Anything for the family……

I have been extremely lucky to be a part of so many different types of funeral services. Over the last 15 years, I have helped families though a full range of services – big and small. The big ones are easy to remember; the small ones were some of the most meaningful.

Having worked with the well known and very wealthy, I have planned services for as many as 700 attendants; while at the other end, I have held a service with only 1 guest. Some funerals have had price tags of tens of thousands of dollars; other services I have had to pay for myself. Flowers, catering, limos, press areas, police escorts, and over-night accommodations – some services have lasted for days; other times it has just been me.

I have conducted services in churches, temples, cemeteries, VFWs, town halls, museums, art galleries, bars, living rooms, bedrooms, near a stream, on a mountain, under a tree, 4,000 ft above sea level, on the ocean, on a lake, near a golf course, on a golf course, parks, picnic areas, backyards, gardens, farms, open meadows, and in the deep woods.  And I am sure that I am missing a few.  Every one of those services was what the family needed to move forward with their own grief journey.

Logistically, some were very challenging. All of them were priceless as far as the families were concerned. I enjoy the challenge of helping families express themselves in the appropriate and comfortable environment.

Families have enjoyed that I come to their home.  I have sat at a lot of kitchen tables and had some really good coffee (and some not so good…)  I can tell you from having sat across the table at the funeral home, families are much more comfortable surrounded by family at the kitchen table.  And that is how I prefer to do business.

Yes I have even had a service in a kitchen……