Have you ever planned a funeral? Did you have trouble working friends and family into the service? If you ever have to plan a funeral or memorial, then you’ll soon learn that it can be a real challenge to include loved ones in the service beyond the eulogy.

Honouring someone with a funeral service or memorial is an important way to say goodbye. Don’t your friends and family deserve the chance to gain closure by participating in the service for your departed loved one in Vancouver?

If you’re interested in knowing more about including friends and family in the funeral, then you’ll want to invest 20 minutes for this edition of the Forever in their Hearts, where Erik Reynolds interviews Valerie Martell, Director of Operations for Martin Brothers Funeral Services in Vancouver about how to include loved ones when planning a service.

Funeral services are an important part of the grieving process. The Cremation, Interment and Funeral Services Act* defines funeral services as bereavement rites and ceremonies. This interview explains how to include friends and family during this sensitive time.

How to Include Friends and Family Beyond a Traditional Eulogy

This episode kicks off with Valerie talking about some of the ways that you can include close friends or family members when planning a funeral or memorial service in Vancouver.

There are many things to consider when planning a funeral for a loved one, and you don’t want to leave out the important family and friends. Valerie explains one simple way to allow large groups to take part in the service.

If you aren’t sure who to include in the service, then talking to a funeral director beforehand can save you a lot of heartache during an already stressful time.

Acknowledging Those Who Participate in the Service

Next Valerie segues into how to acknowledge those participating in the service once you have everything planned out. She also goes on to answer these and other questions:

- Can I request a dress code for people participating in the funeral?
- Where can I get ideas for special ways to include family and friends?
- What do I do if I have more participants than roles in the service?

Now ask yourself these two questions: Do I know what plans I want for my funeral? Do I know how I’d answer a request to participate in a family member’s funeral? If you answered “No” to either or both, then it’s time to consider talking to a funeral director in Vancouver for suggestions.

Tips for Pre-Planning Your Own Funeral Service

Next the conversation segues into how including friends and family in the funeral or memorial service works when pre-planning our own. It’s not always easy to let family know what you want.

Valerie takes time to discuss specific examples of things you might request for your own funeral, and offers some tips for how you can make sure your plans for your final resting are carried out to the smallest detail.

Nobody wants to think about planning a funeral, but saying goodbye is really a celebration of someone’s life. What’s keeping you from consulting a Vancouver funeral home about your own tribute?

The episode wraps up with Valerie sharing some final thoughts about including friends and family in the funeral, memorial, or graveside service.

Are You Ready to Start Planning Your Celebration of Life?

Do you want to save your family the stress of planning your funeral? Are you ready to learn how you can include loved ones in a funeral service beyond the eulogy? Listen to the entire podcast now, and then share your questions and stories about funeral services below, where we can discuss them together.

Martin Brothers Funeral Services has more than 100 years of experience in providing thoughtful, dedicated services to families dealing with loss. If you are ready to take care of funeral pre-arrangements, have additional questions about their services, or are dealing with a loss, please contact them at their Vancouver office.

Martin Brothers Funeral Services

Vancouver: Funeral Services Centre
3398 Dunbar Street
Vancouver, BC Canada V6S 2C1

Telephone Number: 778.330.7799
Toll Free Number: 1.800.382.2901
Fax Number: 778.330.7633

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MartinBrothersFuneralChapelsBcLtd
Twitter: https://twitter.com/martinbrothers1

*http://www.bclaws.ca/Recon/document/ID/freeside/00_04035_01#section1