How often does your family all get together? While some families are very good about holidays and celebrations, others spread farther apart as the years go by and, eventually, only gather for weddings and, unfortunately, funerals. If you are working with funeral homes in Irving, TX on the final services of a family member who has passed away, you know you will likely see cousins and other people you haven’t seen in a while. And while the services are not all about the family gathering, but rather the loved one who passed on, it’s important to make the most of the time you have together, since it is rare. Here are a few ideas to help you get started on the planning process.

Have A Celebration Of Life

While memorial services and funerals are wonderful ways to honor someone who has passed on, you might not want to gather your family in such a somber manner when the gatherings are so rare. Is it sad that your loved one has passed on? Absolutely. And everyone will miss that person. However, they led a great life at the same time and that’s worth celebrating. You can do anything you want as a part of the celebration of life. Have your family go to a baseball game featuring their favorite team. Go bowling if they played in a league and never missed a game. Have a picnic with all of their favorites. Celebrations of life can be whatever you make of them and your family can enjoy their time together while honoring your loved one.

Allow Participation

Whatever type of service you end up having, it might be a good idea to allow anyone and everyone in your family to participate, if they would like to do so. Perhaps have an ‘open mic’ time when anyone can share a memory they have of your loved one. This is a great way to include the entire family and to learn more about what they hold dear. You might even hear things about your loved one that you didn’t know before. Allowing everyone to participate can help the family bond in a new way.

Host A Reception

After the service you have for your loved one, allow your family to spend more time together at a reception of some sort. Book a private room in a restaurant and allow everyone to order what they want and just mingle together and spend time reminiscing about your loved one.

If you want more ideas on how to help your family make the most of the rare time they have together, the funeral homes in Irving, TX are here to help. We want your loved one to be honored and for your family to enjoy the time they have together, supporting one another through the hard times. Visit with Hughes Family Tribute Center by calling (214) 350-9951 to talk things over. You can also visit with us at 9700 Webb Chapel Rd Dallas, TX 75220.