Memorial Service Ideas

Memorial Services

Memorial Service vs. Funeral

The biggest difference of a traditional funeral and a memorial service is that the body is not present in a casket at a memorial service. However, an urn with the loved one’s ashes may be present at a memorial service. Both traditional funeral services and memorial services have structure, and both bring the community together in support and remembrance. However, a traditional funeral service is much more structured and formal. A traditional funeral service is often associated with religion so it is often led by a member of clergy, whereas a memorial service is led by a celebrant or master of ceremonies. Memorial services often allow for each guest to participate to some level, where guests of a traditional funeral are really just there to observe and reflect.

Memorial Service vs.
Celebration of Life

A celebration of life is an event that truly celebrates the loved one’s passions, intellectual pursuits, personality, and personal accomplishments. A celebration of life can really have no structure at all and can be really anything you want.

A memorial service could be best described as a gentle mix of a traditional funeral and celebration of life. A memorial service has some structure, but it still allows you the flexibility to make the ceremony unique and personalized to fit the individual being honored. Also the mood generally lies somewhere in the middle of completely somber and celebratory.

Why Choose a Memorial Service

- The most common reason people choose a memorial service is that they want the extra time to plan a ceremony. Since a memorial service can take place after the body has been buried or cremated, there is no rush to organize a ceremony. Immediately following a death, families are not emotionally ready to have a ceremony – They need time to grieve. Relatives and friends that live far away can organize their schedule to travel for the memorial service.

- Often those who are not religious choose to have a memorial service as opposed to a traditional funeral because traditional funerals are more often associated with religion.

- Memorial services serve as the perfect compromise between a celebration of life and traditional funeral service.

- Some people find celebrations of life do not pay enough attention to the deceased and turn into too much of a celebration or party.

Use of a Civil Celebrant

Often memorial services are led by celebrants. A celebrant is a person who has been trained to conduct formal ceremonies, such as weddings, baptisms and funerals. They are not clergy; instead they are experienced masters-of-ceremony and story-tellers. A celebrant works closely with surviving family to create a ceremony which reflects the beliefs, cultural background, values and aspirations of your deceased loved one, and your family. If you think you would be best served by a celebrant, please speak with your funeral director.

Places to Hold a Memorial Service

Memorial services can be held at beaches, community centers, parks, restaurants, banquet halls, and at family homes. For some that want some religious facets it is probably best choose a place of worship or at the funeral home. Keep mind that you want a space/location that can hold a large group of people and that has the amenities for any of the features you have planned. For example, if you want a photo slideshow, choosing the beach as your location would not be ideal.

A Photo Collection or Display

With the advancement in technonology, we see a lot of photo slideshows or some type of video tribute. However, we still do come across old-fashioned photo collages.

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Memorial Releases

Increasingly, many memorial services conclude with some type of release – a butterfly release, dove release, or lantern release. It is quite beautiful to see these releases and they help represent a time of transition – “the family and close relatives are letting go of their loved one”.

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Music

Music seems to be a staple at any event and this is no different at a memorial service. Many families like to play the favorite songs of their loved ones. Or families play a genre of music that is more somber or upbeat depending on what type of atmosphere you are trying to create.

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Food & Drink

You can personalize a memorial service by serving some of your loved one’s favorite dishes and beverages.

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Showcase Your Loved One’s Hobbies & Favorite Items

Recently, we had a memorial service for a woman who had a passion for travel. We created a showcase that included her passport, luggage bag, some souvenirs she picked up, and a map marking all the places she had traveled to.

In the past, we have also made displays for coin collectors, car lovers, and athletes.

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Understanding Traditional Funeral Services, Memorial Services & Celebration of Life Services?

A funeral service can mean many different things for everyone and how we choose to honor a loved one is as unique as they are. For one family a traditional funeral service that adheres to their family traditions and religious beliefs it is the only way to honor a loved one. At the same time, another family may find that a celebration of life service is more suitable. And for others a traditional funeral service is too structured or religious but a celebration of life is to celebratory in which case a memorial service may feel more appropriate.

Traditional Funeral Service

A traditional funeral service has structure and adheres to rituals and customs for those looking for a sense of spirituality and religion or tradition.

A funeral has four components:

Wake or Visitation

Funeral Service

During this time family and friends share memories of the deceased and family thanks guests for attending.

Led by a member of clergy.
Can take place at the funeral home, chapel, church or graveside/cemetery.
Prayers are typically said, hymns are sung and a liturgy or religious passages are typically read and a eulogy is given.

Committal Service

Funeral procession to the cemetery or crematory.
Family and guests gather at the cemetery plot or mausoleum and the final prayers are given.

Funeral Reception

Food and refreshments are typically served.
A chance for family to say thank you to guests for attending and for everyone to share memories and support each other.

Memorial Service

A memorial service is a gentle mix of a traditional funeral and celebration of life.

A memorial service has some structure but allows some flexibility to make the ceremony unique and personalized to fit the individual being honored.

Typically led by a celebrant or master of ceremonies.

Often guests are allowed to participate.

Can take place at the funeral home, a place of worship, community center, or public grounds such as a beach or park.

May take place prior to or after your loved one is buried or cremated.

Celebration Of Life Service

A celebration of life service allows you to tell the story of your loved one's life and what made them special.

A celebration of life service has an uplifting atmosphere that reflects on the positive stories and memories of your loved one.

A celebration of life allows you the freedom to display your loved one's personality, values and passions.

Typically is held weeks to months after your loved one has been buried or cremated.

Celebrations of life typically have a theme which highlights the deceased's hobbies or interests such as their favorite sport team, places they have travelled, or things they were passionate about.

Traditional Funeral Service
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Structured

Formal

Serious/Somber

Memorial Service
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Celebration of Life
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Personalized

Celebratory

Uplifting

We're Here to Provide Advice & Guidance

The Davis Funeral Home staff are always available to help create a fitting memorial service for your loved one. Please call us at (603) 883-3401 to learn the details of our memorial service planning process.