The Ceremony Store-Hire a Celebrant-Naming Ceremonies

Living Wakes

'I am ready to meet my Maker. Whether my Maker is prepared for the great ordeal of meeting me is another matter'

Winston Churchill

Funerals are about the only time in life where people gather together and are unstintingly positive about another person, however the irony in this is that that person is not there to hear it.

Living Farewells are a wonderful way to celebrate a life with family and friends and to create a chance to be remembered the way that you want to be remembered. Better yet the farewellie has the chance to hear all the nice things said about them that they would miss at their funeral. After all their is no point saying something nice about someoone if they can't hear you.

Living Farewells are appropriate for-

Elderly Persons wishing to have a celebration of their life and to have a catch up with old friends
Terminally ill persons wishing to celebrate their life whilst they are still capable

Living Farewells consist of whatever you would like, celebrations of life are totally individual and there is no set layout.

Some suggestions are-

An introduction
Main ceremony consists of a history of the farewellie
An address to all persons individually stating what the farewellies wishes are for their future (this can be difficult to get out in person because of the emotional time, but if a celebrant can do it for you, then the words will get across)
A list of things to remember about the farwellie (ie. Everytime you look at a cricket bat, remember me, because I loved cricket)
A chance for family and friends to express their favorite memories with the farwellie or a chance to tell them how much they love them
A conclusion which can include the farwellies favorite poetry or songs

A Living Farewell can consist of any of the above suggestions or an appropriate ceremony can be written from scratch. Farewells can be held in any location including hospices, hospitals or hospital gardens (as according with the institiutions rules and regulations).

The Memory Tree

Optional Extras

The Memory Tree-for the farewellie

The Memory adds a personal touch to a Living Farewell and gives everyone a chance to participate as well as creating a beautiful keepsake for the farewellie.

It involves a series of cards printed by us with ribbons, which can either be hung up on some ribbon during the farewell celebrations or can be presented to the farewellie in a box. The blank cards are handed out prior to the ceremony and then each guest writes a special memory or expression of feelings to be shared with the farewellie.

The cards make a wonderful inclusion to the ceremony and if hung between trees during the ceremony everybody at the celebration gets to read and share all the memories. If the cards are read out during the ceremony, everyone gets a real sense of participation in the ceremony and a satisfaction that they have expressed their feelings and love to the farewellie.

The Memory Tree-for the attendees

The opposite can be done by the farewellie and they can create cards for each person attending the celebrations and include memories, an expression of feelings or a wish or hope for the attendees future.

As above, the cards can be hung prior to the ceremony and guests can find and read their own card or the cards can be read out by the Celebrant or by the farewellie during the ceremony. The guests can then take these cards home as a keepsake.

Contact melissa@ceremonystore.com for pricing information or for more information about Living Farewells