Ali Briggs
Ideas for Hosting a Celebration of Life

7 tips for planning an authentic memorial event.

There is no “right” way to celebrate the special people who have impacted your life—memorial events come in all shapes and sizes!

When planning a celebration of life, funeral, or any other memorial event, remember to focus on what feels right for your loved one, you, and your community. Ask yourself, “What would my person want?”. Make that your guiding light and you’ll be sure to plan an authentic celebration that feels like your loved one.

Here are a few more tips to help you plan a memorial event as unique and memorable as your loved one.

Ideas for Hosting a Celebration of Life
Rachele Louis
Black Grief: When Life is More Than a Movement

As a Black woman and founder of a company that deals with death everyday, I’ve come to see just how grief hits different when it’s a life that has been taken prematurely. And in the particular cases of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, Atatiana Jefferson, and too many others, it hits even harder for a life robbed in a pervasively disgraceful standard affair.

The more we remember all the ways George was a human, the stronger we keep his memory alive towards change. 

Black Grief: When Life is More Than a Movement
Find support, Help a friend
Ali Briggs
Grief during coronavirus - how to maintain ...

As COVID-19 continues to disrupt daily life, some ideas on how you can strengthen connections during social distancing. Even though our norms surrounding grief have been upended, we still have ways to support and connect with the people in our lives.

Above all, remember that “social distancing” means practicing physical distancing, but not giving up our social connections. Let’s navigate this new life together.

Grief during coronavirus - how to maintain physical, but not social, isolation
Ali Briggs
How to host a virtual wake / memorial service / ...

If you’d like to host a virtual wake / funeral reception / Shiva for your loved one, you can use this step-by-step guide to make it a success. A virtual wake is a time for people who can’t all come together in person to come together all the same to celebrate the life of their loved one and support each other in grief. Friends and family can share stories, songs, and photos, just like they would at an in-person wake. COVID-19 can’t stop love.

How to host a virtual wake / memorial service / funeral reception / Shiva in the time of coronavirus

holidays

Coping with grief during the holidays

Whether this is the first holiday or it’s been years since a loved one passed away, the holiday season’s focus on traditions and togetherness can often intensify feelings of grief and loss. Understanding how you, family members, and friends may be affected during this time of year can help you prepare to navigate these feelings and support those in your life who may be struggling with grief themselves.

We hope the following resources, tips, and strategies will help you find strength during difficult moments and allow you to celebrate this year’s holidays in a way that’s right for you and your loved ones.

When you’re grieving…

When family or friends are grieving…

  • Watch this 4-minute video from Refuge in Grief on how to help a grieving friend.

  • Check out these practical tips on supporting a grieving loved one during the holiday season from our friends at Help Texts.

  • Read Give InKind’s answers to commonly asked questions about if and how you can support bereaved families and friends during the holidays.

  • Love big and you can’t go wrong.

when a child is grieving…

  • Download the Eluna Network’s Holiday Toolkit for supporting grieving children, which includes activities, conversation prompts, tips on navigating issues specific to each holiday, and more.

  • Check out this article on “How to Support a Grieving Child During the Holidays” from Lantern that provides tips for helping children cope.

  • Read 3 experts’ advice on practical steps you can take to support kids whose families have changed.

  • Are you an educator? Take a look at this article from the Eluna Network that focuses specifically on how you can help any of your students who may be grieving during the holiday season.

About Us:

LifeWeb 360 helps communities celebrate the life and impact of loved ones who have passed away by providing a digital space where memories can be preserved forever. Stories, photos, and video memories can be gathered over time and even transformed into a physical book you can hold in your hands.