Today, many people are moving away from the preconceived notions of traditional funeral services, and instead are creating more personalized services that focus on the life of the deceased rather than his or her death.  There are many unique things you can do to honor, pay tribute, and celebrate your loved one’s life at the funeral ceremony.

One way to enhance a funeral is by bringing an aspect of the individual’s personality to life.  If your loved one had a passion for collecting specific items, that collection may be the aspect that you choose to focus on.  For serious collectors, the hobby is more than just a casual pastime; often, it is as much a part of the person’s life as his or her smile.  That said, such an important aspect of the person’s life should be highlighted during the memorial service. 

There are several ways that the deceased’s passion for collecting can be showcased during the funeral, such as incorporating the collection directly into the funeral decorations.  For example, one family appreciated quilts displayed all around the funeral home that had been handmade by the deceased.  Another gentleman was an avid baseball card collector; his family liked seeing his prized possessions displayed on a memory table.  Depending on the type of collection, you could exhibit items on a memory board or a display designed specifically for the item.  You may even be able to personalize the casket or urn itself with a symbol of the collection. 

On the other hand, if your loved one was an avid car collector, it will not be possible to incorporate the collection into the funeral décor.  In that case, you might consider parking a few of his or her favorite cars outside the funeral home for people to enjoy as they arrive for the service.  Finally, in addition to displaying the collection, you could have someone speak about the person’s passion for collecting, including when they began the hobby and any interesting stories about how the collection grew over time.

A funeral is so much more than a way to say goodbye; it’s an opportunity to celebrate the life of someone special.  To this end, funeral directors can offer various ideas to make the service more personalized and are very open to family suggestions and creativity.  Thus, we encourage you and your family to discuss your ideas with us to ensure an individualized ceremony fitting the collector in your life.