Paying Tribute to Your Loved One at a Funeral/Memorial Service
There are many things you can do to honor, pay tribute, and celebrate your loved one’s life at a funeral. As you plan these activities, you will feel a difference in the spirit of the funeral planning – you will find that your memories help bring you a little comfort in this difficult time.
Photo Video Tribute
Favorite photographs of your loved one can be put together in video format, then burned to DVD. They come together in a touching tribute to the life your loved one led. You can have this video playing at the funeral home during a visitation or after the funeral.
Memory Table
Gather together photos or memorabilia that was treasured by your loved one and display them at the services. In addition to showcasing these items, you can also:
Write out some of the stories behind the photos and memorabilia to explain why these photos were special or why these items were important to your loved one.
Put out paper and pens and invite everyone to write down their own memories of your loved one.
Personal Tributes
The services themselves can be a fitting tribute to the life and loves your loved one held dear. Consider the following areas of your loved one’s life and what kinds of things were valued:
- Family
- Religion
- Personality
- Hobbies
- Work
- Collections
Think about what kinds of activities at or after the funeral service could best honor your memory of your loved one. Here are a few examples:
For the cook of the family, put together a few favorite recipies to give to family and friends who attend the services and have a luncheon afterwards where you serve these dishes.
For the family genealogist, allow a member of the family to tell about some of the stories your loved one has collected of ancestors who have gone before, and show how your loved one has honored the heritage they left.
For the religious person, hold the services at your loved one’s place of worship and include things that were important – songs, scriptures, teachings, etc.
Work with a Funeral Celebrant
A Funeral Celebrant is someone who is specially trained to help you create a service that will be meaningful for your family. They will meet with you to learn all about your loved one and then help you plan a funeral or memorial service that will be a fitting tribute to the life your loved one led.
Find a celebrant:
Other Resources
For more ideas, you can visit the following sites:
- Memorial Music Database
Comprehensive database of songs about grief and loss; lists all the songs on one page but categorizes them by Military, Types of Loss, and Gospel on other pages. Even includes 15 different versions of Amazing Grace and Ave Maria.- Music for Funerals and Memorial Services
Find familiar music that others have used or plan to use for their memorial services. Titles are loosely grouped by Classical, Religious/Inspirational, and Secular/Popular. Includes links to other sites with music as well.- A Good Goodbye: Funeral Planning for Those Who Don’t Plan to Die
A resource to help you plan your own funeral
Leave a Reply
