Adding a personal touch – How to make funerals or memorial services more authentic – Tip Sheet

There are endless ways you can add your own ideas to make a farewell memorable and reflect the lifetime and personality of the person who has died.  Here are some suggestions to think about:

• Create a colourful photo board and place at the entrance to the service so that guests can share this upon their arrival.

• Show a life story through a DVD photo and music presentation.  You could in fact create two presentations, one to be played as people are gathering prior to the service starting, and then the other one can be incorporated into the service or played at the end.

• Make memorabilia display of personal items – this could include items from a favourite hobby or past time, clothing, photographs, personal belongings, etc.

• Decorate the casket or the urn with handprints, special messages, signatures or photographs

• Bring your family pet to the ceremony

• Ask team mates or club members representing a specific group, to come dressed in uniform or club colours

• Video or livestream the ceremony so that family and friends not able to be there can still partake in the service

• Consider the time of day for the ceremony – perhaps a candlelit twilight service followed by a cocktail party is more reminiscent of the person

• Have live musicians – bagpipes, singer, jazz band, pianist

• Have take-home mementos for guests – bookmarks or photo cards or even a copy of a favourite recipe

• Theme the chapel or place of ceremony with favourite colour and decorate with personal effects

• Ask guests to wear a special colour or hat or tie – something that reflects the person’s style or character

• Choose a venue that reflects the person’s life – golf club, garden, beach, or the backyard at home

• Memorial Stones – Set up a table near the entrance with river rock and permanent markers and instruct each person to write a brief note on the rock expressing their love, grief, or cherished memories.  The memorial stones can then be read aloud during the service or be scattered at a favourite fishing hole or hiking trail, kept by the family, placed around a garden bed, and so forth.

• My Special Memory of You Cards – Memory cards provide attendees at the memorial service an opportunity to write down their memories and can serve as a written record of the “open mic” session. It’s a beautiful resource of brief, heartfelt stories for the family of the decedent to treasure and remember.

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