A Living Celebration is intended to celebrate the life of a loved one before they die.
Celebrating the Life of a Loved One - Before Death
Life celebrations fulfill an important need in contemporary society to say a meaningful goodbye to a loved one who knows that their life is drawing to a close.
Often initiated by individuals who have been diagnosed with a terminal illness and may be in rapid decline, a Living Celebration presents the perfect opportunity to share positive and meaningful moments with their loved ones – entirely on their own terms.
I've often had customers ask me about “living funerals” or "coming home parties". This is an event where a person (usually terminally ill), attends a service which celebrates his or her life, and allows them to socialize with their loved ones while they are still living. The event is sometimes called a “life celebration” or a “living funeral or memorial”. It focuses on honoring the person’s life, and not focusing on death. Family and friends gather and usually there is a “ceremony” that honors the person's life and achievements. Many friends and family members speak, and tell stories of the memories of that person. It is a beautiful event when done properly.
There really aren’t any clear cut rules for planning living funerals or memorials. If you are considering having a service of this type, a Life Celebration Consultant will help you with the planning process.
If you have a loved one who is terminally ill in your family, consider planning an event where that person can see all of his friends and family. If you are uncomfortable with the term “living celebration, living funeral, or memorial”, then call the service by another name. If there is an upcoming birthday, anniversary or any other event where friends and family can attend, then plan a “living memorial” during that celebration.