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# I Want A Fun Funeral

putting a little Last Wishes into your life

## Sitemaps

- [XML Sitemap](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/sitemap.xml): Contains all public & indexable URLs for this website.

## Posts

- [Blog](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/blog/) - The latest News and Information posted by Kyle Tevlin, the founder of I Want A Fun Funeral.
- [Last Wishes, A New Tradition](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/last-wishes-a-new-tradition/)
- [Last Wishes — A choice to be UPLIFTED!](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/last-wishes-a-choice-to-be-uplifted/) - At Life's worst moment — the ending of it — Last Wishes are a positive, life-affirming act of generosity and connection. Don't leave your earth life without leaving some Last Wishes, be they tiny or grand. Their reach may be greater than you'd ever imagine.
- [Last Wishes - they're a WIN for all involved](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/last-wishes-theyre-a-win-for-all-involved/) - Ten minutes is all it takes to jot down some good deeds you'd like done in your honor once you have a new cosmic address (you're dead) • Buy some art supplies for the kids at the local homeless shelter • Bring the widowed neighbor a bouquet of flowers every so often, because you no
- [Create a Funeral from Your Heart](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/create-a-funeral-from-your-heart/)
- [Don't Waste Your Grand Exit](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/dont-waste-your-grand-exit/)
- [Feel more alive by planning your own goodbye party](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/feel-more-alive-by-planning-your-own-goodbye-party/) - It's true! Take a few minutes to jot down how you'd like your goodbye party (aka your funeral) to be, and you will start feeling a bit bubbly. It's a kick, it really is. Reflecting over your life, no matter how cursory or deep, gives you a sense of what's important to you, and there's
- [Happiest of New Years](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/happiest-of-new-years/)
- [Last Wishes Fun Infographic!](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/last-wishes-fun-infographic/) - I was gifted this infographic from a friend who was playing around with AI. More specifically, it was NotebookLM (a free Google app), which I had not ever even heard of. It was automatically created from the information on my website plus videos of me doing IWAFF presentations, just from the instruction to make an
- [Nuns Do a Clap Out](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/nuns-do-a-clap-out/) - My friend just shared an exquisite example of a memorable send off moment. Her 85-year old aunt — an accomplished and cherished nun — got a clap out from her fellow nuns while her casket was carried out of the church. They stood and clapped her out! Good Job, Sister Marilyn, off to Heaven you
- [Last Wishes = Good Deeds](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/last-wishes-good-deeds/)
- [Your 'Celebration of Life' is your time to say THANK YOU to all the people who made your life worth celebrating](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/your-celebration-of-life-is-your-time-to-say-thank-you-to-all-the-people-who-made-your-life-worth-celebrating/)
- [Last Wishes For Everyone!](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/last-wishes-for-everyone/)
- [Last Wishes in Three Benefits](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/last-wishes-in-three-benefits/) - It's a WIN-WIN-WIN. So much reward and goodness in one easy activity of writing down some good deeds to be done when you're gone.How can you resist?!
