A memorial service or a “celebration of life” is a service honoring your loved one in a more informal way. One of the biggest differences between a memorial service and a traditional funeral service is that the body of the decedent doesn’t necessarily have to be present at the ceremony. Although it can be, if the family chooses to do so. We call that a memorial service with a rental casket. Because the remains of the loved one aren’t required to be present for this type of service, the ceremony can take place at any time after the passing.
Another important distinction between a memorial service and a traditional funeral service is the location. A “celebration of life” can be held anywhere the family chooses. This simply could be in the comfort of your own home, a country club, restaurant, park or beach. This service type can also include what is called a “Scattering at Sea”. If your loved one’s wishes are cremation, you may choose to scatter their cremains at sea by boat as part of the memorial service or after if they are at a different location. If you know someone who owns a boat, you may go on a boat yourself to perform this ritual or contact your funeral home