Participate as needed in the service ( prayers, silence, singing, standing/sitting, etc).Consider bringing flowers, a card, or a small sympathy gift.Pay your respects to the family ( here’s what to say).

When it comes to proper etiquette at a life celebration, when in doubt, go into it just as you would a traditional funeral.

To celebrate life isn’t to deny the reality of death and sadness, but rather to shift the emphasis from the dead to the life they lived and the legacy they left us. But because the focus will be on celebrating life, you can generally expect the atmosphere to be positive.Īnd of course, it’s perfectly normal for there to still be feelings of sadness even at a life celebration.

It’s also worth noting that some families and cultures use this term interchangeably with the term funeral. The whole idea is to veer away from “the norm” and do something unique. That’s primarily because each person is different. The point is, life celebrations can be highly, highly personalized, from order of service to the food right down to the decor.Įach event is different. You might encounter karaoke, an open bar, a potluck, photo booths with props, blowing bubbles… You may hear poems read or excerpts spoken. There may be singing or joyful worshiping, or there may be a playlist on featuring the deceased’s favorite songs. Since it’s a celebration that focuses on the person’s life, there will most likely be sharing of memories and stories among family and friends. So difference between a celebration of life and a funeral is again that emphasis on life rather than death joy rather than sorrow “let’s raise a glass in memory of…” rather than “let us pay our respects to…” What Happens at a Celebration of Life? That’s the main difference between a funeral and a memorial service, by the way – the memorial service, as mentioned above, does not have the body present. This leads us to… What’s the Difference Between a Celebration of Life and a Funeral?Ī funeral is a service where the body is present. So a memorial service may tend a little more toward being formal and serious, whereas a life celebration is often less formal and more celebratory. So it’s plausible that the one you attend could also technically be a memorial service, if no remains are present. The focus of a life celebration is one of joyful remembrance, and not necessarily feelings of sorrow. A memorial service could therefore take place any time (soon, or much later) after the decedent has been cremated or buried. This means that there is no body nor cremated remains at a memorial service. It helps to know that a memorial service typically takes place without the decedent present. What’s the Difference Between a Celebration of Life and a Memorial Service? Now that we’ve defined it, we can further explore the differences between a “life celebration” event and other more traditional services. In other words, you can expect a much less sad and somber affair than the funeral it will be an event where family and friends can remember together happier times spent with the deceased. Other times the family may wish to hold a traditional funeral service and then a reception that they call a life celebration. Sometimes, a life celebration occurs instead of a funeral.

It’s a term that can mean different things to different cultures or to those who live in different parts of the country (or world). If you’re thinking that this is not too far off from a funeral service, well, you’re probably right. The focus is on happy memories of the deceased rather than on the sad fact that they’re no longer with us. Sometimes even with a party-like atmosphere, a celebration of life tends to be just that – a celebration. So, what is a celebration of life exactly?Įssentially, a celebration of life is an event that focuses primarily on the life a loved one lived, and the legacy that they leave behind. With this information in mind, you’ll be better prepared before you attend one. We’ll talk all about life celebrations and what to expect. Today, we’re going to be answering these questions for you. What is a celebration of life service? Is this different from a funeral? What should you expect if you’ve been invited to or plan on going to one? What should you wear, and is there any other etiquette that you need to be aware of?

Celebration of life songs