Funerals are an incredibly personal way to honour the life of a loved one who has passed away. They provide an opportunity for friends and family to celebrate their life and share precious memories they have. Personalising a funeral can make this final goodbye even more meaningful, so let’s explore four thoughtful ways to ensure a funeral is a fitting tribute to the person being remembered.
Customising The Ceremony
One of the best ways to personalise a funeral is by customising the ceremony. Traditional funeral services tend to follow a certain format, but there is room to add your own touches to reflect the personality of the deceased. Here are a few ideas for personalising a funeral:
· Choose a unique location: the majority of funerals are held in churches or crematoriums, but this doesn’t always have to be the case. If your loved one had a favourite place such as a beach or park, you could hold the service there. Do check local regulations and obtain the necessary permissions when choosing an unconventional location though.
· Personalise the order of service: the order of service can be personalised in many different ways. You could include the deceased’s favourite hymns or poems, and if they had a hobby then you could incorporate themes related to that into the ceremony too. If they were passionate about a particular cause, you could include a donation collection in their memory.
· Involve family and friends: one of the best ways to personalise a funeral is to involve family and friends of the deceased. Encourage them to share memories or read poems, as this will create a much more meaningful experience, helping to bring everyone together.
Adding Personal Momentos
Personal items are a great way to remember the journey of the deceased, shining light on their achievements and the impact they had on others. Here are a few ways you can incorporate personal moments into the funeral service:
· Memory display: a memory table or display is a wonderful way to showcase items that were significant to the deceased. This could be photographs, personal belongings or items related to their hobbies or interests. A visual representation of their life can spark more happy memories for those attending the service.
· Tribute wall: a memory book or tribute wall is a place where family and friends can write down messages of condolence or personal stories about the deceased. This can help to provide comfort to those closest to the deceased, as well as remind them of the support available. Funeral services are often over so quickly that it is hard to remember everything people say, so a memory book or tribute wall can help with this.
· Personalised coffin or urn: these can be decorated with themes or colours that reflect the personality of the deceased. A coffin could be painted in their favourite colour, and urns can be engraved or customised with photographs.
Creative Use of Music
Music and multimedia are often used within funeral services to add a touch of personalisation, and can often lead to more memories being remembered. Here are a few ways to incorporate music or multimedia into a funeral:
· Creating a personal playlist: music can evoke both emotions and memories, so having a playlist running throughout the funeral is a lovely way to add that personal touch. The playlist can serve as a soundtrack to the life of the deceased, so allowing family and friends to contribute will make this even more special.
· Video slideshow: a photo slideshow or video of the deceased’s key moments will create a moving tribute to help celebrate their life. Make sure the equipment is all tested in advance though, it would be devastating if the slideshow didn’t work on the day of the funeral.
· Live streaming the service: some people may not be able to attend the funeral, particularly if the deceased has moved away from home. Live streaming is a great way to include distant family and friends, allowing everyone to feel part of the ceremony.
Commemorative Activities & Memorials
After the ceremony itself there are other ways to remember the life of the deceased moving forward:
· Planting a memorial tree: planting a tree or creating a memorial garden gives family and friends of the deceased somewhere to go and remember them. By providing a peaceful place for reflection and remembrance, this will help to feel close to their loved one.
· Memorial donations: if the deceased was passionate about supporting a particular charity or cause, ask people for donations when attending the funeral. Lots of people are moving away from the tradition of sending flowers, by putting that money to good use instead. Some families create a memorial fund to support a worthy cause.
· Releasing lanterns: a symbolic release such as lanterns or butterflies can give that sense of letting go following a funeral service. If you opt for this, consider environmentally friendly options such as biodegradable lanterns so no wildlife comes to harm as a result.
Personalising a funeral is a fitting way to honour the life of a loved one. Here at Threadgold Funeral Directors, we do everything we can to make the service that little bit more special. We have personalised funeral services in many ways, from hiring saxophonists to allowing dogs to lead the procession. We really are focused on making those last steps of a deceased’s journey special and memorable, so do get in touch with our team to see how we can help.
