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A Celebration of Life, Not a Mourning of Death

1 - I can do better 2 - Jury's out 3 - Pretty darn good 4 - Splendiferous 5 - Awesometastic (by 4 people)   Your rating: 1 - I can do better 2 - Jury's out 3 - Pretty darn good 4 - Splendiferous 5 - Awesometastic

Ranked #141 in People, #2784 overall

Rated G. (Control what you see)

Remember them as they were

 

A traditional funeral service with black suits and quiet church music and people gathered around a casket or urn, is okay for some, but it is not favorable for many people.  Sometimes mourning a life does not feel right.  Life should be celebrated.  It is a special day when people who loved a person get together and celebrate their life, happily, and remember the person as they were...alive, and vibrant.

Planning a Celebration of Life, A Simple Guide for Turning a Memorial Service into a Celebration of Life 

If you are planning a celebration of life rather then a somber funeral, you will want to pick up this book. It tells you all you need to know.

Planning a Celebration of Life, A Simple Guide for Turning a Memorial Service into a Celebration of Life

Amazon Price: $9.95 (as of 10/13/2008)

This book is full of unique and creative Life Celebration ideas that will help you creat a memorable and personalized celebration. Including: Activities like dove releases and candle lighting ceremonies, remembrance poem and song collections, flowers, food and drink ideas, parting gifts, remembering and coping ideas, a guide to scattering remains, 10 ideas for creating a memorial to keep the memory of your loved one alive.

Photos from Celebrations and Memorials 

Mom & Uncle Bob by SpooSpa

After funeral dance

Celebration of Life by ONE/MILLION

Out to sea

Crowd Shot III by blmurch

Russ Riviere Celebration

Crowd Shot by blmurch

Russ Riviere Celebration

TONY PLAYS  FOR VERNON by oneeyeddogblues

Vernon's Memorial

0080vi by l*ght//m_tion

Funeral Parade

Video Clips 

View some celebrations honoring the lives of loved ones.

Barry's Jazz Funeral III

Celebration of Life

Claire's Celebration of Life

Helen Hill Jazz Funeral Parade

Gypsy Funeral

Maurice Brown@ "Missing Alvin Batiste" Jazz Fest Funeral 07

Dealing Creatively With Death: A Manual of Death Education and Simple Burial 

Dealing Creatively With Death: A Manual of Death Education and Simple Burial

Amazon Price: $11.21 (as of 10/13/2008)

Now in its 14th edition, this classic book has sold more than 300,000 copies in earlier editions. It is a small encyclopedia on death-related problems; social, emotional, philosophical and practical. It is written simply and sensitively, drawing substantially on direct experience. It is thoroughly updated from previous editions. Topics include Death Education; Living with Dying; Bereavement; The Right to Die; Simple Burial and Cremation; Funeral Consumer Organizations; Death Ceremonies; and How the Dead can Help the Living.

Concentrate on how they lived, not on how they died 

brad, you are one of my most favorite people ever, and we gave you a hell of a send-off into the great beyond. by ...kranich

For Brad

tim with (joe) tuba. by ...kranich

For Brad

Adriane Hall's Jazz Funeral by The Voice of Eye (is editing en masse)

Adriane Hall's Jazz FUneral

MOTT-LY by ©hrisGo!

MOTT-LY

MOTT-LY by ©hrisGo!

MOTT-LY

0047vi by l*ght//m_tion

Vi Landry

Celebration of Life Links 

How to Plan a Memorial or Celebration of Life Service
This article helps explain the major topics involved in planning a memorial service of Celebration of Life ceremony from selecting the location and date to finding ways of sharing and preserving memories.
The Funeral - A Celebration of Life
Funeral - A Celebration of Life?
Unique Funeral Ideas: Planning a fitting celebration of a young man's life
When a young man without religious affiliation died suddenly, his family created a celebration that accurately shared highlights of his life
Celebration of Life Stories
Celebrating the life of a loved one is a deeply personal opportunity. Today there are so many ways to truly express who that was. What was their life was like? What did they valued most.
How to Plan a Memorial Service: Planning a Celebration of Life Service or Memorial Ceremony
A Memorial Service is a unique way to honor the memory of a loved one who has died, to express love and affection and most of all to Celebrate a Life.

Remember them as life, not as death 

Sharing by Temeculamom

Drums by Temeculamom

Drumbeat by Temeculamom

Waiting to release the butterflies by Temeculamom

Juju by Mizz Amontillado

9th Ward Memorial by howieluvzus

0121vi by l*ght//m_tion

Surfer Funeral by lou~lou~w

Motorcycle Hearse by MR38

Hell's Angels' "Gentleman Gerry" Funeral Cortege Goes Through London by DG Jones

BHTD by Symic

Not sure you can celebrate? 

If you are not sure whether you can celebrate, then you need to come to grips with the fact that death will come. It is inevitable. It may be sudden, or well foreseen. Either way, death is a time to remember life. If you think you will not make it though a celebration of life memorial, or you need to help someone else who is not ready, pick up one of these books, to help you through.

Remembering Well: Rituals for Celebrating Life and Mourning Death

Amazon Price: $15.61 (as of 10/13/2008)

Embraced by the Light

Amazon Price: $7.50 (as of 10/13/2008)

Talking about Death Won't Kill You

Amazon Price: $22.95 (as of 10/13/2008)

Good Grief Rituals: Tools for Healing : A Healing Companion

Amazon Price: (as of 10/13/2008)

Celebration of Life: A Ten-Step Planning Guide

Amazon Price: $13.95 (as of 10/13/2008)

Africa Celebrates 


In Celebration of Life

Kinshasa.--A Funeral Dance

Funeral dance in Dogon country

Final Celebrations: A Guide for Personal and Family Funeral Planning 

Final Celebrations: A Guide for Personal and Family Funeral Planning

Amazon Price: $9.95 (as of 10/13/2008)
List Price: $9.95

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He Was a Good Man, But Now He's Gone 

by M. Ward

M. Ward : "Requiem"

M. Ward music video for Requiem, from the album Post-War (2006). Directed by Santi G. Aguado Cinematography by Jose Luis Pulido

Runtime: 2:47
119944 views
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Guestbook 

Leave your messages for us:

Mary Hickey

Nice job on your lens, also thanks for featuring my book, Planning a Celebration of Life many have found it very helpful. Your viewers may like these eco friendly plantable heart cards, they are personalized cards and when they are planted wildflowers grow in memory of your loved one. They are becoming very popular for life celebrations, you can find them here http://nextgenmemorials.com/seedcardheart.html

Posted July 22, 2008

Joan4

Absolutely wonderful lens and so very true!! Hopefully we are moving away from the somber dark events and more toward celebrations of life. My father used to teach us "death is a part of life". He was right!

Posted July 01, 2008

LaraineRose

This is a very nice lens. Our family holds an Open House for friends and relatives after our Memorials. We relate funny as well as sad things which will always remind us of our loved ones who have died. I always find that it helps to heal the hurt I feel. 5 stars, favorite, fan and lensrolled.

Posted July 01, 2008

spirituality

What a great topic for a lens. 5* for sure.

Posted July 01, 2008

Courtney

This is the best site I have found yet in my search for guidance as I try and plan a service for the life of a dear friend.
Thank you.

Posted March 07, 2008

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