- [Last Wishes - An Easy Start](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/last-wishes-an-easy-start/) - If you don't already know the incredible power of Last Wishes, via the Aaron Collins $500 Top for a Pizza Story, this is it in a nutshell: Young man Aaron Collins left a note with a couple of last wishes he'd like carried out in the event of his death. One wish was to leave
- [Getting Sentimental Planning a Funeral](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/get-sentimental/)
- [Your Big Departure — Don't Waste It!](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/your-big-departure-dont-waste-it/)
- [Flipping the funeral perspective!](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/flipping-the-funeral-perspective/)
- [Get on Board Last Wishes for 2025](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/get-on-board-last-wishes-2025/)
- [$500 Tip for a Pizza - Honoring Aaron Collins' Last Wish](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/500-tip-for-a-pizza-honoring-aaron-collins-last-wish-2/) - WE DID IT! (Reposting this from last year, when we did this the day after Thanksgiving. I highly recommend gathering some peeps and doing something like this. It is a feel good like nothing else!) https://youtu.be/V4RsXIaioYU We tipped our waitress $500 for our pizza lunch and it felt epic. Our waitress Dee was so so
- [It's about life.](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/its-about-life/)
- [Goodbye Planning Should Not Be Dismal!](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/goodbye-planning-should-not-be-dismal/) - Get on the band wagon with a full range of emotions when creating a goodbye celebration. Embrace it all! Sadness should not eclipse everything. Think about the gratitude for this life, the gift of time spent together, the likely wishes that the deceased doesn't want you distraught, and of course the voluminous evidence that we're
- [Role Reversal on Life Celebrations](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/role-reversal-on-life-celebrations/) - I'm just revisiting this sentiment and realizing it hasn't lost its appeal! (Which as the writer of it, is encouraging.) Of course I'm a little biased, too. Being proactive about your own end-of-life plans is a game changer, you should definitely try it. Replace the dread of 'funeral planning' with the delight of planning your
- [Last Wishes TEDx Talk](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/last-wishes-tedx-talk/) - [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.0″ background_color=”#fff6ba” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”] Well, friends — 16 months after I got the news and announced it, my TEDx talk on Last Wishes has finally been posted. Pretty sure it doesn’t always take that long, but funny thing… delays
- [A Fun Funeral in Action](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/a-fun-funeral-in-action/) - This is too perfect to pass up. I've been so passionate about my Last Wishes concept lately that I put Fun Funerals a bit on the back burner, but it must be resurrected at once to share this story. Read the recap of the wonderful event here: https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/family-hosts-funeral-500-guests-175155160.html A wife and mother from Arizona, who
- [Last Wishes in the Form of "Finish This For Me, Please"](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/last-wishes-in-the-form-of-finish-this-for-me-please/) - Last Wishes, people! The inspiration for my Last Wishes as a Normal Thing We All Do was Aaron's Last Wish of leaving a $500 tip for a pizza. That is the gold standard of good deeds to me. But you know what… not all valuable and life-altering last wishes need to be good deeds. They
- [Surprise Gifting](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/surprise-gifting/) - How best to come up with your Last Wishes? Hmmm. Suppose nothing is jumping out at you, excited as you are about being a Good Samaritan from the Great Beyond. There can be some background anxiety to doing it right — to make the most of the chance, not blowing it by requesting something stupid.
- [Happiest of New Years to All](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/happiest-of-new-years-to-all/)
- [$500 Tip for a Pizza - Honoring Aaron Collins' Last Wish](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/500-tip-for-a-pizza-honoring-aaron-collins-last-wish/) - WE DID IT! https://youtu.be/V4RsXIaioYU We tipped our waitress $500 for our pizza lunch and it felt epic. Our waitress Dee was so so grateful, and promptly split it with fellow waitress Sedgie, her "partner in crime." Both immediately said how they were going to be spending it on others, not themselves. (Not that there's anything
- [Last Wishes… a WIN for everyone involved](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/last-wishes-a-win-for-everyone-involved/)
- [Existential thoughts on death (you've been warned, lol)](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/existential-thoughts-on-death-youve-been-warned-lol/) - So what's the best thing about death? Our favorite thing about it? Not absurd! Despite that probably being your first thought . The best thing about death is that we know it's going to happen. That is such a game-changer. (It really should be a game-definer, but we're not there yet.) And it literally cannot
- [Raise the bar, raise your spirits, raise a little hell maybe?](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/raise-the-bar-raise-your-spirits-raise-a-little-hell-maybe/)
- [Jump on the Last Wishes band wagon](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/jump-on-the-last-wishes-band-wagon/) - Did you know? The days of the one-sided funeral are over — people mourning the dead person. The new world is that we (as the dead person) have planned ahead for what sentiments we want to leave behind. We don't just instruct our people on whether to bury or cremate, but we actually provide some
- [How to Make Yourself Smile](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/how-to-make-yourself-smile/) - So... how about this Last Wishes idea? Has it got you entertaining any ideas? And I mean that literally — you should feel entertained coming up with some Last Wishes! You can't help but smile, your mind is both at ease and kind of excited, because you know you're tapping into something meaningful. Pondering good
- [Unforgettable goodbyes](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/unforgettable-goodbyes/)
- [A new year, a new direction](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/a-new-year-a-new-direction/) - [et_pb_section admin_label=”section”] [et_pb_row admin_label=”row”] [et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text”] Just getting in under the wire at eight days in, but I’ve never been much for technicalities. It’s a wonderful thing to feel a bit of a fresh start in life. And better still is taking a stand for something that matters to you. This post was going
- [All in for the $500 tip for a pizza](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/all-in-for-the-500-tip-for-a-pizza/) - Community project to leave a $500 tip for a pizza, thanks to a Last Wish of Aaron Collins before dying.
