Memorial Service
Memorial Service Outline & Ideas
What is a Memorial Service?
Memorial services are ceremonies that honor the deceased but are much less structured than traditional funerals. There is no set format to the service, however most include music, prayers, readings, and a eulogy. Caskets are not present at memorial services but cremation urns might be on display. Memorial services can take place weeks or even months after the death. Memorial services are not restricted to being at churches or funeral homes. They can be essentially anywhere. Often families choose a place that was important or special to their loved one.
Why a Memorial Service?
A memorial service gives you the flexibility to create a ceremony that highlights the individual’s personality, achievements, and contributions to society. Today, people really value funeral ceremonies as a critical part to the grieving process. To truly honor someone’s life, some families find that a memorial service allows them the opportunity to share their loved one’s life story, what they stood for, and what they valued.
Memorial Service Ideas
To gain memorial service ideas, it is most helpful to have the Talk of a Lifetime with your loved one. The Talk of a Lifetime is an initiative that the Funeral and Memorial Information Council has been encouraging. The Talk of a Lifetime is a discussion between you and a loved one that essentially allows you to get to know each other better. You should look to discuss things like each other’s greatest accomplishments, fondest memories, most important values, and what each person wishes to represent. Ultimately this conversation should help both of you learn how each other wants to be remembered.
Below are some questions that may help to start the conversation:
- What was the best piece of advice you were ever given?
- What is your greatest accomplishment?
- What was your most memorable moment as a child?
Also consider the following when starting to plan or when you are trying to think about ideas for memorial services:
- Photos could be displayed digitally in a slideshow or in more of an old fashioned collage style
- A memorial service at a park or a beach could provide a nice setting and it could also be a place where you scatter the loved one’s ashes.
- Serve the deceased’s favorite food and/or beverage
- Make a memory pillow (or quilt) from your loved one’s clothing
- Set up a memorial stone station, where guests write memories onto stones with permanent marker and put them into a vase
Our Memorial Service Prices
Use of facilities for memorial visitation
$750
Supervision for memorial service
$250
Memorial Package - includes prayer cards, acknowledgement cards, register book
$250
You can even consider a celebration of life which is a memorial service that is even more personalized. It is a more positive and uplifting approach where you try to celebrate the loved one’s life.