The family’s choice of a non-religious funeral venue can fully capture the personality or lifestyle of the one whose life they are celebrating. Because each ceremony is unique to that person and their family and friends, it does not have to be limited to any place or building.
A husband could choose to hold the ceremony at the social club where he and his late wife met many years before. A man who spent a good deal of time at a pub or playing bowls could have his life celebration there.
A Funeral Venue for a Baker
One of the most poignant and warmest ceremonies Wordways Ceremonies has conducted was for a woman who was famous for her baking. So her family chose to hold the celebration of life in a coffee shop.
They provided a wonderful spread of sweet and savoury dishes and everyone ordered tea or coffee. People sat at tables outside under gazebos and umbrellas.
Vanessa from Wordways gave a short introduction and told the story of her life. She read a poem that she had written, entitled Baking with Love. She then read tributes from the lady’s daughter and her husband, while a young man read a tribute in Afrikaans from her son.
After that the microphone was handed round and the mourners were invited to share their memories of this wonderfully bubbly woman. There were many delightful stories of her as a child and as a sibling, as a friend or a colleague, as a mother and as a neighbour. There were many tears, but there was also a great deal of laughter.
One of the criteria of a truly meaningful ceremony is that the participants feel better afterwards. And it was clear at the end of this tea party that everyone felt better for having been there.
A Ceremony for a Performer
Early this year Vanessa conducted a ceremony for a young man who had been a very talented performer and a drama teacher. So it was most appropriate that his friends were able to arrange to hold the celebration of life ceremony in a theatre.
As a funeral venue a theatre has many advantages. Obviously the acoustics are very good and there was a professional sound technician on hand. This was very helpful, as there were a number of different speakers. One of his pupils sang a beautifully appropriate song as well.
There was another very personal touch. His friend brought some of the shirts that had been specially designed to commemorate many of the shows that he had directed at schools. He found a costume rail backstage and hung the shirts and some jackets on it. This formed a most poignant back drop.
After the ceremony his friends were invited to come up and take an item that had particular memories of him. There were also piles of his books, as he had been a voracious reader. Friends were delighted to choose volumes to take home with them.
Closing thoughts
You don’t need a church to be able to say goodbye. A non-religious celebrant-led ceremony allows you great the flexibility of funeral venues: gardens, crematoriums, family homes, beaches (where permitted). The most important part is that it was a place that was meaningful to the deceased.
Contact Vanessa to discuss a celebration of life ceremony in Gauteng for your loved one.