- [Last Wishes Comes to TEDx](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/last-wishes-comes-to-tedx/) - Well, it's true. I'll be doing a TEDx talk at Thomas Jefferson University on May 6, 2023. Last Wishes: From Dread to a Little Delight at the End of Life I got very lucky (let's be honest). The theme of the event is Redefining Possible, and if there's anything I'm passionate about it's redefining how
- [Last Wishes Gets Its Day](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/last-wishes-gets-its-day/) - Stay tuned!
- [Making a last wishes REQUEST](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/making-a-last-wishes-request/) - [et_pb_section admin_label=”section”] [et_pb_row admin_label=”row”] [et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text”]Rerunning this from the summer of 2018. I was so influenced by the story in last week’s blog — the teacher who left behind a request for filled student backpacks to be donated in lieu of flowers, that I wonder if hosting a little workshop for people to do
- [Thank You and Goodbye](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/20101-2/)
- [Make Me An Ornament, a follow-up](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/make-me-an-ornament-a-follow-up-2/) - Rerunning this because I got re-inspired myself reading it, and wishing we were doing it again this year. No joke. Last post for 2016. Lasts… firsts… we have the illusion that we have some control over them, but isn't Life always telling us otherwise? We do what we do, and Life does what It does,
- [I want to make this a THING](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/i-want-to-make-this-a-thing/)
- [Plan your funeral so YOU can say Goodbye!](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/plan-your-funeral-so-you-can-say-goodbye/)
- [An hour well spent](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/an-hour-well-spent/)
- [Your life as a party](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/your-life-as-a-party/)
- [Your funeral as your own goodbye](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/your-funeral-as-your-own-goodbye/)
- [Make it personal, make it fun](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/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 lottery tickets handed
- [Unforgettable is the purpose!](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/unforgettable-is-the-purpose/)
- [Enthusiastic goodbye processional](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/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 of the matter can be a
- [Don’t get burned, get wet: aquamation!](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/dont-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 alkaline hydrolysis, it's currently legal in only 20 states in
- [It's always Celebration time](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/its-always-celebration-time/)
- [Don't ruin your funeral plans by thinking about death](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/dont-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 you do it right… it's actually jump worthy.
- [End of life resources? Get started here.](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/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 time of year to spend as
- [Update thy passwords!](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/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. Big plans and
- [](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/12617-2/) - 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 terrible deaths happen every
- [For All Who Want a Fun Funeral](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/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 look in horror at me are in the vast minority. I
- [Planning Your Own Funeral and Doing It Right - Guest Post](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/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 website, he works as an accountant and enjoys spending time with
- [Cremation and Celebration — hand in hand](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/cremation-and-celebration-hand-in-hand/) - [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”3.22″][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.25″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.27.4″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”] 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
- [](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/10967-2/)
- [New fun funeral bar has officially been raised](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/new-fun-funeral-bar-has-officially-been-raised/) - I bow to Briar Bates, this extraordinary lover of life who just upped the ante for having a say in the matter of your own goodbye party. “We did it because Briar told us to”I preach this! People will do things at death that aren't possible at any other time. “The dying artist’s request for a water-ballet
- [A refreshing look at mortality - Dick Johnson is Dead](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/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 Johnson, proposes they make a
- [](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/10065-2/) - 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.
