Ideas For a Memorial Service

ideas for a memorial serviceUnlike a traditional funeral, affordable memorial services are a gathering where a casket is not present (although the urn with the cremated remains may be on display). A memorial service can be held weeks or even months after the death.

A memorial service can be held in a church, the funeral home or a community hall, or somewhere of importance to the deceased and family. There is usually music, selected readings, and a eulogy. Memorial services can be further personalized as a celebration of life.

A memorial service can be adapted from a tradition funeral service with the casket and burial at a cemetery or, more commonly, a memorial service is held after a cremation service, which takes advantage of the flexibility of cremation. So whether you're thinking of planning memorial service as part of traditional burial services or you're planning to have the memorial service after cremation services, it's a great opportunity to create a unique and memorable experience.

How Does a Memorial Service Differ from a Traditional Funeral?

As mentioned in the page Traditional Funeral Services, there are four basic components which make up the conventional approach to funerals:

  1.  A Visitation
  2. The Funeral Service
  3. A Committal Service
  4. The Funeral Reception

A traditional funeral then is a series of events; it's a ritualized process where the deceased, and the attendees, pass from one social status to another; a process where the torn fabric of a family and community is repaired. According to the online article "Six Characteristics of Helpful Ceremonies", by William Hoy, Director of Grief Connect, this is done by including:

  1. Symbols of shared significance intended to communicate beyond words
  2. Ritual actions shared by a group of individuals
  3. Gathered people providing comfort to one another
  4. Connection to heritage through recognized readings
  5. Increased physical contact between attendees provide comfort
  6. Witnessing the transition of the body through burial or cremation

In knowing these characteristics, you can design a memorial service as unique as the life of your loved. 

memorial service ideas ocean sunrise photo

Memorial Service Ideas

Our experience has shown us that many of today's families want more than a traditional funeral. This can be done by bringing more of the personality and lifestyle of the deceased into the arrangements. By displaying photographs or staging the event around a favorite pastime, a memorial service can become more personal and meaningful.

If a personalized memorial service suits the needs of your family, we suggest you consider the following questions:

We're Here to Advise, Assist, and Guide You

Using the above five questions as our guide, we will spend the time to help create a fitting memorial service for your loved one. Please call us at 828-680-9963 to learn the details of our memorial service planning process.