I Want A Fun Funeral Blog
Your funeral as your own goodbye
Make it personal, make it fun
Ideas from you! When I hold an I Want a Fun Funeral workshop — which I did last week, you inspire me! People walk in the door already having their own awesome ideas . Here's two of my favorites from that class. #1 Favorite Idea Instead of prayer cards, a woman wants...
Unforgettable is the purpose!
Enthusiastic goodbye processional
This picture says it all to me. ALL. It's pure celebration, as simple as it gets. And for that reason, I'm not going to muddy this message with analysis or pile on other examples of celebration. Sometimes simple is best. One can't argue with pure. Getting to the heart...
Don’t get burned, get wet: aquamation!
Archbishop Desmond Tutu planned himself an aquamation! Are you up on this new option for one’s remains? It’s essentially a water cremation. Instead of a body going into flames, it’s dissolved in a chemical solution, and produces the same kind of ‘ashes.’ Also known as...
It’s always Celebration time
Don’t ruin your funeral plans by thinking about death
Are you avoiding or procrastinating on starting your own goodbye plans? Join the club, 'cause that would be you and 98% of humanity. Who jumps at the chance to make their own funeral arrangements? That person would definitely get the side eye. But the truth is, when...
End of life resources? Get started here.
It's Fall… leaves are turning hundreds of beautiful shades from yellow to red. Time to be outdoors in the fresh air while we still can without bundling up in 16 layers. As those leaves are dying, we should, as always, be full-on LIVING! I get a little frantic this...
Update thy passwords!
One of my main jobs here is to encourage… urge… (try not to lambaste) people to make their goodbye plans ahead of time. (And just as importantly, to put a little LIFE in them! Yay.), Yet I myself don't always live up this ideal. Of course, I do have plans, fo' sure....
Ever think about your own death? Not as an abstraction, but for real, as in turning in for the night and never waking up, or keeling over on the kitchen counter and being a goner just like that. I could get more graphic, but there's really no reason for that! (Though...
For All Who Want a Fun Funeral
As passionate cheerleader for uplifting celebrations of life (aka 'fun funerals') for the past eight years, I'm always taking note of people's reactions. I used to stress — disclaimer-like — that "It's not for everyone," but what I've observed is that the people who...
Planning Your Own Funeral and Doing It Right – Guest Post
This month's post comes from Craig Meadows, the creator of Surviving Day One. Having dealt with three life-changing challenges in his life, he created the site to offer support to anyone going through a traumatic or difficult experience. When he isn’t working on his...
Cremation and Celebration — hand in hand
Having a cremation ≠ no funeral service. Cremations are becoming more and more popular, that much is clear. But with it, there is also a trend towards skipping any kind of service. Not cool! Sometimes, if there is literally no family left, or there was explicit,...
A refreshing look at mortality – Dick Johnson is Dead
Have you seen the new documentary on Netflix Dick Johnson is Dead? If you're even glancing at a blog post on I Want a Fun Funeral, this has got to be right up your alley. 86-year old Dick Johnson has just begun a dementia decline, and his filmmaker daughter, Kirsten...
A standing ovation! The grand finale of a fireworks display! An outpouring of recognition and gratitude like nobody's business. It's just not the time to skimp or be reserved. Be bold and beautiful in your Goodbye to your so-loved person.