Guidance for Families
Plain answers for planning a celebration of life, often for the first time: what it is, how it differs from a funeral, what it costs, and how to begin.
Celebration of Life vs Funeral
A funeral is a formal ceremony held soon after a death with the body present, usually at a funeral home, place of worship or graveside. A celebration of life is a gathering held without the body, often weeks later, in a room the family chooses, with stories, music and a meal. The difference is not how much love is in the room. It is the timing, the setting, who is in charge, and the cost.
2026-10-16
How to Plan a Celebration of Life
Start with the date and the room, then the people, then the parts of the service, then the meal. Everything else follows. Here is the order the team at Sacred Farewells walks families through, from the first phone call to the last chair put away.
2026-10-16
Written for the Week Nobody Plans For
Short, honest about cost, written to be read on a phone.
- One question per article
- Real prices
- Written by the team
Each article answers one question a family asked the team. They are short, honest about cost and written to be read on a phone at a kitchen table.
Come See the Room First
A free 30-minute tour, any weekday. Walk the sanctuary, see the reception space, and ask every question before anything is decided.