Living Funerals
What is a Living Funeral?
What is a Living Funeral?
What is a Living Funeral?
Have you ever been to a funeral and thought "Hmm, that's not the person I knew" or "I wish they had asked me - I could have told it how it really was!". Or perhaps "I would like to see so and so again before I go".
As a funeral celebrant, I visit so many families of loved ones that have passed and I am sometimes reminded at how little the loved ones actually knew about their dearly departed. It's just a fact of life - in today's busy world, we get so involved in so many things that basic family, getting to know you stuff, just doesn't happen!
So, a living funeral is your chance to put the record straight- if indeed that needs to be done - but more importantly, tell your story how it should be told and allow others to share their loving thoughts and memories with you.
You can also of course, catch up with long lost friends and relatives and mend or build bridges.
How do i benefit?
What is a Living Funeral?
What is a Living Funeral?
You can create the perfect send-off. Have the music you want played, invite the people you want invited, and of course, (if you are brave enough) hear some home truths about how others might see you - but then again - why not?
This is the most fantastic opportunity to get together with everyone you have ever known in life who you might still be in touch with (and those you may not!) - and listen to what they have to say about you and of course, you are still here to respond likewise?
The journey will probably be emotional, but it could be sensitive, it could be humorous, it could be tense but that said, you are here together in the same ring and perhaps its time to let those tensions go?
But the main event will be you - taking to the stage (if you want to) and actually, letting others know how you feel about them as well as vice versa!
Why, Where, What and When?
Why?
where?
where?
People choose to celebrate the life whilst still living for many reasons - some as stated above. You may wish to just see long lost family and friends one more time. You may have received a terminal diagnosis or you may just wish to take the burden away from your next of kin.
where?
where?
where?
Anywhere! You can hold it at the venue of your choosing - your home, garden, your relative's home or garden, a hotel, a hall, a pub, a field - the choices are endless.
what?
what?
what?
You get to choose exactly what elements you would like to include in your day. It can take the format of a funeral inasmuch that you can have music recorded or even live if you have musical family or friends, poems and readings, a eulogy and contributions from friends and family, you could add food and drink. I could create a beautiful slideshow of photos to play or display. You could ask for donations for your favourite charity.
when?
what?
what?
Anytime. As for the "why" above, you may have received a terminal diagnosis and therefore wish to do it as soon as possible.
You may have a milestone birthday approaching. You may just be in your golden years and wanting to do it before it's too late.
There is no right or wrong time - you just have to be comfortable with it.