8 Ways to Personalize a Funeral Service

As funeral directors, we offer the gift of listening. When meeting with a family, we get to know a little bit about their loved one who has passed. We often find out about their passions, hobbies, career, favorite things to do and places they visited.

The information can inspire us as funeral directors with ideas for personalizing the funeral service. We understand that every family is different and while many cultures and faiths prefer a traditional ceremony, we also understand the need for unique and personal funeral services. We are glad to provide comfort to families by honoring the memories of the deceased by incorporating reminiscences into the service in a distinctive way.

If you are searching for unique ways to honor a loved one, here are some ideas to blend together with a traditional funeral service.

1. Memory Jar:Memories and stories shared are one of the special aspects of a funeral for the immediate family of the deceased. Preserve the memories of family and friends attending the service by providing a simple memory jar at the funeral. Visitors can write their favorite memory or story about the deceased on scraps of paper and add to the jar. Their stories can be cherished forever by you and your family.
2. Create a quote board: This is a fast and easy way to add a special touch to a funeral service. Attendees can write down phrases, exclamations, or words that the deceased was fond of saying and write them on a whiteboard or on a piece of paper that is then pinned to a corkboard. Or they can choose to post a famous quote that represents the life and personality of the deceased.
3. Display photos in a special way: A memory board is a great way to display photos of your loved one. Rather than a traditional board, think of creative ways to display photos. Tie photos to balloons and let them float, pin them to a line with clothespins, create a wreath of photos, or hang photos from a potted tree to add some visual appeal to the service.
4. Pass out tree seedlings or flower seeds: This is a wonderful and inexpensive way to pay tribute to your loved one by offering guests the option to plant a tree or flowers in honor of the deceased. You can pass the seeds or seedlings out to guests and in addition include a tree planting as part of the service.
5. Offer your loved one’s favorite food and drink: If your loved one had favorite snacks and drinks, offer them to attendees. Create signs for each item with a sentence or two on why the deceased loved them and where they often had them, such as at a game or holiday. This is a great way to honor your loved one and is sure to ignite memories shared.
6. Create a memorial stone station: This is a wonderful way to create a permanent memory set in stone – literally. Set up a station with small stones and permanent markers. Post a sign that instructs guests to write their names and a brief note on each rock to honor the deceased. After the service, you can create a rock garden in your backyard or scatter them where they have meaning.
7. Host an open mic session: Rather than performing a standard eulogy, offer a more informal setting by opening up the microphone during the funeral service. Invite family and friends to share a few words about the loved one. This allows attendees a chance to express their thoughts and memories for others at the service.
8. Offer a coloring station for the little guests: Set up a table at the service with colored pencils, crayons, washable markers and paper and allow them to draw pictures in honor of the deceased. Drawing can be a great way for children to express their feelings of loss, in addition to creating special keepsakes. Let the adults know that they are welcome to draw as well!

We hope these ideas help you personalize a service for a loved one in special ways that will be long remembered and provide new memories. We know that memories can offer comfort after losing a loved one and can be a key component of the healing process, and we are here to help you create them in meaningful ways.

Personalizing a funeral service is also a gift that families can document through pre-planning. Call and speak with one of our funeral directors to discuss the many ways you can do this.