What are Living Funerals?
A living funeral, living memorial or pre funeral service is a life celebration that takes place in the presence of the deceased. It offers an alternative to traditional funerals.
A living funeral or living memorial is an event that takes place before the funeral with the intention of preparing for the person’s death.
A living funeral, living memorial or pre funeral event is an opportunity to honor and celebrate the life of someone who has died. It can also be a time to reflect on how we will live our lives in response to the death of the deceased person.
- A living funeral event or living memorial can include:
- A memorial service, either at a church or other place of worship
- A reception with food and drink, music, and entertainment
- Sharing memories about the person who died
- A final chance at saying goodbye during their final months
In recent years, living funerals, living memorials or a pre funeral has become more popular as an eco-friendly alternative to traditional funerals. They also offer those who are grieving an opportunity to take part in a ceremony that is more meaningful for family and friends.
What is a Traditional Funeral?
A traditional funeral is a ceremony that typically takes place after a person dies. It includes a procession from the place of death to the funeral home, a viewing of the body, and a service.
Traditional funerals are often called full-service funerals because they include many services for the family. The services may include:
- Embalming
- A mortician to dress and prepare the body for viewing
- Gathering family members to take part in the funeral service
- Cremation or burial the deceased with all the people who important to the deceased
- A hearse or other vehicle to take the body from place of death to funeral home
- Funeral director or staff member who coordinates all aspects of traditional funeral planning and execution, including arranging flowers and pallbearers, obtaining necessary permits and licenses, making arrangements with clergy and cemetery officials
Do You Plan Your Own Funeral?
Yes, person can plan their own living funeral. If the person decides not to plan their own funeral, having friends and family plan it is a great option.
Even healthy people are beginning to have their own versions of a “living wake ” to feel that they have gained a second chance to appreciate their time on this Earth and the people who deeply impacted their lives.
Planning Your Own Living Funeral
Planning your own funeral may be an option if the person is terminally ill, has a terminal illness, is an old age, or is nearing death. Planning your own living funeral gives the person the option to decide how they would like their funeral to be. It can be designed like a typical funeral or you can choose to customize it as you see fit.
Famous Living Funerals
One of the more famous living funerals was that for Morrie Schwartz which was documented in both the book and film Tuesdays with Morrie and feature Detroit Free Press sports columnist Mitch Albom as one of the central characters.
The book topped the New York Times Best Sellers in 2000 and is a memoir of Mitch Albom’s time spent with his 78-year old sociology professor who was dying from ALS.
Location of a Living Funeral
You can choose to hold your living funeral anywhere that you feel comfortable sharing your final wishes. This can be a restaurant, funeral home, community center, golf course, or recreation center.
People are Finding New Ways to Say Goodbye
Even people with healthy bodies have a version of “living wake” feeling that they had another chance in this world to enjoy their experience. More than 200,000 people have taken part in mass burials and burial services in Seoul since 2012.
The group created an environment where individuals and families could think of the possibility of death in the wake of an increasing mental-health epidemic. People want to die so they can have a better quality of their daily life. Funeral services can be an important tool for people recognizing their lives and seeking the forgiveness of their loved ones, friends and family.
Proper Living Funeral Etiquette
Living funerals do not have a specific, proper funeral etiquette or guidelines. They simply are wonderful ways to honor the deceased with a living tribute. The living person or family and friends of the living person have the ability to choose the best way to say a final goodbye. This may be a formal affair, a reminiscing party, or a small get together with a few friends.
Where Did Living Funerals Come From?
Living funerals began in Japan in the 1990’s. The aging population expressed that they were burdening their children with the responsibilities of tending to the elderly.
To take the pressure off loved ones and provide relief for the soon-to-be-deceased, living funerals became popular as a way to strengthen a sense of self-worth and provide closure for the elderly and dying with personalized rituals with the little time left.
Living Funeral Ideas
A living funeral is a relatively new concept in the funeral industry. It has been around for about the last ten years, and it has been steadily growing in popularity.
It’s a celebration of life that takes place before the person dies. The living funeral is a way to celebrate the person’s life, while they are still alive.
The living funeral can be planned by a family member or friend of the person who will be having one. They can plan everything they want to happen during their own funeral before it happens.
A Living Funeral or Celebration of the Living with Eternally Loved
A living memorial or living tribute is a special way to express love, gratitude, and sentiments to the honoree that may have a terminal illness before they pass. If you know your time is short, why wait? Everyone is uplifted with a living memorial service because attendees are given an opportunity to say the words or remembrance and know the honoree is receiving it. That is so gratifying for both the honoree and the attendees.
A living memorial is not talking about death, but rather, life. It honors a person in a way that no milestone or birthday celebration would be able to do.
We can create an intimate occasion or huge extravaganza for you. Just let us know how you want to celebrate life with friends and family. It is our honor to personalize and handle all the details of this momentous occasion.
Planning for End-of-Life Checklist
The following are some of the steps that can be taken in order to plan for end of life:
- Find out what you want to do with your assets and how you want it to be distributed after your death.
- Plan the funeral or memorial service. This step will depend on your religious beliefs, culture, and personal preferences.
- Determine whether you want to donate your body or organs after death.
- Decide whether you want a burial or cremation service.
- Make sure that all legal matters are taken care of before death so that there are no
Eulogy
A eulogy is a speech or text in which praise is given to someone who has died.
Eulogies are often delivered at funerals, memorial services, or other gatherings following the death of someone important to the speaker.
A eulogy may also be given in honor of those who have died but have no known grave.
Non-Religious Funeral Readings
A non-religious funeral reading is an important part in the ceremony of a funeral. It is usually done by someone who knew the deceased best. It can be a family member, friend, or even a close neighbor. The reading is often chosen by the deceased before they died.
Non-religious readings are often chosen to reflect the person’s personality and interests – for example, if they were an avid gardener, then their favorite poem might be read during their funeral service. The readings are also chosen to provide comfort and closure to those who are grieving.
Final Wishes Planning
One of the most important aspects of any estate plan is to draft a will. A will is the document that contains your final wishes for how you want your assets distributed after you pass away.
A will also names an executor to carry out your wishes and make sure everything is done according to your instructions. The executor can be a family member, attorney, or financial institution.
The process of drafting a will can be complicated and time-consuming, but there are many online tools that can help simplify the process. These tools allow you to create a customized template that suits your needs and then generates an editable version for you to review before finalizing it.
