A Memorial / Celebration of Life (This is your life) Ceremony
You’re probably reading this because you’ve recently experienced the death of a loved one. You are likely feeling overwhelmed and highly emotional as grief can make us feel powerless.
You’re probably reading this because you’ve recently experienced the death of a loved one. You are likely feeling overwhelmed and highly emotional as grief can make us feel powerless.
Every family is different and how they choose to honour their loved one’s passing is as unique as the family its self. Commemorating your loss and connection can be a cathartic step in the mourning process. Honouring the life of a loved one can help to begin to ease the agony of loss by focusing on the life you shared.
In the past, families would choose to hold a traditional funeral Ceremony to honour their loved one. However, with the popularity of cremation, families are now choosing to plan a more personalized Memorial / Celebration of Life Ceremony. More and more families are choosing to celebrate the life of a loved one by sharing the memories of family and friends with a Memorial / Celebration of Life Ceremony created by Rev. Brenda O’Grady Wedding Solemniser and Family Celebrant.
Whether your choice is a traditional Ceremony, a Memorial / Celebration of Life Ceremony or something in between, there is an abundance of choice . This guide is intended to help you plan a Ceremony to remember and honour your loved one, and to alleviate some of the stress associated with the grieving process.
The Ceremony can vary in style, tone, and content to reflect the unique personality of your lost loved one. It will be a retrospective walk through your loved one’s milestones, and important events from birth to death.
A Memorial / Celebration of Life Ceremony, is designed to allow your loved ones family and friends to come together to pay tribute to the deceased, show their respect and honour their memory. It also serves as an important step in the grieving process, allowing everyone to pay tribute to and celebrate the life of your loved one, as well as gain support and fellowship from others.
It is important to remember that everyone attending is at different stages on their journey through life, their paths are varied and you all may look at life in different ways. But there the one common denominator is that at one point or another your lives have been touched by the life of the deceased. All of you are the threads which have woven the tapestry of their life. Each one is an important piece in the story it tells. It is the fabric that they wrapped around themselves and took comfort from when the world seemed cold and when everything was right in their world, that tapestry was proudly spread out and displayed for everyone to see, with all the glorious colours and textures of their diverse relationship with the Deceased.
The options for a Memorial / Celebration of Life Ceremony, are limitless and Rev. Brenda O’Grady Wedding Solemniser and Family Celebrant will guide and support you through the process to make it a stress free journey.
We would meet virtually or in person (once Covid-19 restrictions allow ) so that I can get a sense of the type of ceremony you would like. I will supply you with sample readings/verses, readings, enhancement suggestions etc. This is how your bespoke ceremony will develop and will result in a ceremony that will reflect your loved ones life, family and friends and will be a Ceremony that both you and your guests can look back on with fond memories for years to come.
THE DIFFERENT TYPE OF CEREMONIES EXPLAINED:
What is a Funeral Ceremony?
A funeral Ceremony is typically held in a religious facility, funeral home or the deceased’s home. The body is present at a funeral, so scheduling is dependent upon the choice of disposition, burial or Cremation and must take place soon after death.
A funeral Ceremony has four main parts: the visitation, funeral, committal, and reception. A funeral can include religious elements, a eulogy, readings, prayers, songs, and reflection and it also includes burial or Cremation of your loved ones remains.
What is a Celebration of Life Ceremony ?
A Celebration of Life Ceremony is an event focused on sharing stories of the deceased and commemorating the joys they brought into the lives of others. As the name implies, it’s meant to celebrate the life of your loved one as opposed to grieving the loss. While there are often tears, these events tend to be creative, and focus on happiness and laughter. A celebration of life can take place immediately, or weeks or months after death.
What is a Memorial Ceremony?
A Memorial Ceremony is similar to a Celebration of Life, in that the body is not typically present. A Memorial Ceremony may be held in a place of worship or funeral home, although if the body isn’t present, many other locations may be considered. Parks, other outdoor settings, a favourite gathering spot or public space are popular options for memorial Ceremonies. Timing can be immediate or several months after death
A Memorial Ceremony / Celebration of Life Ceremony can also include religious elements, a eulogy, readings, prayers, songs, and reflection. There is no wake before a memorial Ceremony.
Because the Memorial Ceremony / Celebration of Life Ceremony occurs after the remains have been cared for, there is often more room for creativity as you and your family can take more time to plan the ceremony and decide how you want to commemorate your loved one.
A Memorial Ceremony / Celebration of Life Ceremony is a gathering of people who share a common loss. The Ceremony helps the family and their community,
1. publicly acknowledge the death of their loved one.
2. Support the grieving family by surrounding them with caring family, friends and neighbours.
3. Celebrate a life full of memories and achievements.
A creative Memorial Ceremony / Celebration of Life Ceremony can be a constructive way to come to terms with your grief. It can be helpful to define the essence of your loved one by asking yourself the following questions:
- What were their religious or spiritual beliefs?
- What were their distinctive qualities?
- What were they passionate about?
- What do people think of when they think of them?
Rev. Brenda O’Grady Wedding Solemniser and Family Celebrant advise you to trust the process of creating your Ceremony with her, to keep an open mind and try something different, you may find comfort and meaning in ways you never expected.