Planning a Summertime Memorial Service

After a loved one dies, some families opt to hold a memorial event sometime after the funeral. The summertime offers plenty of opportunities for a beautiful outdoor memorial service to honor the memory of the deceased. This article will discuss popular ideas for Summer memorial events.

Choosing a Date

If there was a significant date of importance to your loved one in the summer, consider planning your event on or around that date. Birthdates, death dates, anniversaries, or family traditions could all be good ideas for choosing a memorial date.

Picnics or Barbeques

A picnic or barbeque can be a good way to get together with loved ones for a memorial ceremony. Gather at a park, in a backyard, at the grave of your loved one (cemetery permitting), or at the ash-scattering location. Common refreshments at a Summer memorial picnic may include salads, fresh fruit, sandwiches or burgers, etc.

Decorations

Common decorations for a memorial gathering may include photos of the deceased, flowers, and other season-appropriate decorations. Consider putting a photo of your loved one in a summer-themed picture frame, such as one decorated with seashells. Summer flowers that are popular for memorial events include sunflowers, daisies, and gladiolus. 

Ceremonies

Some families decide to have a ceremony as part of their memorial event. This may include the scattering of ashes if your loved one was cremated. Consider capturing lightning bugs in a jar and releasing them at night. Create a fireworks display in honor of your loved one (where legal). Consider planting a tree or flowers in their honor. 

Fundraising and Donations

Some families use memorial events to raise money for charity in the name of the deceased. Consider asking loved ones to donate to a charity as part of the event. This could include charity that was important to the deceased, or perhaps one that cares for others living with the same illness that your loved one had dealt with.

Matthew Funeral Home does not provide medical, legal, or healthcare advice via articles.  This material has been prepared for informational purposes only, and is not intended to provide, and should not be relied on for legal or medical advice.
For over 50 years, Matthew Funeral Home has been serving the Staten Island community. We can help with almost every aspect of your loved one’s memorial service. Our family is here to serve yours, every step of the way.