Celebration Of Life Funeral

Select a venue that is comfortable, warm, and inviting.

Remember the venue is more about the living than the deceased. A Venue that pays homage to the deceased’s interests, but also meets the comfort criteria, is perfect.

In a Celebration Of Life, you may consider venues often used for weddings as opposed to funerals. They are generally bright and more cheerful than a traditional chapel. These Venues can be perfect for this type of service.

Perhaps your loved one was involved in a Club of some type. The Club House may be a perfect location for the service.

Crane Funerals have held Services at:

• Yacht Clubs
• Wineries
• Fishing Clubs
• Wedding Chapels
• Other lovely Venues.

Just recently we held the very first funeral service at the Brighton Golf Club. The members who attended thought it was a great idea.

The possibilities of venue are many and varied. And it’s important to have the family discuss options before a decision is made. Maybe a particular colour was important to your loved one. Maybe a colour scheme at the venue could help add another nice touch.

Consider how many people you might expect to come to the Service.

Sometimes it can be difficult, but it is important to estimate a figure. Then you can more accurately determine the size of the venue that you require, as well as other things.

Just as important as the venue is the day and time of the service.

A weekend Celebration may give more people a chance to come to the ceremony. Allow time for the preparation of Tribute DVD’s, music, service booklets, eulogies etc. Postponing the service an extra day or two where possible ensures all details are attended to with a loving touch instead of a rushed hand.

The time of day also may help determine refreshment / wake options after the funeral.

Arrange to let people know the date, time, and venue of the service.

Crane Funerals offers an Online Obituary / Funeral Notice which can be a good way for people to find out while waiting for a notice in a newspaper.

You might consider calling a group of 10 – 15 people from your loved one’s life (relatives, colleagues, neighbours), and in turn ask them to call people they believe might like to attend the service.

Another option is for Crane Funerals to organise seed packs.

Our printing team can produce packs with your loved one’s photo and planting instructions on the package. This is a special way to spread the memory of a loved one who enjoyed flowers, gardening, or ecology.

You need to consider food if you are planning on a function to follow the ceremony.

We have an experienced caterer on hand, and our amazing venues have a variety of options to satisfy the fussiest palate.

Everything can be taken care of to allow you more time to spend with your guests:

• Cooking – from hors d’ouvre to a full meal
• Linen and cutlery
• Dishes and tables
• And of course the inevitable cleaning up

Sometimes an after-service function is to be held in the family home. Here something more laid back can be a good alternative. Maybe a barbecue? Or ask guests to “bring a plate” which is a good old Aussie tradition.

These days many families ask mourners not to bring flowers.

Often instead they request a donation be made to a favourite charity of the deceased. Since a decent bouquet of flowers costs over $50, this can be a much-needed revenue raiser for the charity.

If you plan on offering a service program to attendees (we can organise this for you), then you will want to consider decorations or a “theme”.

Of course, it’s a good idea to enter the names of the people who will be speaking during the service. You may like to include a favourite poem or saying of your loved one. Maybe a verse from the Bible, or a meaningful photograph or prayer.

These booklets can become quite elaborate but often a heartfelt, simple yet stylish option fits the bill well.

We recommend you consider symbols of a loved one’s life as part of the Celebration.

A favourite book, hat, or object can evoke clear memories of the deceased. Firm reminders of who that person was and what they enjoyed.

Consider too:

• A recipe book or recipe card
• A cherished scarf or bookmark
• Knitting yarn
• Or that doily Grandma always put under the teapot
• A bible opened at a favourite passage
• Or a bottle of Port if Dad enjoyed a “little nip” to ward off the winter chills!

Crane Funerals can assist you in printing copies of your Mum or Dad’s favourite recipe (as long as it isn’t a family secret of course!). Maybe Mum’s chocolate cake that could never be beaten, or Dad’s famous homemade tomato sauce.

Our staff can hand these out to mourners at the funeral as a lasting tribute and to thank them for coming. Every time somebody tries to emulate the recipe fond memories of your loved one will come creeping back for them.

May we also suggest bubbles, or possibly ribbon “dancers”.

Balloons have been shown to harm the environment when released, so we don’t recommend that practice.

Bubbles can be just as beautiful to watch float away in the wind. It also gets any kids involved in the service a little more. The bubbles can form an expression of reaching out and up to your loved one as a final farewell.

Ribbons can be an even more engaging alternative. Ribbon “dancers” are beautiful and require people to move around and have fun!

A group of people spinning and twirling a colourful long ribbon following is a sight to see. Kids may enjoy this also. And it can make for a nice “guard of honour” for the hearse to drive away through.

At a Celebration Of Life service, white doves are seen as a powerful witness of your loved ones passage to heaven.

We are can offer this service to client families through a 3rd party supplier. As well as butterfly releases if required.

Delegate roles to trusted family members and friends.

You might like to have greeters at the door in addition to Crane Funeral’s staff. This can offer a little bit more of a personal touch. The Celebrant or Minister of course is an important consideration as they will be person seen the most on the day.

Pallbearers are important when the family choose to move the coffin either in or out of the venue. A clean-up crew might be necessary especially if you have a function at home. Spreading the responsibilities will make the day run more smoothly.

Maybe your loved one liked reading and had a large library of books you don’t need now? Then possibly mourners could be offered the chance to take one to keep and read?

A bookmark with your loved one’s photo or favourite poem printed on it might also be a nice touch here also.

Your loved one may have had a beloved hobby or passionate interest.

A reminder of this given out to mourners can be a nice remembrance. If the deceased loved chocolate, then maybe you could put a bowl of favourite chocolates on the greeting table along with the funeral sign in book so that those with a sweet tooth could enjoy.

Why not consider using our horse-drawn carriage or Harley Davidson motorcycle hearse for your loved one’s final journey if horses or Harley’s were important in their life.

In conclusion
There are many thoughtful ways to personalise a Service.

The possibilities are limitless when it comes to arranging a Celebration Of Life Funeral.

We believe families who personalise their loved one’s funeral can better work through the grieving process. We will always strive to make this special day come together as perfectly as possible and go off without a hitch.

Funerals can be as much a sad experience – or an uplifting, joyful celebration – as you and your family desire.

As one of Melbourne’s leading bespoke Funeral Directors, the funeral you arrange with us is your choice. No strict, long list of “Package” funeral options to wade through and be restricted by.