A funeral is so much more than a way to say goodbye; it’s an opportunity to celebrate the life of someone special.
Today, a funeral can be as unique as the individual who is being honored. From simple touches like displaying personal photographs to events created around a favorite pastime, funerals can reflect any aspect of a person’s life and personality.
The following are questions you can use to help you decide how to personalize a service:
For additional ideas on personalizing a funeral, please contact us at (800) 962-5527. Farley Estes Dowdle Funeral Home & Cremation Care is a member of the National Funeral Directors Association, the Michigan Funeral Directors Association, and has locations in Battle Creek, Augusta, and Richland, Michigan.
Often people have hobbies that become more than just a casual pastime. Their activity could have been as much a part of who they were as their smile. Why not showcase that important part of their life during the funeral? Incorporating a hobby can be as simple as:
By adding these or other personal touches to a funeral, the service becomes a reflection of the person’s life and personality.
One way to enhance a funeral is by bringing a piece of the person’s personality to life. Consider what made that person special, what made them who they were. Then find ways to link their individuality to traditional aspects of a funeral service. As an example, if the loved one was a avid sport fan there are some tasteful ways to honor this:
Other themes you may want to consider:
Many people take great pride in their career. Perhaps they dedicated a lifetime to a profession that transformed into more than just a job. If this holds true for your loved one, you may want to consider ways to include their professional life into their funeral service.
Following are two examples of how you could incorporate a profession into a service:
For a teacher:
For a fire department employee or a police officer:
Through organized religion or personal beliefs, most people have some sense of spirituality in their life. Often those values are from the very core of who the person was in life. Therefore, you may feel it is important to incorporate the individual’s sense of spirituality into their funeral service.
Following are ideas on how to incorporate spirituality into a funeral service:
Here is an Interesting set of questions to get answers to if you want to get to know someone:
Personality:
Age:
Current home:
Marital status:
Children:
Job status:
When I was young:
Military history:
The last good movie I saw was:
When I have an afternoon:
Favorite food:
Favorite song:
The book I am reading:
Favorite performer:
If I had one week to live, I’d spend it:
My favorite kind of people are those who:
I hate:
Politics:
Religion:
I’m a sucker for:
I try to teach my children that:
The one thing I can’t stand is:
If I could change one thing about myself:
My best advice to today’s young people is:
My best asset is:
The worst thing about me is:
I’ll always regret that I:
People who knew me in high school thought:
When I am feeling sorry for myself:
The worst time of my life:
My hobbies are:
My ambition:
Organizations I am a member of:
My parting shot: