Memorial Ceremony – Tenth Anniversary
Planning a Memorial Ceremony Online.
Mike’s wife, Shania and adult children, Tarn and Bryn and their close family friend, Sarah, organised an online memorial ceremony on the tenth anniversary of Mike’s death. Sarah took responsibility for all of the IT aspects, Zoom set up, invitations and emails.
Friends and family, from around the world, were sent an invitation via email with three questions and a request to ‘reply to all’. Shania, Tarn and Bryn replied too.
The questions were:
- What has he missed not being here for the last ten years?
- What would he have loved?
- What do we love and remember about him?
When people emailed their ‘reply to all’, more stories and memories were sparked offering a broad and beautiful insight into Mike and the memory of him. Using the community’s replies, a more structured memorial ceremony was scripted. Shania organised for Mike’s best friend who was lead singer in a local band to play a few songs on the Zoom call so everyone could dance at the end. People were invited to bring a plate of food and a drink to ‘their screen’ and share some conversation afterwards!
(All names in this post and invitation have been changed for privacy)
Here’s to remembering and speaking the names and stories of our friends long gone.
Free Learning Guide for Online Memorial and Funeral Services
You can download this free learning guide to holding an online ceremony and watch a role play funeral ceremony here on Youtube. Also, there are a lot more ideas for memorial services in my book, ‘Inspiring Funerals and Memorial Ceremonies’. Available as an e-book and paperback book.
“Wendy’s book is easy to navigate and find exactly the right words and rituals to capture the moment and the memories in a meaningful way. A funeral or memorial ceremony can provide a powerful environment for significant healing. The wisdom, readings and rituals detailed in such a personal way ensure that the reader will find an appropriate and loving way to honour the life and impact of their loved one.” Petrea King, Director of Quest for Life and author of ‘Sometimes Hearts Have to Break’
