If you have a family member who, before passing away, expressed the desire to have a memorial service held in his or her honor, you may be in charge of planning this event. Although a memorial service could technically be held shortly after the death, these events routinely take place in the months that follow and can often take on more of a "celebration of life" feel than the somber feel commonly associated with funerals. Memorial services can be held anywhere, from a public area such as a park to your backyard. If you're brainstorming locations, however, it may be worthwhile to consider having your local funeral home host the event. Here are some reasons why.

Easy Access To A/V Equipment

Many people include videos, slideshows, and other digital presentations as part of memorial services, as they allow the life of the person who has passed away to be told through images. If you book the memorial service to take place at a funeral home, you'll have easy access to projectors, screens, and other digital elements that you may need for this presentation. This is much easier than a home-based service, for example, in which you'd have to rent this gear. For those who will be speaking at the service, the funeral home's microphones and sound system will come in handy — again, this is something that you'd otherwise need to rent.

Food-Related Convenience

One of the common elements of a memorial service is some sort of meal, whether it's a formal sit-down meal following the service or finger foods being served throughout. If you're considering an event at a park, you'll have to pack the food or have everyone travel to a restaurant afterward; for a home-based event, you may find yourself cooking for days. Conversely, many funeral homes are set up so that food can be served out of an on-site kitchen, and the funeral director may even be able to recommend some local caterers for you.

A Quiet Environment

You might have aspirations of hosting a memorial service at your local park, only to find a group of kids playing in the area or families picnicking. Given that the space is open for everyone, you can't ask these people to leave, and their presence can be disruptive. Another benefit of holding the memorial service at a funeral home is that it will be a quiet environment for you. You can schedule the event so that nothing else is going on in the building, giving you and your guests privacy as you celebrate the life of your late loved one.

For more information, talk to a company like Conboy-Westchester Funeral Home Inc.

Share