How to Plan an Anniversary Memorial Service to Celebrate Life

Celebrate life with an anniversary memorial service

You can plan an Anniversary Memorial Service to celebrate the life of the deceased and your survival through the pain of grief and loss. The service is a way to help you say a final good-bye to your friend or loved one.The memorial service helps you to reduce depression and bring closure to the death.

Things You'll Need

• Pastor or someone who can lead the service
• Some positive, uplifting poems or short writings about recovery and life
• Invitations for the Memorial Service
• Notebook or folder
• CD/CD player or copies of words to songs
• Flowers (optional)

Instructions

1. There are several things you will need to do to plan an Anniversary Memorial Service. You need to contact a pastor or someone who would feel comfortable leading during the service. Decide in advance what duties are expected of the pastor (or leader) will he lead the group in a prayer or read a special passage from the bible? Will he guide everyone in a couple of special songs? Set a date and time for the service. The service will probably be held at the cemetery; but doesn't need to be. Decide if you will serve refreshments after the service.

2. Send out invitations to family and friends that would want to take part in a celebration of life. Announce the date, time, and location of the service. Let people know if you are serving refreshments after the Memorial Service. Ask people to write a memory about the deceased. Let them know how much you would appreciate having the memories and that you are going to compile them in a notebook or folder. Inform your family and friends that they will be given time to share their memories at the service if they wish to do so.

3. Begin to look for poems or other short writings that reflect you and are appropriate for the occasion. Decide what songs you would like everyone to sing and find the words for the songs so you can make copies for others. You could take a CD and player to the service to provide the music. Choose the refreshments that you will serve if you're going to have them. Keep it simple: dessert and coffee would be nice. Being together after the service gives everyone time to share and talk. Write your own memories about your loved one.

4. On the appointed day and time meet your family and friends at the cemetery (or other location). Purchase some artificial or real flowers to place on the gravesite. Have the Pastor or leader guide the group in songs, prayers, memories, and readings. In your service make sure that you focus on the celebration of life. There may be sad moments and tears but that's O.K. You have survived the death of your loved one and are moving on into life. Enjoy this time with your family and friends.

Tips & Warnings

• Compile the written memories in a folder or notebook

• There might be some people who are uncomfortable with the idea of a Memorial Service,don't let others discourage you from doing it