End of Life Ceremonies, an Honoring Celebration!
“Life celebration, or End of Life Ceremonies” are more recent terms for a certain kind of memorial service, where the emphasis is on the word “celebration,” and grieving is less the event’s focus. Life celebrations are fresh and unique. They are affairs of the heart and personalized to the person being honored.
The service we offer gives the structure and support that is lacking in our modern society, and is based on the values and beliefs of the person transitioning, and their family.
A celebration-of-life can incorporate personal details into a traditional funeral or memorial service immediately following a death or – if a direct cremation or direct burial is chosen – can be scheduled at a later date. The forum for this celebration can be small and intimate or large and extravagant, with a party or celebratory atmosphere – with many variations in between. However you choose to celebrate a life lived, it’s important to notify others.
If a service is held immediately following a death, then communicating the details quickly and efficiently is important. Some ways to communicate the details are:
Develop a call chain. Ask friends to communicate the details by calling a small group of people and asking them to call others within the same community. If it will be a private event, be sure to include this information too.
Emails and e-invites can be a great tool to invite key people to a celebration-of-life but should only be used if you are sure the intended recipient is already aware of the death. Using email or social networks should never be used to announce the death to close family and friends.
Online communities are created for the purpose of celebrating a life lived and sharing service information can be a time-saving tool to use whether communicating details via email or call chain. A community can be created allowing others to check back or receive email alerts when information updates happen. There are several free online services that can be set up quickly and easily by a friend and transferred to a family member to manage later. Friends and family can share photographs, sympathy messages and service details. These services are completely free to use.
Your loved one was unique, a one and only. This Celebration of Life Ceremony we put together will fully honor them. As funeral celebrants, we will create what you want and what they would have wanted.
Ceremony Location. We can host the memorial anywhere; outdoors, on the water, a mountain or backyard, in a chapel, living room or large venue, the choice is up to you.
Beliefs and Traditions. We will honor your beliefs and traditions, and can incorporate into the ceremony any traditions that feel appropriate and honoring, as well as offer our unique creative ideas.
Together we’ll uncover what lay at the heart of this life. We’ll decide on readings, music and important symbols that tell the story for you and for the people who come to say goodbye.
To support the family and friends left behind. Not only is this ceremony to say goodbye, it is also to support the living, to bring comfort and connection to family and friends at a time of need. The tribute will strengthen bonds of connection between all the people your loved one brought together, and the experience will leave you with an uplifting feeling!
Laughter and tears, toasts and memorials; the deceased’s favorite movies can be played in the background. Like memorial services, the body is not present at a life celebration, and the event can therefore be held days, weeks, or even months after death.
Each individual and family is unique, and we will make each service a personal tribute to the life that has been lived. Possibilities are endless, and we can help you with ideas that will help fulfill a family’s wishes, from a traditional funeral to a personalized service that truly celebrates a loved one.
The components can be any way you wish. Here are some examples of what others have done, which may help to stimulate ideas for personalizing your service:
• Altar Displays
• Video Tributes
• Photographic Collages
• Displays of personal memorabilia, such as awards, trophies, or favorite pastime items, such as garden tools
• The writing of personal notes by family and friends during the service
• Digital Music or Live musicians
• Special customs particular to different faiths, ethnic groups, and fraternal organizations
• Displays of uniforms and equipment for government employees
• Celebratory party atmosphere, Reception following or instead of the service
• Potluck of favorite foods of the deceased
• Anointing with blessed water, rosemary, sage, smudging
• Calling in Helping Spirits through Shamanic Traditions
We are dedicated to help you create a special tribute to your loved one that will honor a life well-lived. We encourage you to share your ideas, customs and wishes with us so we can make it as special and honoring of an event as possible. We will listen deeply, collaborate on the story of this life and the ceremony elements with you, as well as work with the venue. You will have full control and approval of the ceremony. We will deliver the ceremony and create the keepsake.
Initial consultation: Complementary 30 Minutes. Usually by email, phone or meeting in person. This consult will help you and your chosen officiant understand what is important to you, and how to put together your ceremony.