Celebration of Life
A Humanist funeral or memorial service is truly a ‘celebration’ of the life of an individual who is no longer part of the community. The service is informed by Humanist core values and principles; it is secular in nature and non-denominational in form and content. Since there are no formal expectations, the service can take place anywhere. My approach to such services is to act as a facilitator supporting family and those who are wanting the service to develop a meaningful ceremony that satisfies their own vision as well as the wishes of the individual as shared by them in life or demonstrated by them through their lived experience.
Because no two individuals are alike, a Humanist “Celebration of Life” is unique. This is all the more evident when family and friends design and define the service to reflect the unique character and personality of the individual. The process of developing a Celebration of Life provides an opportunity for those creating the text and shaping the celebration to reinvent their relationship with the person who has died. All of the emotions and many of the lived experiences with that person are taken out, dusted off, and felt anew. There are tears and laughter, joy and pain.
In the creative process as well as the service itself, the presence of the individual becomes tangible in the memories that surface such that the lively relationship once had with the individual may transform to a relationship of memory with the person ever present in the heart and the psyche of the people who remember them best. I might characterize this process in a Celebration of Life Service with these words: “We will fashion a mosaic here today: happy thoughts, sad thoughts, seeking to paint the best picture we can of our emotions and our loss, ensuring that we will leave this service having more than our own memories. We will share our memories and take with us a deeper understanding of our honoree, to give us solace and comfort."
Each Memorial Service is as unique as the individual whose life we will celebrate. Please contact me to arrange for a free consultation.
"From the moment you introduced yourself in my home and began to explain the process of putting together a meaningful service for my son, I knew you were the right person to honor his life. You radiated love. In the midst of our sorrow and hazy mental state, you truly helped us focus our thoughts away from our pain, and onto telling our son's story in a beautiful and loving way. Thank you for providing such a beautiful Celebration of Life service for my son, Ray."
Deborah Hartley
Because no two individuals are alike, a Humanist “Celebration of Life” is unique. This is all the more evident when family and friends design and define the service to reflect the unique character and personality of the individual. The process of developing a Celebration of Life provides an opportunity for those creating the text and shaping the celebration to reinvent their relationship with the person who has died. All of the emotions and many of the lived experiences with that person are taken out, dusted off, and felt anew. There are tears and laughter, joy and pain.
In the creative process as well as the service itself, the presence of the individual becomes tangible in the memories that surface such that the lively relationship once had with the individual may transform to a relationship of memory with the person ever present in the heart and the psyche of the people who remember them best. I might characterize this process in a Celebration of Life Service with these words: “We will fashion a mosaic here today: happy thoughts, sad thoughts, seeking to paint the best picture we can of our emotions and our loss, ensuring that we will leave this service having more than our own memories. We will share our memories and take with us a deeper understanding of our honoree, to give us solace and comfort."
Each Memorial Service is as unique as the individual whose life we will celebrate. Please contact me to arrange for a free consultation.
"From the moment you introduced yourself in my home and began to explain the process of putting together a meaningful service for my son, I knew you were the right person to honor his life. You radiated love. In the midst of our sorrow and hazy mental state, you truly helped us focus our thoughts away from our pain, and onto telling our son's story in a beautiful and loving way. Thank you for providing such a beautiful Celebration of Life service for my son, Ray."
Deborah Hartley