Tips For Hosting a Repast

By: Matthew Funeral Home
Monday, July 1, 2019


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.

Leave a comment
Name*:
Email:
Comment*:
Please enter the numbers and letters you see in the image. Note that the case of the letters entered matters.

Comments

Please wait

Previous Posts

Sensory Memory and Grief

Memories of lost loved ones can play a major part in our grief. If you see an old photo or an object that reminds you of a memory, you may be flooded with emotions. Sensory memories are those trigg...

Choosing the Right Funeral Home

When a loved one passes, or when pre-planning your funeral, it is important to choose a funeral home that you are comfortable with. Planning a funeral can seem daunting, especially when you are dea...

Should You Attend the Funeral of an Ex-Spouse?

When a loved one dies, it can seem obvious that you should attend the funeral. However, when it comes to your ex-spouse, it can get trickier. Divorces and separations can drastically affect the par...

Firefighter Funeral Services

When a firefighter passes away, there are often special practices associated with their funeral services. This is especially true if they died in the line of duty. Below, we will discuss the differ...

Survivor's Guilt & Coping with Grief

After a traumatic or sudden passing of a loved one, it is common for people to experience Survivor’s Guilt. Survivor’s Guilt is a type of grief that creates feelings of wrong-doing surrounding ...

Consoling Non-Religious Mourners

After the death of a loved one, it is common to say platitudes to the family like “they're in a better place” and “I’m praying for you.” But what if the family member of the loved one is non-religi...

Meditation and Working Through Grief

Meditation is a practice for fostering balance and serenity. More people turn to meditation as a way to find peace in a hectic work week, or to help them stay focused. Big tech companies like Googl...

Terminal Illnesses and Grief

When a loved one is diagnosed with a terminal illness, it can be hard to process your grief and be there for them. Often, family and friends can be an important support network for the sick individ...

Remembering Mom On Mother's Day

As Mother’s Day draws closer, it can be hard to avoid all the greeting card stands and gift displays in stores. After losing your mother, the upcoming holiday can feel bittersweet. Below, we will d...

Phobias and Funerals

Fear can be a powerful driving force in life, but it can also play a big part in dealing with death. Everyone fears something, and fear can often stop us from experiencing new and unique things. Wh...