East Valley Funeral Home | Celebrating Life

Mountain View Funeral Home is an East Valley funeral home that cares about you, your family, and your loved one. We understand that there are many decisions to make, and it’s often difficult to know exactly what to do when honoring the life of someone who meant so much…especially when you’re grieving. In some cases, people choose to remember a loved one’s life through celebration at an East Valley funeral home or another appropriate location. It can be a way to find comfort and joy amidst the sadness that you and others may be feeling.

When planning a celebration of life, there are so many things you can do to honor your loved one’s legacy. It all depends on how much time you have, if you feel up to being creative, and if you have others around you who can support you in your planning. We’ve provided some ideas below that you might want to incorporate into a life celebration gathering or memorial.

1. Create a Memory Table with your loved one’s cherished personal belongings. You can include items that will spark fond memories of his/her hobbies and passions. You can also display some unique items like a pair of signature eyeglasses or a favorite hat.
2. Design a Memory Board with photos and mementos in a collage. Going through photos and creating the board could help bring about smiles during an otherwise difficult time.
3. Memorial Notecards can be placed at tables for guests to write something special about your loved one. Each memory can be read aloud at the celebration. You could also ask guests to bring a letter that they have written about the departed. Writing is a great way to help with the grieving process.
4. Use Special Belongings as centerpieces for tables or to incorporate in a flower arrangement. If your loved one was a baseball fan, for example, you could decorate with his baseball glove or a hat from his favorite team. If the departed enjoyed quilting, you could adorn the entry to your celebration with some of her best creations.
5. Bring your loved one’s Book Collection if he/she was an avid reader. Invite guests to take a book home as a special memory.
6. Serve your loved one’s Favorite Cookie and include recipe cards for guests to take with them. They can make the recipe for years to come and always think of your loved one.
7. Attach Photos Spanning the Years of his/her life to the ribbons of helium balloons. Gather the balloons in a cluster in one part of the room for guests to view.
8. Have a Balloon or Dove Release as part of a memorial ceremony. Remember to use biodegradable balloons if you choose that option. Dove releases are a special personal touch that can be coordinated through Mountain View’s East Valley funeral home.
9. Set up a drawing table for children. Counselors often ask children to draw pictures to express their feelings. This could be a good way to help children go through their own grieving or to share something special that they remember about your loved one.

While planning a celebration of life gathering might seem overwhelming in a time of difficulty, the main thing to remember is that it is for remembering, healing, and celebrating. If you don’t feel you have the energy or emotional composure to plan such an event, it’s ok. It does not have to be a stressful time. You can enlist the help of friends and family to help you organize things. You can even wait to hold the celebration of life until a later date.

Provided by Next Gen Memorials