Planning a memorial service for a loved one is often a new experience for family members and friends. Although it may be hard to think through your grief, there are ways to make the process easier. If your loved one passes away, use this list of dos and don’ts to help you plan a memorial that honors your loved one.
Do Choose a Full-Service Funeral Home
Trying to hold the memorial at a different location from the burial site might lead to more planning for the logistics of the ceremony. Alternatively, you may find it more difficult to coordinate with multiple venues and service providers. Choosing a full-service funeral home gives you access to everything you need, such as a hearse, viewing facility, and even a place to publish the obituary.
Don’t Forget to Include Personal Touches
Once you’ve completed the basic details of the planning, you’ll have more time to think about the special things you want to include in the ceremony. For instance, your loved one might have had a favorite song that you can plan to honor their beliefs. You can also choose to place framed pictures in the memorial room for ceremonies without a viewing. If you find yourself searching for the right words to say, then you can also include a quote that represents who your loved one was to the people they loved.
Do Start With the Basics
Similar to planning other major life events, it helps to start by making a few basic decisions. For instance, you’ll want to decide if a burial or cremation is best for your loved one. You might also need to determine if a water or fire cremation is ideal versus terramation. Nailing down the basic details of the memorial helps you jumpstart the decision-making process.
Don’t Try to Do It Alone
Even if you’ve recently lost your spouse, you don’t have to be the sole decision-maker. Try to think of a person who can help you with the planning. An adult child, sibling, or best friend can all help to remove some of the burden off your shoulders.
Do Leave Time for Yourself to Grieve
Many people find that planning a memorial gives them a sense of control during a challenging time. Meanwhile, others may find that funeral planning adds more stress when they’ve already had so much. Either way, it’s important to remember that you are an important part of the ceremony. From the moment you begin planning to the final words, you’re also working through the grieving process of recognizing your loss. Allowing professional memorial planners to take the load off your shoulders allows you to immerse yourself in the ceremony to begin healing.
One of the most important things to remember about memorial planning is that there is no right or wrong way to make one happen. At the heart of the memorial are your thoughts and memories of the special person you’re honoring. Working with professional funeral planners can help you to express your emotions as you honor your loved one’s life with a ceremony that represents their core beliefs and contributions to the world.
