When it comes time to plan a funeral, most people assume that you have limited options of where the funeral service should be, or could be held. Usually the first things that we think of are a Funeral Chapel, a Church, or a Graveside service. However as the funeral industry modernises and become more focussed on the unique and individual celebration of life, options for funeral services are rapidly increasing.
I have a fond memory of a funeral service that we looked after for a gentleman who had the rare opportunity to plan his own funeral service. For the purposes of this article and to protect his privacy, let’s call him Jim. At the time, Jim was in palliative care and he didn’t want a traditional funeral, the idea of being stuck in four walls with a status quo service, didn’t really float his boat. So we spent some time together, getting to know each other and understanding what things were important in his life.
Jim had this incredible passion for the environment and for the outdoors. He had travelled extensively and some of his fondest memories were of times that he had spent in various rainforests throughout the world. So we did a little research and we found the most beautiful little rainforest gardens just up the road in Mount Cotton. The gardens were lush, tropical and in the centre was a beautiful lake that had a stunning deck. Jim couldn’t have been happier and the rest of our planning with him focussed on how we could make this spot a truly beautiful celebration for his funeral service. And that is exactly what we did; complete with multimedia (televisions) and music that could not have been a better soundtrack to his life and celebration.
Jim was fortunate to have had that opportunity, but it is not one that we all are able to have. This is one of the reasons why we say that talking about your funeral wishes are an important part of life. Make your wishes known and have your life celebrated just the way you want it to be.
In addition to the lovely Rainforest Gardens, we have also had the pleasure of hosting funerals in some pretty spectacular locations:
- Sporting Clubs
- RSL’s
- The Beach
- A Lookout
- At The Family Home
- At a Favourite Camp Site
- On a Boat
- At a High School
- At Cloudland and other Nightclubs in Brisbane
The real point here, is that a funeral can be just about anywhere you want it to be. These days we aren’t bound by the idea of having the four walls of a chapel or a church to contain the celebration of our loved ones lives and we don’t have to satisfy the status quo when it comes to creating a meaningful celebration in an appropriate venue.
Just like our lives are unique and different, so too should our funerals and life celebrations. The possibilities are endless when it comes to the location of a funeral. When talking to your funeral director, why not brainstorm a few ideas and find a alternative location that really captures your loved one and their passions and life.
Funerals don’t have to be anything regular, in fact, some of the most amazing funerals we have ever had the privilege of conducting, have been in the most obscure places. In the end, it all comes down to love, laughter and a celebration that is perfect for your loved one.