Today, more and more individuals and families are realizing how they can celebrate a life rather than solely grieve a death. Colorful, creative gatherings have become more popular. Baby Boomers in particular want to embrace the positives of a person’s life and wish to include those elements in the funeral gathering. Overall, people are realizing that the more meaningful the services, the more healing and satisfying it is to family and friends who attend or participate.

The increased interest in highlighting someone’s unique and special qualities is changing the funeral industry for the better. How your funeral home addresses—and expands on—these personalization requests can result in excellent reviews and referrals to other families.

The expectation of continued interest in cremation with a memorial service at a later date provides opportunities for your funeral home to make a name for itself. When you meet families’ needs for personalized funerals, memorial services, and celebrations of life, you are more likely to be successful in future years.

Tell Healing Stories

We all know how wonderful it can be to see photos of the individual’s life, but adding extra details can make a gathering more meaningful. Some services include award plaques and other items, such as fishing poles and lures, dad’s bowling gear, quilts made by grandma, furniture crafted by grandpa, and displays of the person’s beloved collection.

Taking funeral personalization a step further can start even more conversations about the person and their passions. Here are some of the unique possibilities:

• Motorcycle, semi-truck, or tractor processions
• Superhero-themed gatherings
• Customized menus, such as barbecues
• Requesting fun and creative themed attire
• Star Wars
• Overalls for a farmer
• Hunting camouflage
• Pink or other cancer-awareness colors
• Nautical, tropical or other theme
• Colors besides black
• Singalongs with popular songs
• Tailgating events for alumni or sports fans
• Unique favors, such as recipe towels, vegetable seeds, etc.

The person’s life becomes the center of the celebration. It takes the moment beyond a beloved song or great photo and into a moving and healing experience.

Some families continue to choose to offer online access to the person’s services. With many people choosing this option, it further helps make the distant attendees feel closer to the person, providing greater closure and enhancing the healing process.

Keep helping families celebrate life as well as grieve. Provide them with the ideas that go above and beyond what they can imagine and plan on their own. Remember to feature successful ideas, with permission, in your social media and marketing materials. Ask for their testimonials.

When you provide full-service personalization of funerals, you can become the top choice in your community for celebrating life and healing following a death.