Conducting Your Own Memorial Service
The picture above is a beautiful scene of a nighttime celebration of life, releasing sky lanterns for their loved one lost. How emotionally touching is this view?
Growing up in a family owned business, that deals with the casket industry has always caused me to think about those less unfortunate, those who have lost a loved one, and those who have a hard time letting go.
It really is true, that you do not know what you have until it is gone. I have heard many sad stories of family members arguing with each other while trying to work with the funeral director to pick out which casket they want. My family never dealt with the families. We only worked with the funeral directors themselves. Sometimes the poor funeral directors have seen and heard so much, that they just have to tell someone else the stories. Unfortunately my mother, who is a great listener and secretary of our family owned Casket manufacturing company, was the one who got to listen to their stories about the families.
We at The Original Time Capsule company want to say that we are listening to your problems and are trying to find ways to solve them. We have heard from funeral directors that there are not many ways for families to remember their loved ones in a tangible way, once they are gone.
Preserve Loved Ones Old Letters
What advice did your grandfather always tell you as a child? What was the funniest story he ever told you? How do you remember your grandmothers famous apple crumb pie recipe once she is gone (especially if she made it from scratch)? What do you do with all those old war letters that your dad wrote back and forth to your mom before they were married? These are just a few of the questions that are important to treasure to pass on to your grandchildren and their children of the future. So how do you do that?
Use Social Media to Share your Story
With so many more funeral homes taking advantage of the internet and social media world, it is important for funeral homes to have other new and upcoming ways to help families grieve and remember a loved one. This is why so many funeral homes are now including dedicated pages on their websites, for family members to fill out messages of hope, condolences, and stories of the past of loved ones who have gone on to rest in peace.
Set Up a Personalized Celebration of Life Ceremony
How does a funeral home truly set up a memorial service, when they really do not know the person? How do you help that family truly create a celebration of life for their loved one? Families need a tangible way to memorialize their loved one. Set up a uniquely personal tribute to your loved one, and let the family work through the process of grief, by decorating a table with several heirloom memories, like your grandfather’s old pocket watch. Set out note cards for family and friends to fill out and tell a short story or memory about the deceased loved one, to pass on to the family to read later. Many times it is hard for some to go to a viewing, or let go, so a great way to help someone say goodbye, is by letting them write a letter to their deceased loved one. Many people tell you to “just get over it.” You never really ‘get over it,’ but instead grief is a process or journey if you will that will either make you better or bitter.
Create a Memorial Time Capsule
You can set up memory boards, candles, and wreaths, but what do you do with it all when it is done? Don’t just stand in a line to say your goodbye at a viewing, then leave. Don’t just help take care of the family during that next week by bringing them a meal already cooked. Do something extra to let the family know how much you appreciated that loved one in your life, or to say thank you to the loved one who passed. The loved one who is now gone, can be kept alive by keeping his or her legacy life alive. So how do you do that?
Set up a memory table similar to the one here, with special tangible items on it. Then also add a personalize Legacy Time Capsule on it, for family members and friends to put there cards, words of encouragement, and sentimental items of their loved one in. You can get an “Any Occasion” DIY Time Capsule here, then put a photo of your loved one on the outside of this luxury tin, to preserve all these treasured memories in.
During the holidays it is always hard to celebrate, be happy, and open gifts, without that special someone there anymore. This is especially hard if your loved one passed on a particular holiday. Reopen the time capsule on that holiday, hold one of their tangible mementos or memorabilia, to help you get through this difficult time of year. The time capsule is meant to help with this problem, and keep your loved one alive more so than just in your heart. Revive your memories today of your loved one.
So if you had the opportunity to keep one sentimental item from your grandfather, father, or any loved one who has passed, what would it be? Comment below.
Making Milestone Moments Count,
– Marcie