How to Plan an Unforgettable Celebration of Life Service
Written by: Marissa Bergen, Healthcare Industry Writer, and Troy Centazzo, Founder and CEO of Opal Cremation
Table of Contents
- What is a Celebration of Life Service
- Celebrations of Life Around the World
- Planning a Celebration of Life Service
- Plan a Unique Memorial Celebration of Life with Opal Cremation
- Additional Resource
Key Takeaways
- A celebration of life can be the ideal way to remember a family member. As compared to a formal funeral service, it’s much more flexible and casual, giving families various options.
- Celebrations of life are often inspired by different cultures. Learn about these celebrations to find out how they can guide your plans.
- Learn about various options for celebration of life services, including the best locations, activities, and ways to honor your loved one.
- Opal offers affordable direct cremation in Southern California and can guide you through the celebration of life planning process.
When we die, our stories live on. Funerals, memorial services, and visitations can provide comfort and closure to family and friends after death.
People naturally want to gather and honor the person who has passed away. When planning the event, it’s important to consider the wishes of your deceased loved one, as well as the needs of the family. Many families choose to forego the traditional funeral service and have a celebration of life service instead.
Here’s everything you need to know about celebrations of life.
Opal Cremation provides direct cremation in Los Angeles and Orange County and can help you plan events after loved ones pass. Contact us to learn more about our affordable cremation in Los Angeles..
What is a Celebration of Life Service?
A celebration of life service is a joyful gathering in which friends and family share stories, focusing on remembering their loved one’s life. They differ from funerals in the following ways:
- Setting: Funerals are typically held in a formal setting, such as a funeral home. Celebrations of life may occur in a park or a family member’s house.
- Expense: While celebrations of life can be expensive, their casual nature means they can cater to various budgets.
- Timing: Formal funerals typically take place directly after the burial. Celebrations of life can also occur after the burial, but can take place on any date. Some families will plan these events on the anniversary of their loved one’s death for years to come.
Don’t feel like you need to rush into the planning stages. You may need time to process grief. Begin planning when you feel comfortable doing so.
| Formal Funerals | Celebration of Life | |
| Setting | Formal | Typically casual |
| Expense | Typically expensive | Can adjust to various budgets |
| Timing | Held directly after the burial or cremation | Can occur at any time |
Celebrations of Life Around the World
In many cultures across the globe, people share traditions in which they celebrate their loved ones and ancestors after they die. For many, it’s a yearly festival full of music, food, and meaningful rituals.
Dia de Los Muertos – Mexico
Dia de Los Muertos – Mexico
Every year, people from southern and central Mexico honor their deceased loved ones in a festive celebration called “Dia de Los Muertos,” or “Day of the Dead.” Families decorate an altar, or ofrenda, to remember and celebrate the family members who have passed on. They fill the ofrenda with the deceased’s favorite foods, drinks, and favorite things.
These customs go all the way back to the Aztec belief that the souls of dead loved ones can come back to visit for one night each year. The souls can enjoy the gifts placed on the ofrendas, and reunite with their families.
Ofrendas are adorned with marigolds, or Cempasúchil, also known as the “flower of the dead.” Its scent is said to be able to guide the souls back home.
Obon – Japan
This annual Buddhist festival has some similarities to Dia de Los Muertos. Japanese people also believe that each year the spirits of their ancestors return to the world to be with their families.
During Obon, people hang lanterns in front of their homes to guide their loved ones back to their families. They make food offerings at altars and temples and visit gravesites. Obon dances, called bon odori, are performed.
At the end of the festival, people place floating lanterns into the lakes, rivers, and sea to guide the spirits of their loved ones back to the spirit world.
Aboriginal Mortuary Rituals
Aboriginal people honor the dead with a smoking ceremony to help their spirit move on. To announce that their loved one has died, they paint ochre and put up a flag where the deceased once lived. The friends and family then proceed with a death ceremony, in which they celebrate with the body in the home.
After the in-home celebration, the body is wrapped up and set on a platform to naturally decompose. The occasion is marked by singing, dancing, and a feast. During these rituals, the Aboriginal people avoid saying the name of the person who died, for fear that it will disturb their spirit.
No matter which part of the world you live in, celebrations of life can offer friends and family a chance to marvel at a life well lived.
Opal understands that planning can be difficult when you’re mourning a loved one’s passing. We will help you every step of the way. We offer affordable cremation services and planning guidance. Call us at 888-714-8481 for a seamless process.
| Culture | Celebration |
| Dia De Los Muerte’s- Mexico | Families decorate an alter with gifts for their loved one and have a feast in their honor |
| Obon- Japan | Families hang lanterns to guide their loved ones back home. They make food offerings at alters, visit gravesites, dance, eat, and place floating lanterns on the water |
| Aboriginal Mortuary Rituals | Families place a flag where their loved one died, have a ceremony with the body in the home, then wrap the body and place it on a platform to decompose. They sing, dance, and eat. |
Planning a Celebration of Life Service
Given that this isn’t an ordinary event, there are many things to consider when planning a celebration of life service carefully. The following information can guide planning a meaningful gathering to honor a departed loved one.
Location
Pick a place that has significance to the deceased to surround friends and family with the spirit of your loved one. This will ensure that guests feel connected to the person who has passed. Some options are:
- a favorite park or garden
- a restaurant or tavern they frequented
- an arena for their favorite sports game or musician
- a potluck at their home
- a beach barbecue
- a charity event for their favorite organization
Display Photographs
Before the event, gather photographs of your loved one for display at the celebration. These photos can be from all ages and stages of life. This is a great way to share childhood pictures, milestone moments, memories, and significant events with your guests.
Start with a Poem or Story
Break the ice by sharing a favorite poem or story to start the celebration. You can invite others to share by giving them a prompt ahead of time. Ask questions like, “What did you learn from them?” “What’s your favorite story about them?” “What’s something about them that makes them unforgettable?”
For a more meaningful connection, ask them to write it in the form of a letter to the deceased (it could be your own version of an obituary, what you will remember them most for).
This can be an informal part of the celebration, where people gather around a campfire, or a bit more formal, where they stand to speak in front of a room. You can also lead the guests in a group prayer if you choose.
Handwritten Letters
Some people don’t feel comfortable speaking in front of a crowd. Others may not be able to attend the celebration, but would still like to contribute. In that case, ask them to write letters to or about the deceased and ask their permission to display the letters so the guests can read about the impact their loved one had on people.
This will demonstrate their connection to the person and how they made a difference in their communities.
Set Up a Memorial
Whether you plant a tree, decorate a wall, or place flowers at a special spot, setting up a memorial is a lovely way to remember your loved one. You can choose to make it an interactive piece, to which all the guests contribute something meaningful. A memorial release is another way to honor their memory during a celebration of life event.
Dance to Their Favorite Music
Music is an excellent way to celebrate your loved one’s life. You can play their favorite music at almost any the event. Put together a playlist beforehand, and ask people to contribute songs that trigger happy memories of your loved one.
If you have any musician friends, see if they would sing or play a song that reminds everyone of the person you are celebrating.
Hold a Fundraiser or Silent Auction
In lieu of flowers, ask people to donate to the deceased’s favorite charity. You can also hold a silent auction and ask people to donate items in the person’s honor. People can bid during the event, with the proceeds going to charity in your loved one’s name.
Hire a Videographer
Even though the event is intended to be joyful, it can still be an emotional day for everyone. You may not remember what people said or did at the celebration. Hiring a videographer can help you capture the day’s memories, so that you can look back on them later.
Food and Drink
Some people choose to have the departed’s favorite restaurant cater the event. For potlucks, people can bring a favorite dish that was significant to their loved one’s memory. Set up a bar with their favorite drinks. Friends and family can connect and share stories about their loved one over a feast of the foods they loved the most.
Opal Tip: Be aware that some vendors may take advantage of families when they are most vulnerable. Opal can provide recommendations to trusted sources.
After the Event
It can be hard to adjust to a new normal after the dust settles and everyone gets back to their routines. During this difficult period, self-care and connection are vital. Make plans to stay in touch with friends and loved ones.
Find a support group. Stay connected to your community. Remember that you’re not alone, and processing grief is never a straight line. There will be peaks and valleys.
Set up a support system for when you hit the valleys. The best gift you can give your departed loved one is your health, happiness, and well-being.
Honor Their Memory with a Hashtag
With social media becoming more and more the norm, people have online lives. Include social media mavens and gurus with an honorary hashtag. Think of it like a virtual memorial.
Encourage attendees and participants to share thoughts, memories, and photos. You can also memorialize a deceased person’s Facebook page.
Create a Scholarship in Their Memory
Was the deceased an educator? Creating a scholarship is a great way to honor a passed teacher, tutor, or professor. By helping a student, you’ll see the person’s influence continue to live on.
Go for a Commemorative Hike
Was the deceased an avid hiker or outdoorsman? Southern California has many surrounding trails and parks that offer the perfect hiking environment. Honor the departed with one last trek.
“Sharing memories and stories keeps the loved one’s spirit alive and fosters a sense of connection that transcends death.”
Writer for Farewelling, Adrian Diaz in the article, “The Psychology of Why We Need Funerals and Memorials.”
Plan a Unique Memorial Celebration of Life with Opal Cremation
What kind of unique celebration of life should you have for your loved one? Only you can really answer that.
Think about what made your friend or family member special. Write down what you’ll miss about them. Then contact Opal Cremation of Southern California to plan the fondest farewell for your loved one.
Opal Cremation stands out as the best cremation company in Southern California. Unlike some licensed cremation providers, we offer all-inclusive packages without the extra fees.
Our services include guidance on celebration of life planning, scattering laws, documentation, and free reissuance of disposition permits. We offer ongoing communication throughout the cremation and planning process, and beyond.
Call us at 888-714-8481 to learn more about direct cremation near me.