- [Fun, Inspiring Examples for You](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/fun-inspiring-examples-for-you/) - Could you use a little inspiration for a knock-out goodbye party? Whether thinking of your own or for someone else — remember: Don't have a boring, forgettable funeral. But some life into it. This sacred ritual should reflect the life and spirit of the dearly departed. It's that simple. Of course it isn't necessarily easy,
- [I Want a Fun Funeral Manifesto](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/i-want-a-fun-funeral-manifesto-2/) - There's no time like the present. It's been a year like no other, so might as well finish it off with something you've never done before. Nothing is weird right now. Get that personal goodbye celebration written down. Ideas bandied about, decisions made, huge peace of mind knowing it's done. Honestly, you have no idea
- [Illustration of How to Take it Up a Notch](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/illustration-of-how-to-take-it-up-a-notch/) - There's a funeral on the horizon. Well, there's always a funeral on the horizon, but let's say it's imminent or expected. You like the idea of Taking It Up a Notch, but just don't see any big, obvious way to do it. There's no all-consuming passion or notable personal characteristic… this person and their life
- [Before I Die Festival](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/before-i-die-festival/) - Just in time for Halloween… the 4th Annual Before I Die New Mexico (Virtual) Festival. Yes, it's 1910 miles away, but one of the upsides of the pandemic is that with Zoom geography is no obstacle. Which is why I was invited by my friend and End-of-Life colleague Gail Rubin to give a presentation! Very
- [](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/7471-2/) - It really isn't hard thinking about what you want. What makes you smile? What makes you happy? What's important to you? If you remember anything, let it be this. For your very own goodbye party, you don't have to do:• what's always been done• what is expected• what you think other people want• what a
- [Death… it’s always near.](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/6847-2/) - There's a promising new resource in the End-of-Life world! As featured in the article Boom Time for Death Planning in The New York Times on July 16, 2020, it's called Near. Explaining the name, they say ”While others may move away from the conversation and experience of death, our community moves closer.” We need more
- [Does it make you smile?](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/does-it-make-you-smile/)
- [Saying Goodbye as an activity](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/saying-goodbye-as-an-activity/) - Forget what you know about funerals. If there were no normal funeral custom already existing, and a beloved person in your life died, what would you rather do—Roll up your sleeves and do something in their honor, or go sit in some chairs somewhere, following awkward, uncomfortable protocol, let strangers dictate what should happen, and
- [Put the ache in your heart into action](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/put-the-ache-in-your-heart-into-action/) - Hello Fellow Quarantined Humans,Does anyone need another voice saying “Crazy, scary times!”?I know I don’t. I actually don’t even want to hear myself think anymore.But avoiding it is futile. You might as well try hugging your neighbors.My heart goes out to everyone in the circumstance of not being able to be with someone at death…
- [“I‘m in”](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/im-in/) - After a few hopeless starts for this blog post, I’m leaving it at this: Make friends with “I don't know.” Like good, good friends. BFFs. Throw a Welcome Party for uncertainty. And try to take in, deep in your bones, that all of this stuff in our lives is a complete illusion. As we see
- [For the Living](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/for-the-living/) - A heartbreaking story in Kentucky of a mom and her 12-year-old daughter killed in a car crash. And buried together in the same casket. It doesn't make the tragedy easier to bear, but it provides just a tad bit of relief from the darkness. It's another reminder of how very much the way we say
- [Glitter Caskets… something for everyone](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/glitter-caskets-something-for-everyone/) - Glitter caskets, people! Not for your average corpse: What says Inhabitant Loved Life!! more than a crazy shiny, glittery box for eternity? And that, in a glittery nutshell, is why I love them. The photo is from the collection of The Glitter Coffin Company based in the U.K. Check them out on Instagram, too. Their
- [New Year’s Revelation](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/new-years-revelation/) - Happy 2020! New Year’s seems like weeks ago already. How is that possible? It seems unanimous that time is flying faster than ever. With a new year, and a new decade to boot, comes new perspectives. What’s disguising itself as a perspective, for me, is more an insistence — an insight into what matters most
- [Coming to terms, a little philosophy](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/coming-to-terms-a-little-philosophy/) - I think about death a lot. But unlike funerals directors or healthcare workers, for me it's mostly theoretical. I'm fascinated by the dichotomy we live in: Knowing we aren't immortal, yet mainly living in denial of it. It seems to me that if we really accepted death, we'd be able to talk about it with
