the time you need.
In the book Chocolat, by Joanne Harris, you'll find this fundamental truth: “Life is what you celebrate. All of it. Even its end.” As funeral professionals we help families express reverence for life. Let us do that for your family. Call our funeral home to speak with a member of our staff.