The final goodbye

A Guide On How To Plan Memorials

21 July 2022 by Monica Ruiz

Memorials are the best way to commemorate your loved one. Traditionally, memorials happen after the funeral of the deceased. If you wish to plan a memorial, below are a few things you should know:

Understand The Deceased's Culture

The primary role of the memorial is to honour the memory of the deceased. Therefore, it is only befitting that you incorporate their cultural beliefs as you plan the memorial. The best approach would be consulting with family and friends to learn more about their culture. For instance, who should attend the memorial? Does the culture compel the family to hold rites during the memorial? For example, some cultures burn incense or wear specific clothing during the memorial. Others avail the deceased's ashes during the memorial. Understanding these cultural practices prevents you from including activities that could seem disrespectful to the deceased's culture. 

Set A Memorial Theme

Wouldn't it be wonderful if the memorial had a theme? When setting a theme, consider your loved one's values, belief systems and hobbies. For instance, if they loved football, you could ask guests to wear the colours of their favourite football team. Conversely, if the deceased had a charitable heart, the memorial theme could encourage people to donate to charity. This way, friends and family can consider donations to the deceased's favourite charities as a way to keep their memories alive. 

Set A Program

The memorial program should detail the following; 

• The memorial date. Ideally, it should be convenient for friends, family and close associates.
• The memorial venue. It could be at the deceased's home or a rented venue. The rule is that the location should accommodate all the expected guests.
• Who will give remarks at the memorial? Have representatives from the deceased's immediate family, extended family, league of friends and business associates. If possible, you should have a keynote speaker. They should be a person who was close to the deceased.
• The program should incorporate a timetable to ensure the speakers do not talk for long. 

Executing The Memorial 

Now that you have a theme, understand the deceased's culture and have a program, your next task is to execute the memorial. First, you need to consider the comfort of your guests. For instance, you need tents and chairs when holding an outdoor event. Décor will help make the event memorable. When holding a day-long memorial, consider catering services to provide snacks, food and drinks. Finally, ensure that the venue has adequate parking and security. 

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