Giving a loved one who has passed away a celebratory send-off is not a morbid idea. It allows family and friends to honor the deceased in a more personal and non-traditional way. Instead of mourning the person’s death, guests can celebrate their life in a joyful manner by talking, laughing, and sharing loving memories of the deceased at a gathering that can be a heartwarming experience for all.
Celebration of life gatherings can be intimate with just attendees who were very close to the deceased, or they can be expanded to include co-workers, extended family, and acquaintances. The size of the event will depend on a budget, the deceased person’s personality, and how they lived their life.
The celebratory event can be held anywhere–a home, church basement, community center, beach, park, restaurant, bowling alley, or rented hall. It can also be held at any given time. It is not mandatory that a celebration of life be held immediately after the deceased has been buried.
If the deceased left specific instructions on how they wanted their death handled then you should absolutely abide by their wishes. If you, however, are planning a celebration of life event for a deceased loved one then you might want to consider incorporating a few of these ideas:
Speakers: You can have an officiant speak and lead in a prayer at the gathering. You can also have a few loved ones share funny stories, interesting moments in time, and fun work-related memories. Folks can also read poems, favorite proverbs, or even sing a few of the loved one’s favorite songs or hymns.
Accessibility: Don’t choose a venue that is difficult for family and friends to attend. Make sure the place is easy for guests to get to, with plenty of parking, or public transport.
Music: If the deceased loved jazz, R&B, country, or pop, you can have favorite recordings playing throughout the gathering.
Food & beverages: You can serve light refreshments, a complete buffet, or a sit-down catered meal at the gathering. If the deceased loved McDonald’s, soul food, or seafood for example, your menu can include what they enjoyed eating.
Decorations: Choose decorations that have meaning. If the deceased person had a favorite color like blue, have touches of it throughout the event space like on napkins, tablecloths, flowers, balloons, etc.
Mementos: You can set up a table that displays pictures of the deceased on a poster board collage. You can also showcase personal items or keepsakes that they adored like a favorite hat, scarf, book, CD, or even military medals.
Videos & slideshows: Videos and slideshows help to share stories, memorable moments, often set to a favorite song or with instrumental music. A slideshow featuring photos from various life stages, or a video montage of happy moments can be a special way of celebrating your loved one’s life.
Balloon or floating lantern release: A beautiful way to celebrate a deceased one’s life is to also release balloons or lanterns into the sky; you can give out one per guest.
Memory box: You can have each guest write down a memory about the deceased on a notecard that will be placed in a box, then kept as a keepsake for generations to come.
Create a skit: Children can create and perform in a short skit that will honor their deceased loved one.
Closing words: Remember to offer final words of gratitude to the guests for participating in the celebration of life.
A key thing to remember about a celebration of life gathering is to keep the gathering upbeat!
Don’t let bereavement be a solitary journey. Share your loss with others through a celebration of life which can provide unforeseen comfort and where you can experience immeasurable support.