- [One Hour to a Better Goodbye](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/one-hour-to-a-better-goodbye/) - I Want a Fun Funeral is ever evolving, my friends. Chalk it up to my own revelations about life and death and how we relate to it, as well as the seismic shifts that are going on in the actual funeral industry. One of my bugaboos has always been the cost of funerals. Spending crazy
- [Stones, not ashes](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/stones-not-ashes/) - I love new offerings for what to do with our deceased bodies, and this latest one is solid. Literally. It’s stones instead of ashes after cremation. Or rather, stones from ashes. Parting Stone has developed a process of turning cremains (aka ashes) into smooth and attractive stones of various shapes and sizes. Like this (picture
- [Talk about exquisite resting places](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/talk-about-exquisite-resting-places/) - There's more to funeral innovation than better experiences, even though that is what I am usually harping on. In fact, the seed that led to I Want a Fun Funeral was an exasperating incredulity that funeral homes themselves are still so stodgy looking, uninspiring, and utterly un-celebratory. I fantasized about bright rooms with warm pastel
- [Whatever works](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/whatever-works/) - Article in this week's Time magazine about collecting all your end of life paperwork. This is the practical end of I Want a Fun Funeral. You can't pull off the goodbye you want without leaving instructions for it. The list of what would ideally be in this place (file, binder, the cloud, safe box, or
- [Shopping for funeral services should not be torture - What you can do to help](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/shopping-for-funeral-services-should-not-be-torture-what-you-can-do-to-help/) - Low sexiness factor, high practicality factor… Shopping for funeral services. As I've said in many posts, the prices of funeral services vary incredibly — by thousands of dollars for the same services. This is no joke or exaggeration. We need to shop around when buying funeral services, and most especially if you have a limited
- [It‘s a Funeral Revolution](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/its-a-funeral-revolution/) - Look alive, local people. If you've ever been disappointed by a funeral / left feeling empty / completely forgotten every detail / reluctantly went through the motions / fill-in-your-worst funeral moment / …then you need to come hear this. We're talking about how to STOP DOING THAT. Stop doing what's always been done. (Unless you're
- [Composting, not just for veggies anymore](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/composting-not-just-for-veggies-anymore/) - For those of us following the new-fangled world of funeral offerings these days, the latest wonderment — human composting — is set to be legalized in Washington State, pending the governor's signature. Simply put, it's the “natural organic reduction” of a deceased person, aka human remains, dead body, mortal coil, or plain old “corpse.” It's
- [“Saying Goodbye” calls for rolling up your sleeves](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/saying-goodbye-calls-for-rolling-up-your-sleeves/)
- [Envision a new kind of funeral](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/envision-a-new-kind-of-funeral/)
- [Hand-decorated casket obsession](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/hand-decorated-casket-obsession/) - Let's face it, the hand-decorated casket is the funeral personalization I love the most. It captures every aspect of better, more meaningful goodbyes:• It brings people together in a bonding and healing way• It's an activity — the doing of something together makes the goodbye real• It's creative expression of the highest order, with no
- [Flip Your Funeral Vision](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/flip-your-funeral-vision/) - [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”3.19.4″][/et_pb_section]
- [Year end favorite message](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/year-end-favorite-message/)
- [Not Just for Widows](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/not-just-for-widows/) - It's always a treat being a guest on a podcast. Who doesn't love spreading their own favorite message? My friend Donna Kendrick of Reiner Financial Group in Doylestown, PA is woman after my own heart. I already featured her in a post of mine (where she mentions one of my all-time faves… a kielbasa truck
- [Happy Thanksgiving 2018](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/happy-thanksgiving-2018/)
- [Life Celebration](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/life-celebration/)
- [Let's Raise the Bar](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/lets-raise-the-bar/)
- [Funeral director love](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/funeral-director-love/) - This may be a first, and I realize now, also long overdue. I'm a huge fan of home funerals, how (in some states) you don't need a funeral director for any part of it. I've shared a number of ways that a family member can do some of the 'jobs' that a funeral director normally
- [Be the change.](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/be-the-change/) - Engage. Participate. BE the transformation in our goodbyes. BE the engaged creator in whatever Goodbye you have the honor of being part of, because an honor it is.
