Planning a memorial service can often seem complicated, especially when trying to plan one in the midst of your grief. To help you, we’ve created this simple Guide to Memorial Services. Here, you’ll find everything you need to get started and navigate the decision-making that comes with this life-changing experience.
We’ve seen memorial services of every kind. Significant planning goes into each one. Without some structure that allows room for personalization and unique remembrances, those first few steps toward planning a memorial can be challenging. At the same time, these special services are a great way to commemorate and celebrate a loved one. With a bit of planning and preparation, hosting a memorial service can be a good way to mark a life well lived and to help heal yourself, your family, and those impacted by your loved one’s passing.
Start Here: Post-Burial, Post-Cremation, or Just Plain Later?
Unlike a wake or funeral service, a memorial service doesn’t need to occur at the time of the burial or cremation, adding a layer of flexibility to the planning process. As a result, memorial services can be hosted days, weeks, months, or even a year after the deceased passes. However, many families choose to align their memorial service just days after a burial or cremation, adding some additional considerations into the mix:
With a cremation: Some families who choose cremation will also have a private event to inter the cremated remains in a cemetery or scatter the ashes. The memorial service typically comes after these more private moments have occurred. There are many benefits to hosting a memorial service. For those who held a private event at the cemetery or when scattering, a monument service enables other friends and loved ones to celebrate the deceased. A memorial can help begin healing for many.
With a burial: Some families plan a cemetery burial followed later by a memorial service. Others may have a funeral and a memorial service for a loved one. Why? Because of the short window between death and the burial, it can often be difficult for family and friends to travel to an out-of-town funeral. By adding a memorial service that’s scheduled well in advance, you can ensure that all those who want to celebrate your loved one’s life have the opportunity to do so.
Standalone Memorial: Standalone memorial services are quickly increasing in popularity. These services can happen at any time following a death — some families even choose to host multiple services over the years at key times, such as milestone birthdays.
If you decide to host such a memorial service, the first step is determining the timing. Are you looking for a date that ensures more friends and relatives can attend? Is there a date with particular significance to your loved one, such as a birthday or anniversary? Don’t feel confined to a specific timeline… there’s no rush to lock down a date.
Next, Consider Themes
If you align your memorial with a meaningful date — a birthday, for example — you may extend that theme through the service.
If your memorial doesn’t align with a meaningful date or event, consider hobbies, special interests, and passions central to the deceased’s life. Consider weaving those aspects into the memorial. For example:
A recent service for a beloved New Jersey police officer integrated plenty of personal touches: not only were guests greeted with cold glasses of spiked iced tea — his signature summer drink — but the entire group moved to a nearby baseball field for a quick pick-up game after the service. The invitations and even the obituary encouraged people to bring gloves, bats, and sneakers. And dozens obliged. The deceased was a lifelong baseball fan and popular Little League umpire. By hitting the field, his family and friends could remember him precisely as he would have wanted — with lots of laughter stretched across nine exciting innings.
Likewise, many memorial services incorporate music, readings, colors, flowers, and other details from the deceased’s life. Alternatively, some opt for more traditional religious memorial services that align closely with a standard funeral, including hymns, spiritual readings, and remarks from clergy. Delve into your loved one’s personality and passions and let those guide you. Know that nothing is too big or too small. As long as it’s meaningful to you and your family, it’s a success.
From Here, Choose a Venue
Based on any themes or preferences — casual vs. traditional, religious vs. secular, small and intimate, or large and sprawling— identify potential venues for your memorial service. Sunset Funeral Home has a warm, inviting area to host a memorial service. Some families choose to have more private gatherings at home, while others look for a place with significant meaning to the deceased: a park, beach, or favorite restaurant, for example. Some families might use a community gathering place, like a VFW hall or hotel. If you’ve opted for a religious service, consider a church or other place of worship where specific needs can be accommodated, be they specific catering requests, music, or audio-visual needs.
