Make it personal
Ideas for Personalization
When looking to personalize a funeral service, think about the meaningful moments you shared and the qualities that made your loved one unique. Reflect on their hobbies, interests, and the places they cherished most. Creating a list of their passions, accomplishments, and special memories can be a helpful starting point. These personal details can be thoughtfully woven into the service through readings, displays, music, or shared stories, creating a tribute that truly reflects the life they lived.
Personalized Services
To create a meaningful and personal service, think about the moments you shared and what made your loved one special. Consider their interests, favorite places, and lasting qualities. Listing memories and achievements can help shape a tribute that truly reflects their life.
Whether you choose an urn or a casket, the service options available to your family can be the same. With that being said, there is no right or wrong way to celebrate the life of a loved one because each of us is unique. Because each of us also grieves differently, the celebration that we help plan should be whatever is most meaningful to the surviving family. For some, the visual realization of a viewing is extremely important when moving through the grief process. While for others, a viewing may not be needed to properly understand and move through that process. When we sit down with a family to plan a celebration, whether it be simple or extremely personal and detailed, the goal is to provide a memorable and meaningful celebration to honor the gift of life we have been given.
Personalizing the visitation is an integral part of celebrating the life of an individual. Whether it’s video memorials, personalized portraits, or special music, because we are unique, the length to which it can be planned is endless. For example, for an antique car enthusiast, placing his/her automobiles at the entry to the funeral home and displaying car show awards and pictures may be important. For the fisherman, a casket spray with cast net, lures, boat paddle, and marsh flowers can reflect a personal touch. Or for the artist, displaying important works of art, “gallery style” may invoke special feelings from family and friends.
The objective is to create an environment of individual touches that can help bring back memories of a life lived. Many people don’t quite know what to say when they attend a service. They are in attendance because they care and want to give their support. Personalization can help start conversation and the healing process for all.
Additional Ideas for Personalization:
- Church ceremony with orchestrated gospel music
- Waters edge ceremony on the beach, complete with balloons and Chinese lanterns
- Funeral home chapel ceremony, complete with a memorial setting with personal items of the deceased, including a video tribute, framed portraits, hobby items, and floral displays
- Lakeside ceremony, followed by horse drawn carriage procession to cemetery
- Informal gathering/ reception, complete with catered menu, live music, and drink of choice
Photos & Albums
There are many opportunities to display photos at a funeral service. Poster boards with photo collages can be placed on easels for display. Flat screen TV monitors can be used to display pictures, videos, or a slideshow. Photographs can be printed in the memorial folders, registry book or on urns.
Tribute Videos
A DVD video is a wonderful way to share your loved one’s life with others. It can be personalized with your special photos and music. These videos become keepsakes that you can share with your family for generations.
Music & Artwork
A graveside or committal service is usually held immediately after the funeral and offers a meaningful moment of closure. Whether you prefer an intimate gathering or a larger group of family and friends, this service can be tailored to reflect what feels most personal and fitting for your loved one.
Readings of Poetry & Literature
Passages from the deceased’s favorite books or poems that capture the essence of life help create a service infused with wisdom and words to remember. You can also invite friends and family members to read passages or poems of their choice or write their own pieces to share.
