The remembering, celebrating and letting go of a loved one goes by many names: funeral, memorial, celebration of life, wake service and graveside blessing to name a few. ​In this time of physical distancing, many of these ways of remembering can be shared through a variety of technologies that serve to include people, even from far away.

Why? Rituals and ritual gatherings create a space.  They call people to stop, even for a short time, to remember, to give thanks, to ask a blessing. Into the silence of a space, words, gestures, laughter, tears, music, and silence can be placed. This intentional space when someone dies allows grief, memories, gratitude, honor, and celebration to intertwine as the living bid farewell to the dead and begin to take the next step in a world that will never be the same.

Where?  There are many venues in which a ritual can take place: church, funeral home, long-term care facility, hospice, family home, cemetery-mausoleum, chapel, graveside (including Fort Snelling National Cemetery), as well as parks, restaurants or other spaces. What would work best for your family?

Read how one family creatively navigated a variety of beliefs and practices as they prepared to honor a family member.

​"In families that have a strong connection to church, a funeral or memorial service is less of a quandary. The church is notified and conversations are held, hopefully with a trusted pastor, priest, rabbi, imam, or someone in a comparable role. In most traditions, a service is scheduled, most often for the following week. There are certain prescribed rituals; expected music, commonly shared words. But what happens when that connection to church is lacking, and when members of the immediate family hold views about religion that range from humanist to agnostic to atheist? That was the context in which we, as a family, began our conversations about how to mark this chapter." 
Link to entire article by Bruce Johansen

Who? The service can be formal or informal, lengthy or brief, led by Anne/Marilaurice or with shared leadership perhaps including clergy and family members.

When? Remembrance rituals can take place immediately after the death, within a few days, or at a later time, depending on the needs of family and friends.  

What?  The options for a ritual service are many and can be explored together to create a unique remembrance. Elements of ritual often include: music, readings, symbols of life and eulogies/words from family and friends. We enjoy creating with you a ritual that remembers in a special way your loved one and brings comfort to those who mourn.

We will partner with you to create a graceful, respectful, and appropriate remembrance, being in direct communication with you all through the process.  A copy of the service will be presented to your family shortly after the service.

Please read our testimonials to hear from families we have served as funeral planners and celebrants.

As funeral celebrants, Anne and Marilaurice can also help with the planning and facilitation of a Living Memorial or a Pre-funeral which allows an elderly or terminally ill person to say goodbye and receive good wishes before death. The planning process of meeting, exploring options, and direct communication on a regular basis is the same as for a funeral.