Then, choose decor: Tropical flowers for a travel lover, jerseys for a diehard football fan, bright yellow decorations that reflect a loved one’s cheerful personality — decor can be a great addition to any memorial service and help set an instant tone for guests. Unlike funeral services, there’s no standard for decor at a memorial. While many opt for flowers, others veer towards the personal and creative. One family chose a fiesta theme and, with it, everything from bold wall hangings and colorful tablescapes to festive music, margaritas, and even mini piñatas for guests — a definite departure from the traditional funeral experience.
Most planners integrate images of the deceased and his/her family into the setting, whether it’s a slideshow, favorite photos displayed throughout the venue, or an enlarged image for guests to sign in commemoration. Having your loved one “present” for the memorial adds a unique and personal touch to the experience. It also helps those in attendance remember the good times, special memories, and everything in between.
Organizing the Memorial
If you’ve chosen a religious service and venue, the priest, pastor, or other clergy can help organize the flow of your service, including music, readings, and other details. However, if you opt for something more informal, it’s important to structure the service so people have ample time to connect, engage, and reflect. For example,
- Reading from their favorite author
- A toast with their favorite beverage
- Telling a funny anecdote
- Giving a eulogy-style speech (click here for tips on writing a eulogy)
Most memorial services are scheduled for whatever length of time you choose, with a post-service reception to follow (see “Following the Memorial Service” below). Assign tasks ahead of time, whether it be readings, musical performances, informal words, or other reflections, ideally giving each participant five minutes or so. Ensure you leave ample time for spontaneous toasts, mini eulogies, and other personal moments that attendees decide to share on the spot. Given the more casual nature of a memorial and the emotions no doubt present at these services, it’s not uncommon that guests may ask to say a few words in honor of the deceased.
Alerting and Inviting Guests: The deceased’s obituary often notes memorial services only several days after the burial or cremation. However, if your memorial service will be later, it’s crucial to alert friends, relatives, co-workers, and neighbors as soon as possible. This can be done casually—via email, word-of-mouth, or assigned contact lists divided among friends and family. For instance, it can also be more formal, with printed or digital invitations.
No matter how you choose to invite guests, it’s important that you set the right tone and specifically outline any requests. For example, the baseball-themed memorial suggested attendees bring gloves, bats, and sneakers — and they did. A memorial for a Jets football fanatic encouraged jerseys (as long as they weren’t for the Giants!), and many arrived in their Game Day best. Other invites may ask family and friends to bring photos of the deceased, a favorite poem or reading, or other memorabilia to display at the service.
Following the Memorial Service
No matter the tone and candor, hosting a reception immediately following the memorial is common, such as at a family home or even a restaurant or bar, depending on the type of memorial service you’re hosting. The main goal of the reception is to give guests time to relax and reflect on the day.
Drinks and food are usually served. Again, this is a great place to weave in some of your loved one’s favorites. Was she always raising a glass or two of her favorite wine? Be sure to have it on hand for a toast in her honor. Were his sausage sliders legendary? Have them prepared and served at the reception. Was she an avid traveler with a taste for adventure? Look for dishes from some of her favorite destinations, with table cards showcasing candids from her trips worldwide.
If the service is hosted at a restaurant, banquet hall, or other outside facility, pre-order all food so it’s available as soon as guests arrive. Likewise, if you’re hosting at home or a private venue, have platters, desserts, and other catering dishes delivered early enough in the day to ensure they’re ready when guests arrive. Often, families appoint someone — a neighbor or friend, for example — to stay home and accept food deliveries before the post-service reception. Remember, this is another time guests may ask to give impromptu toasts or share anecdotes, so be sure you have enough time and space to accommodate them.
Memorial services are great ways to commemorate loved ones, with plenty of opportunities to personalize, customize, and celebrate their lives in spirited and meaningful ways. The first step is determining how and when you’ll host the memorial service. From there, focus on developing a special service highlighting your loved one’s interests and passions.
A personal memorial service will encourage friends and family to commemorate and celebrate, helping mark this remarkable life and all it represents in a way that will help you and your loved ones heal.
Jaime Hollander, Blog Contributor
