How to prepare for our meeting
Here are a few things to think about prior to our meeting:
PERSONAL CONTRIBUTIONS
- Would anybody like to say a few words or write something that I say on their behalf?
- Would you like any poetry or readings? (You can refer to my Poems section)
- What music would you liked played?
- Would you like for there to be any live music played, perhaps by a friend or relative? An alternative is to record a piece and upload it to the music system.
- Would you like a photo slideshow?
MEMORIES AND ANECDOTES
If people would like to note these down they can either be incorporated into the Life Story or read as a separate tribute.
CHARACTER
To help build a ceremony to suit their personality:
- What made them happy / laugh / sense of humour?
- What made them angry?
- What were they proud of?
- If they had children, what sort of parent were they / memories from their childhood?
- What will you miss most about them not being around?
- What were they passionate about?
- How do you think they would they like to be remembered?
- Where do you picture them clearly?
- What about them made you laugh?
- Any particular phrases or approaches to life that are typical? Catchphrases?
- Who were their friends?
- How would other people describe them?
- Friends / important people to mention?
- Common thread or words used in condolence cards?
BIOGRAPHICAL DETAILS
If you would like me to write a Life Story (Eulogy) this is the type of information I will ask you:
- I'll work through a family tree with you so parents, siblings, children's and other important family members will be documented.
- What was home life like for them as a child?
- Are there any stories from their youth?
- Schooling: where did they go? Were there any particular subjects that they enjoyed or excelled at?
- What happened after school?
- Any significant life partners (husband, wife, partner,…)?
- Where did they live (towns, etc.)?
- Work / career / achievements / retirement
- Interests / activities / hobbies?
- Musical / Literary tastes?
- TV / film / theatre?
- Where did they like to go on holiday/travel to?
- What was a typical day in their life like?
- Any pets / animals?
SUMMARY
My last question is always 'what words would you use to summarise them?' i.e. If you were to describe them in 3 or 4 words, what comes to mind?
Ceremony types
Funerals
Ceremonies on the day
Ceremonies on the day
Held on the day of the cremation or burial with the ceremony held at the crematorium or graveside.
Ceremonies on the day
Ceremonies on the day
Ceremonies on the day
Some families prefer to have a ceremony away from the Crematorium or Burial Ground. These can be held anywhere and are much more of a full memorial but can have the coffin in place if wanted.
After this ceremony the coffin can be taken for either a direct cremation with no one in attendance or a much smaller, private ceremony at the crematorium or graveside.
Memorials
Ceremonies on the day
Ash Scattering\Burial
Memorials can be held on a later date with the ashes in place if wanted. These can be a longer and fuller ceremony and an opportunity to have a larger amount of people come together in a more personal space without time pressures. These can be held in any venue and followed by refreshments.
Ash Scattering\Burial
Ceremonies on the day
Ash Scattering\Burial
At a later date families may want a short ceremony when ashes are either scattered or buried. These are held at the final resting place of their loved one.