Paying tribute to your loved one means looking for the special touches that can make his or her memorial service a reflection of the way he or she lived life. Here are a few thoughtful touches you can use to make your friend or relative's funeral or memorial service one that is truly special.
Memorial Fans
Instead of passing out prayer cards or memorial cards, consider passing out memorial fans. These fans can be simple cardboard designs with handles, or they can be more elaborate fabric fans. Your funeral home director can help you to design and order the fans you'll use for the funeral or memorial service. Once given out, the fans can be used to help keep mourners cool on hot days, and they can also be used as a shield of sorts to hide tears during emotional portions of the funeral service.
Corsages
If you are treating the memorial service as a celebration of life, you may be willing to break with tradition and offer corsages to friends and family members in attendance. Choose one or two types of flowers that your loved one enjoyed, and have your florist make simple corsages with these different floral options. Single-flower corsages offer an understated design for a memorial celebration. If you are planning to have a graveside service, the corsages can then be laid on the casket before it is lowered into the ground.
A Vocal Soloist
For a loved one who had a passion for music, you may want to incorporate different musical themes into the funeral or memorial service. One way to do this is to hire a soloist to perform some of the dearly departed's favorite songs. The singer can perform throughout the viewing before the memorial service begins, or you can have the music performed only as part of the services. In addition to hiring a solo vocal performer, you may also want to consider hiring a string quartet, a violinist, or even a small band to perform. Be sure to pick musical selections that held a special meaning for your loved one to make this idea complete.
Work with a funeral director at facilities like Maurer Funeral Home Inc to come up with other ways you can customize a funeral or memorial service so it truly reflects the way your love done lived, and don't be afraid to get creative when planning this very special celebration of life for your loved one.
