For comparison purposes, let’s first consider the typical process associated with the traditional funeral service. Things happen fast – extremely fast.  Your personal grief is compounded with the stress of having to coordinate the necessary funeral arrangements within a compressed timeline.  Family, friends, and distant relatives converge on the funeral home for the open casket viewing, all within only one week from your loved one’s departure.

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People pay their respects by viewing the open casket and offer their condolences to the immediate family.  Everyone stands around and gets reacquainted; all the while the deceased lie off to the side.  The casket is closed, then a funeral procession to the graveyard with a burial ceremony over the gravesite, all followed by a luncheon at a local establishment. 

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You can barely think straight and suddenly it’s all over.  Everyone leaves and goes back to their respective lives.  It happens all so quickly, so surreal, with no time to process things.  The world seems to have moved on at much too quick a pace.  Sadly, the surviving family members are alone, continuing to grieve while searching for some form of closure.  It’s not unusual for the grieving loved ones to feel guilt and regret.  Did we send him or her off the right way?  What else could we have done?  

 

A well-orchestrated Celebration of Life event addresses all these concerns.