For families considering cremation services near Southfield, the issue of gathering to grieve and celebrate the life of their loved one is a chief concern. Will your crematorium or local funeral home help you arrange a ceremony, or will it be up to your family entirely? Can you even hold a funeral after someone has been cremated?
Families often choose a celebration of life ceremony over a traditional funeral in these cases, but even those can be tricky to plan. Here are a few things to know if you are considering an informal celebration of life after cremation:
Talk to Your Cremation provider.
Your first step should be to discuss your plans with your cremation provider. They may be able to offer resources that can help. There are many options for urns and other containers for cremated remains, for example. These and other factors might factor into your plans in ways you did not anticipate, so always start your planning by talking to your crematorium staff.
Make Sure Your Plans Are legal.
Did you know that it is illegal to scatter or bury remains in many places? Likewise, many places have strict requirements about when and where you can leave human remains behind. Whatever your plans are for the final resting place of your loved one, check with local or private property owners to ensure that what you are planning is permitted.
Personalize Your Plans with Input from Loved ones.
The best way to make a celebration of life special is to involve the decedent’s loved ones in the planning. That way, things are exactly the way the family and friends—and the person themselves—would want them to be.
This might be formal or informal, just as the ceremony itself might be. You can call or post on social media about plans for the celebration and ask for feedback, or you may request a planning meeting with those you love. Just be sure that however you gather to grieve, it reflects the wishes of your deceased loved one as well as those they leave behind. If you find yourself confused or needing assistance, reach out to the staff at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery. They have the resources to help you and a deep understanding of exactly what you are dealing with.
