Things to Do for a Funeral
A funeral is a time to mourn the loss of a loved one. It is also a time to celebrate his time on earth, and to reconnect with old friends and family members. The overall tone of a funeral should reflect the wishes and personality of the deceased. A few basic suggestions for things to do at a funeral can help you to host a funeral service that thoroughly honors the deceased.
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Photos
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Ask family members, well in advance of the funeral service, to lend you flattering photographs of the deceased from different decades of his life. Try to obtain photos from childhood, teen years, wedding day, and also gather pictures of children and grandchildren if they are available. Blow a few of these pictures up to a large size and display at the funeral. You may also wish to create a video or slide show presentation that displays the photos in chronological order, along with the deceased's favorite songs and quotes.
Open Mike
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You may wish to open up a portion of the funeral service to the entire gathered assembly, so friends and family members can pay their last respects publicly. Simply invite individuals to share memories or thoughts about the loved one who has passed on. Make sure to set a one- or two-minute time limit per person, so that the funeral service concludes at a reasonable hour.
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Food
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It may be cathartic to ask your close relatives and family members to make some of the deceased's favorite recipes for the funeral reception. This will help individuals to process the grief of the death, and will give them a practical way to honor the individual who passed away. Further, it will take care of the food arrangements for the funeral, taking pressure off of the immediate family.
Honorary Donation
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If the deceased was interested in philanthropy, you may wish to make a donation in their name to a charitable organization that embraces the dearly departed's values. You can request a plaque or certificate for the donation and present it at some point during the funeral service. This is a way to convey what was important to the deceased, and to honor his memory.
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References
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