In our time in the funeral industry, we’ve witnessed many funerals and the different ways family and friends choose to celebrate the life of their loved one. Below, we detail just 5 of our favourites. Whether you are planning ahead for your own funeral or currently for a loved one’s, these 5 ideas are sure to create a meaningful service that many will remember for years to come. Here’s to the ones we loved and lost.
1. Organise a themed funeral
Now, hear us out. Themed funerals need not always be loud or flashy affairs with guests parading around in their loved one’s favourite superhero’s costume (although if that is what they want, that’s fine too!). You can go as big or as subtle as you like.
If your loved one was a Harry Potter fan for example, guests could turn up dressed in the colours of the 4 houses (Gryffindor – red & gold; Ravenclaw – blue & bronze; Slytherin – green & silver; Hufflepuff – yellow & black) as a nod to their favourite book series. Or if they were an NBA fan, flowers can be specifically requested to be arranged in the shape of a basketball and placed around the casket. Themed funerals are a fun way to reflect the interests and personality of the decedent and create an atmosphere of celebration rather than sorrow.
2. Set up a memory board
A memory board is exactly as its name suggests – a board containing memories of the one who passed. To set it up, place a table with pens and paper near the entrance of the wake. On the table, include an instruction for guests to write down their favourite memory of the decedent on a piece of paper before pinning it onto the board. When the service ends, family members will be left with a board full of precious anecdotes and memories. These words – they are the legacy that your loved one has left behind.
3. Create a memorial montage
Besides words, photos and videos are also a good way to tell your loved one’s story. A montage containing images and videos from the start to the end of the deceased’s life can take your guests on a journey spanning a lifetime and allow them to relive your loved one’s best memories. A slideshow of about 3 to 5 minutes with soothing music playing in the background would do the trick. At Serenity, we include this montage-making service as part of our services. Family members need only provide the photos and videos and we will do the rest.
4. Start a memory capsule
This is how a memory capsule works at a funeral: Everyone brings along something that reminds them of the individual and places them on the memorial table. It could be a photograph, a letter, a trinket or anything that represents the person they were when they were alive and the impact they had on those around them. The memorial table itself will be a tribute to the person lost.
5. Pass out their favourite item at the service
This item could be anything: from the snack they enjoyed the most while they were alive to the book they loved so much they wanted everyone they knew to read it too. Everyone at the service will be given a copy of the decedent’s favourite item as a keepsake, to consume (snack and book alike) after the service in their own home.
The purpose is, for family and friends to continue to share in their loved one’s interests even after their death, so that their memory lives on in the shared item and the discussions you have about it.
If you were inspired by the above and wish to incorporate one or two ideas in a funeral, Serenity is here to assist you in the arrangements. Contact us today at 9618 6689 or email us at care@serenitycasket.com.sg