The planning of a memorial service can be overwhelming. Especially immediately following the passing of a loved one. The closest friend or family member might be flooded with phone calls, direct messages, and cards in the mail. And while the show of sympathy is something to be cherished… it’s a lot.
Is it okay to delay a memorial service?
Lighten wants you to know that it’s perfectly okay to hold a gathering weeks, months, or even years after a passing. Between the uncertainty of the pandemic, the balancing act that is life, and wanting to feel emotionally ready to begin planning, there are many reasons one might delay a memorial service. Only you and your family & friends can decide what matters most in honoring your loved one and how much time you need to do so. In other words, there is no right or wrong when it comes to setting a date for a memorial service.
Post-Pandemic Regroup
If you struggled during the pandemic to plan the celebration of life service, know that you are not alone. What were once relatively simple ideas, such as gathering together to assemble a photo collage, became nearly impossible tasks. Couple that with the uncertainty of when lockdown mandates would either be lifted or re-instated, and you have pretty unstable grounds on which to plan a memorial service.
We at Lighten have heard from many families who are now planning the memorial service that would have otherwise taken place over the last two years. Whether your post-pandemic service is in-person or virtual, we can’t stress enough that people should never have to feel as if it’s “too late” or “not socially acceptable” to hold a service years later. Take this as an opportunity to choose a date of significance (i.e. birthday or anniversary), feel less rushed in gathering material from family & friends for the memorial, and gain the participation of all those your loved one would want present.
The Balancing Act
Creating a personalized memorial service requires a lot of personal attention. But so do many other things in life; such as arranging childcare, caring for your sick or elderly family members, and other important commitments. Traditionally, the norm dictated that a funeral and burial be held immediately following a death and forced us into a somewhat rushed planning process. Today, memorial services and celebrations of life do not need to be held immediately after a loved one’s cremation or burial. Many families are choosing to hold a gathering weeks or months after a passing. Giving yourself more time can give you breathing room to plan with undivided attention, as well as the opportunity for attendees to save the date far in advance.
Be All There
It is not at all unusual for someone to feel they are not yet emotionally ready to take on a detailed planning process immediately following the death of their loved one. We believe that memorials can be an uplifting celebration of a life well-lived. If you would like to plan an uplifting gathering for your loved one but are not yet ready to enter into a celebratory mindset, that’s okay. Your friends, family, and the Lighten team can help when you are ready.
Tell Their Story
Many of the families we’ve worked with have shared with us that they want to take joy in the process of planning a gathering that will honor and celebrate their loved one’s legacy. If this resonates with you, give yourself time to take a storytelling approach to planning and know that, come the day of the memorial, you have included everything you wanted to celebrate their unique life with a completely customized service. In the meantime, you can use tools such as a memorial webpage to allow family and friends to express their condolences. Or, if you hold an intimate burial service, approach a future-dated memorial service as a community gathering of all the people your loved one would have wanted present. Whichever path you choose, give yourself the patience and grace to move at the pace that feels right for you.
Lighten Can Help
With our structured and guided planning process, we do a lot of the thinking and the leg work for you to help you create something unique and meaningful for your loved one. Your dedicated Lighten Team Member is here for you.
