Tips For Hosting a Repast

Along with the wake and funeral service, it is usually customary for the family of the deceased to host a repast. A repast is a memorial dinner that brings family and friends of the deceased together to talk about the good times with your loved ones, and to just be together after the events of a funeral service. Mourning and grief can be a very draining process; and a repast is a way for a family to recuperate and take a breath after all is said and done with the funeral process. There are a few things to consider when planning ang hosting a repast. 

Venue

While many people will host a repast at their home, some families will choose to go to a restaurant or banquet hall. Proximity to the funeral home or cemetery can be a helpful determining factor to picking a venue. Depending on weather, there may be some open air locations that can also be considered. Some churches may have banquet halls that can be rented, and can be a good place to return to after the funeral and burial service.

Menu

If you are hosting the repast at your home, you have plenty of options for food based on time and budget. You could request that guests bring something and have a potluck, or you could cater the food. When dealing with the passing of a loved one, you may not want to deal with preparing tons of food for your family. Restaurants with banquet halls will often have pre fixe menus or buffet selections for large family gatherings, which can take the stress out of preparing food. 

Personalizing the Repast

Much like the wake and funeral service; a repast can be personalized for your loved one. You may want to put pictures of your loved one up during the meal, play a memorial video, or show home videos on screen. You can also set up some of your loved one’s memorabilia and other favorite possessions on a memorial table during the repast.

Don’t Be Afraid to Ask for Help

The passing of a loved one can be a sudden and overwhelming ordeal. You shouldn’t be afraid to ask your family and friends for some help in planning the repast or funeral services. These plans are usually made in haste after the death, and it can be hard to be thinking clearly with everything that is going on. If you think you may need a hand with planning any aspect of your loved one’s funeral; reach out to your family and friends for support. Your funeral directors can also help you navigate these difficult times. They may also be able to provide you with some common places that families will host repasts in your area.

For almost 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.