Discover the affirming nature of a celebration of life service, how they differ from a traditional funeral event, & which cremation service is most appropriate.
Preserving the memory of a loved one is about celebrating them as an individual. Ensuring that they are remembered for what they did in life and who they were as a person often requires a ceremony that differs significantly from person to person.
Whilst for some this can include a type of funeral ceremony, particularly if faith was a key part of their life, for others it can involve a ceremony that is focused on ensuring that someone deeply special is never forgotten.
This is where a Celebration of Life Service can be an appealing option for families, friends and loved ones who wish to pay tribute in a less formal and more personal way, helping them to feel more connected to those who have passed.
Both are very solemn, powerful ceremonies, and our multi-faith Service Halls allow for both religious and non-religious Services, with the potential for final resting places in our Living Memorial Parks to be appropriately blessed and consecrated.
To understand which ceremony is right for your loved one, here are some of the biggest differences between a celebration of life and a traditional funeral.
A celebration of life is not a specific set of ceremonial rites or a particular type of Service, but instead is a personalised tribute to an individual and the imprint they left on the world and the people who love and care about them most.
It can take place anywhere, can last as long or as short as a person wants, and it can be as joyful or introspective as is appropriate for the loved one being honoured.
In many cases, music, poetry, passages from books they liked, slideshows and scrapbooks presenting a vivid collection of their memories, a meal or even a party can be fundamental parts of the ceremony.
They are often very interactive and collaborative, with friends and family telling stories, reminiscing and sharing all of the fond memories and impact that they had.
The most important aspect at the centre is building a legacy to ensure that they will never be forgotten. We often suggest planting a Living Memorial Tree, but creating a scrapbook, guestbook, or other collaborative mural that can celebrate a person and last beyond the end of the ceremony is key.
By contrast, a funeral Service has a specific set of rites and religious requirements, reflecting on a person’s transition from one stage of their life to the next.
Exactly how the Service will be undertaken can vary, but it will be in accordance with the faith of the person at the centre, and consist of prayers, hymns, religious passages, sermons and established eulogies.
Every religion has a different philosophy with regard to funeral rites, either explicitly written in scripture or having built up over centuries.
A funeral Service is understandably extremely sombre. It is a formal, spiritual farewell that focuses on the end of a chapter and the start of the next, whilst celebrating the memory and sharing stories is usually part of an informal wake or post-funeral reception.
By contrast, a celebration of life is often focused on the joy a person brought to the people around them and the joy of living itself.
Whilst it can be more contemplative or incorporate religious elements, this is far from a requirement, and it is often focused on bringing everyone in the room together. Some celebrations of life can even feel like a party.
It is possible to have both; some funerals have a celebration of life as an after-ceremony informal occasion.
Whilst it often varies, a celebration of life is often focused on the desires and views of the person in question. It can sometimes be smart-casual, it can be more casual, or it can even feature costumes, bright colours and accessories.
By contrast, a funeral ceremony typically requires formal dress, with black suits and dresses often expected if possible, to fit the melancholic mood of the occasion.
