Planning A Funeral During The Holiday Season: Three Things To Consider

Losing a loved one is never easy, but it can be even more difficult if your loved one passes away during the holiday season. If you find yourself having to make funeral arrangements during the holidays, there are a few things you can do to make the services a little more comforting and thoughtful. Here are just a few things to consider.

Plan A Family Meal

Unfortunately, funerals are sometimes the only occasions when family from all over the country will be able to gather together in one place. Consider planning a family meal on the evening of the wake so everyone can spend the evening together in the comfort of your or another relative's home. This gives young family members a chance to play together outside of the funeral home, and it gives you a cozy place to seek comfort from each other away from non-family members who may be attending the wake or funeral service. You may even want to take this opportunity to exchange gifts, particularly if your relatives won't be able to make a second trip for Christmas or Hanukkah.

Make Charity A Part Of The Services

People may take a bit more comfort during the holiday season by making someone else's holiday a bit more cheery and bright. You can give this opportunity to your friends and loved ones by organizing a small donation drive. This can be as simple as placing a box wrapped in holiday paper outside of the viewing room. Ask everyone to bring an unwrapped toy, nonperishable food item, or winter coat, and have your funeral director arrange to have the items taken to the charity of your choice.

Choose Holiday-Themed Flowers

One way to include the memory of your loved one is to opt for holiday-themed flower arrangements. Work with your florist to create a spray for the casket that includes holly berries, pine cones or other seasonal flowers, and have a seasonal wreath made for the graveside service. You may even want to add a few simple Christmas trees to the viewing room as well. While it may seem too festive to some, you might feel like this is the last opportunity to spend the holidays with your loved one, and a few tasteful floral arrangements can help you to achieve that goal.

Remember that you don't have to feel guilty if you aren't in the holiday spirit right after a loved one passes. Think about the different options for the funeral arrangements that can help to make the holidays and the funeral a little easier to cope with, and ask your funeral director for any advice he or she may have about dealing with a loss during the holidays. Contact a company like Maddox Funeral Home, Inc to learn more.