Designing a Personal Remembrance

Creating a meaningful, appropriate memorial can be a rewarding, healing experience - a chance to express what this life has meant to you and the people you love. Getting started is as easy as remembering these five simple questions:

Think of all the people who should be a part of this final remembrance - family and friends, colleagues and neighbors who have shared a part of this life. Give them a chance to say goodbye, and comfort the others who share their loss. We can help you create a remembrance that will become a cherished memory for everyone who attends.

Think of all the things we should remember about this life - the work and play, the interests, the personality and, above all, the people who were part of it. Your remembrance is a chance to celebrate those things with the people who matter most. A truly personal remembrance is a way for friends and family to ease their loss as they share their thoughts and memories.

There is no need to hurry. It's important to allow time for all people we love to get here and be a part of the remembrance. In our mobile society, family and friends may be coming from across the country or around the world. Choose a time that will give them a real chance to come together, to support and comfort each other.

Our facilities are designed to accommodate all kinds of remembrances, from small, intimate groups to large, formal ceremonies. We can also help you with ceremonies and gatherings held in other places, including churches, homes and event facilities. Choose a place that will make it easy to bring people together, staffed by professionals who will give you the help you need at a difficult time.

Bringing together family and friends is an important source of strength at a time of grief and loss. It's a chance to share memories and renew the bond among loved ones as they face the future. Remembering our loved ones is one of the ways that traditions and values are passed from one generation to the next. Creating a personal remembrance is a way for you to create a link between the past and the future for everyone who shares this loss.

The first step is to discuss the basics - Who, What, When, Where and Why - with our arrangement counselor. These answers will help us identify ways to create a more personal remembrance. We'll use our Remembrance Planning Workbook to collect the information.

Once you have shared the most important information with us, we'll offer recommendations for the remembrance, from music and flowers to the creation of a permanent memorial. We can help you bring family and friends together to share memories, comfort and support.

The final step is to choose the best ideas and create a plan. We'll work together with you to finalize all the details. We'll create a plan, and a budget, to make sure your remembrance is exactly the way you want it to be.