Why I Love Helping My Celebration of Life Clients

Why I Love Helping My Celebration of Life Clients

It's hard to put into words how it feels to help people who are going through one of the most difficult moments in their life.  For Celebrations of Life, people are at the point where they want to begin making plans a few weeks or months after their loved one's death.  It's the beginning of their healing process.  When many friends or family want to stay away for the fear of not knowing what to say, or from people saying things that actually create pain instead of comfort, those who are grieving need someone to talk to about their loved one.  That's what they want to talk about.

Generally, when I help plan a Celebration of Life event, I emphasize as the business name (Greatest of Days) implies that I am there to help them recall and enjoy talking about what they know to have been the greatest days in their loved one's life.  We also want to bring out what their personality was like.  We help those who are the survivors talk about their loved one's likes, dislikes, hobbies, career(s), pet peeves, causes they supported, what made them laugh, what made them cry, what was their favorite or least favorite foods, what their proudest moments were and so much more.  We use what they have revealed to become a beautiful tribute that is comforting for all.  

A consultation with a client can actually be like spending an afternoon listening to a love story, adventurous tales, and the inevitable quirks that made them who they were.  During this time of getting to know what really made their loved one the person that they were, everything is mixed with tears, times of laughter and a lot of deep sighs.  The way it affects me is that I go away wishing I had known their loved one and from talking with those who are planning a Celebration of Life event.  I feel like we have shared things on such a deep level that it feels more like I'm consoling a friend that I want to keep.  It's unlike any other client relationship.  My heart and soul are deeply touched.  Quite frankly, if they weren't, I think I should be doing something else.

If you or someone you know would like to receive a list of questions to help personalize a Celebration of Life event,  please contact us and we'll be in touch.

What is a Celebration of Life Event?

A Celebration of Life event most resembles a memorial.  Do I dare say that it's even different than that?  Okay, I'll say it.  It resembles something like a...fun funeral!  

Why are Celebration of Life events becoming a part of the mainstream?  You can actually give the Baby Boomers credit.  Baby Boomers have never been afraid to break the mould.  Being one myself, sometimes I think we feel more uncomfortable if we don't break the mould!

My business is called Greatest of Days, and the first time I had a funeral director who wanted to talk about working with them for Celebration of Life events, I was urged to change the name of my business.  Back then, being a new business owner, I went into the "they must be right mode".  That didn't last long because the more I thought about it, the more I realized that the emphasis should be on a loved one's greatest of days!  I learned a wonderful lesson that day.  Stay true to yourself because we're not very good at being someone else.

I can tell you with that as a reminder, it has been a great help in planning Celebration of Life events.  People take comfort in knowing that we'll be focusing their loved one's greatest of days as we watch a beautiful story become one that will be experienced by those who attend this celebration.  We talk about what they enjoyed most in life, what they were known for, what were their dreams, what were their accomplishments and so much more!

"Creating and Remembering Life's Greatest of Days"

If you would like to receive a list of questions that are helpful to begin planning a Celebration of Life event, please click here to email Greatest of Days.