Memorial and Funeral A Memorial Ceremony is a wonderful tribute to a friend whose funeral you were unable to attend. Often over time, our lives change, and friends and love ones move away . . to different countries or interstate . . . although the friendship is still strong in the event of unforeseen circumstances it is not always possible to attend their funeral. . For those close who are unable to travel interstate or overseas an alternative is to have a Memorial Service. This is a wonderful way to celebrate the life and friendship of the deceased.
The basic format for a funeral / memorial is:  •An Introduction - by MC or Celebrant •Biography or eulogy •Reading or special piece of music your brother-in- law loved •Story telling by friends and relatives Funerals / Memorial Ceremonies should be an event laced with beautiful memories. . . Life does the full circle, funeral ceremonies bring friends and family together to express their love for the deceased. This is the time to celebrate the life of a loved one and say goodbye - for this reason, every funeral/ memorial service is special and every funeral/memorial service deserves to have the time spent on creating a unique ceremony in celebration of an individuals life. As a celebrant I place strong emphasis of meeting the family, and inviting the bereaved to share their most treasured memories of the deceased. . . this I find assists people in the grieving process. From the information gleaned from the family, I offer a a properly prepare funeral service, one that focusses on the lifetime achievements of the person who has died. . . A ceremony that is respectful to family culture and traditions, delivered with care and sensitivity.Funeral Service or Memorial Service What is the difference, and which one is right for your family? Funeral Service or a Memorial Service. . . . Both celebrate and honor the life of a loved one. A Funeral Service is more traditional while a Memorial Service tends to be more non-traditional. The body of the deceased will be present at the Funeral Service, and the Funeral will usually occur within a few days of the individuals’ death. Funeral Services tend to be more expensive since they usually involve the purchase and display of a casket, hurst for transportation of the body to the church and burial ground, as well as embalming / dressing and preparing of the body for open casket viewing. A Memorial Service is also a 'celebration of life' it pays tribute to the life of the deceased; however, the body of the deceased is not present. Because the body of the deceased is not present the Memorial Service can be conducted days, weeks or even months after the person has died. A Memorial Ceremony can be conducted in a park, on a boat, backyard, at home or on a golf course. . . in fact anywhere. (remember council permits are required for public areas) . The Funeral Home will still handle either the cremation or burial of the body. | 
