By Annette Pinder

Erica Burst, in writing for guardian.com, said we need to celebrate life at funerals. She said, “Laughter, joy and celebration aren’t words that are traditionally associated with funerals, but in the past few years we’ve seen the rise of the happy funeral, with ‘celebration’ becoming a well-established funeral trend.”

One of the most uplifting funerals I ever attended was one in which the life of a prominent Western New Yorker was celebrated. The luncheon at his favorite country club included a replica of the bowtie that was always part of his attire for each attendee. One of the most important food items was this man’s favorite – hot dogs and beans! The event was truly a celebration of his life and accomplishments.

These days, people choose to celebrate a person’s life with tribute videos, live funeral webcasting, memorial cards or bookmarks, and even lanterns or balloons released into the sky. While many choose a more somber, traditional service, Burst says, “If handled sensitively, a celebratory funeral could also help children process their grief.” She also points out that we often project our own fears about death and grief on to children and mistake our own terror for theirs, noting that a celebration of life makes for a more open discussion.

There are many different ways of celebrating life. In Mexico, families sit in graveyards on the Day of the Dead, with flowers, food, drink, and an all-night celebration of their late relatives’ return. Sadly, our view of death is often morbid, rather than an ode to life itself. Learn more about how Buszka Funeral Home can help you to honor and celebrate the life of your loved one at https://www.buszkafuneralhome.com, or call 716-825-7777.