Memorial Services (Celebrations of Life)
& Grief Support
The dying process, and then losing someone you love, can be difficult. And it can be a time of meaning and tenderness.
If you or someone in your family needs spiritual support during or after the dying process, I am available for pastoral care meetings by video or in-person. These session are typically one hour, and are $120/hour.
A memorial service (or celebration of life) may take place any time after someone's death: from a few day to months later. The planning can take place before someone's death or afterwards. Once it is time, l work with the family to create an personalized service that honors your loved one's personality and beliefs while also comforting those grieving the loss. You may want a feeling of joy to pervade, celebrating the person's life. You may want the service to focus on grief and comfort. Or, a combination of both may be most appropriate. It's up to you!
The planning process includes:
More about me.
If you or someone in your family needs spiritual support during or after the dying process, I am available for pastoral care meetings by video or in-person. These session are typically one hour, and are $120/hour.
A memorial service (or celebration of life) may take place any time after someone's death: from a few day to months later. The planning can take place before someone's death or afterwards. Once it is time, l work with the family to create an personalized service that honors your loved one's personality and beliefs while also comforting those grieving the loss. You may want a feeling of joy to pervade, celebrating the person's life. You may want the service to focus on grief and comfort. Or, a combination of both may be most appropriate. It's up to you!
The planning process includes:
- Brief phone call to get to know you and your loved one and to determine logistics of the service (time, location, services to be provided, and fees)
- 60 minute planning meeting to create an order of service which might include:
- Openings and closings
- Poems and other readings
- A short message offered by me
- Prayer or meditation
- Ritual
- A time to remember the loved one with stories and memories
- Singing or other music
- Silence
- Arriving at the venue 45-60 minutes prior to the service
- Officiating the service (typically no more than 60 minutes)
- On that day, pastoral care for immediate family
- Greet guests after the service
More about me.
Pastoral support during the dying process: $120/hour.
Planning and leading the service
including a homily or message: $500
without homily or message: $350
Mileage from SE Denver to your location at 62.5 cents per mile
Planning and leading the service
including a homily or message: $500
without homily or message: $350
Mileage from SE Denver to your location at 62.5 cents per mile
"Grief is praise of those we have lost. Our own souls who have loved and are now heartbroken would turn to stone and hate us if we did not show such praise when we lose whom we love... If we do not grieve what we miss, we are not praising what we love. We are not praising the life we have been given in order to love. If we do not praise whom we miss, we are ourselves in some way dead. So grief and praise make us alive." Martín Prechtel