- [I'm Here to Help](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/im-here-to-help/) - Fun Funeral planners! aka Ordinary People Who Don't Want Another Drab, Useless Funeral, This is about creativity. There is no One-Size Fits All in the department of personalized send-offs. How personalized would it be if it were following a template, or known structure? I'm pretty sure that's what already exists. For your goodbye celebration to
- [I Want a Fun Funeral Manifesto](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/i-want-a-fun-funeral-manifesto/)
- [Celebrate Garrett and LONG LIVE his wise and funny legacy](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/celebrate-garrett-and-long-live-his-wise-and-funny-legacy/) - I know I already wrote about this unconventional funeral, but since then I've found this video the family made. It is so darn inspiring! If the parents of sweet 5 year-old Garrett Matthias can choose celebration over sadness after his death… it is just more proof that the time has come — for those who
- [Another vote for focusing on LIFE](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/another-vote-for-focusing-on-life/) - This article by Erica Buist from The Guardian says so well what I Want a Fun Funeral is so much about. I'm not sure I ever articulated this point even to myself, but boy does it get to the heart of the matter: “We don’t want to trivialise the loss, but why not trivialise death?
- [Feelings about funerals MATTER](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/2813-2/)
- [Can never go wrong with ice cream](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/can-never-go-wrong-with-ice-cream/) - How about revisiting this one from a couple years back. It involves ice cream, which on a hot (but lovely) summer night, is always inspiring. Ice Cream Truck!!
- [What's not to love about volunteering?](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/whats-not-to-love-about-volunteering/) - A couple weeks back I talked about the concept of designating items for people to donate in your honor, based on the inspiring story from the teacher who requested filled backpacks for her students at her funeral. To highlight the beauty of this, they placed one backpack at the start of each pew in the
- ["The things I love the most"](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/the-things-i-love-the-most/) - Like hundreds of others around the world, I am compelled to share the story of little Garrett Matthias, who left some awesome last wishes before leaving this life, much too young, at age five. I listened to a TV interview with his parents, who through their tears spoke about how delicately they handled asking him
- [Put some requests into your last wishes!](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/put-some-requests-into-your-last-wishes/) - I'm going to use the blog today to brainstorm some ideas I've been having. I was so influenced by the story in last week's blog — the teacher who left behind a request for filled backpacks to be donated in lieu of flowers, that I wonder if hosting a little workshop for people to do
- [Legacy made easy](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/legacy-made-easy/) - A beautiful, real-life example of one of my favorite I Want a Fun Funeral ideas: This request by a teacher for people to donate backpacks filled with school supplies instead of flowers at her funeral. You don't need to ‘know’ you're dying to make this request. This is so important to get. We are all
- [](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/2739-2/) - “Come on in,” she said. “There’s lots of food. And a coffin that people are decorating.” If you find that enticing, liberating, intriguing, or best of off, life a breath of fresh air… you've come to the right place. Read: The Positive Death Movement Comes to Life The Death Positive Movement… making the rounds in
- [Funeral as Lifetime Achievement Award](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/funeral-as-lifetime-achievement-award/) - A funeral could be compared to a person's Lifetime Achievement Award. It should be that big, that celebratory, that filled with respect and gratitude for the difference a person has made. And if that person is YOU, don't you want to say “Thank you!”? …Just one reason to get your own goodbye wishes written down…
- [Wake badge…](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/wake-badge/) - Available at Rhett & Link's Mythical Merit Badges. Kinda neat. I can never resist sharing stuff like this.
- [I’m here. For you.](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/im-here-for-you/) - I'm here to help. Help you. To be of service in this awkward and Let's-not-worry-about-that-now area of life. Lest I just blog and post inspiring stories and Rah Rah, Make Your Goodbye the Best It Can Be!, every so often it helps to sing out about the bottom line. Which is that croaking isn't theoretical.
- [Store-bought expenses or homemade?](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/store-bought-expenses-or-homemade/) - I've long had a theory that the less $$ you spend on a goodbye, the better it might be. It's so easy to just buy stuff as a way to either mollify your grief, assuage any guilt you might have, or just as a way to feel like you're doing the right thing, somehow. You're
- [Plan Your Own… a Poem](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/plan-your-own-a-poem/)
- [Animals saying goodbye](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/animals-saying-goodbye/) - Touching and convincing STORY on why pets should have a place in your goodbye plans! Dog's owner dies suddenly, dog doesn't eat or sleep for ten days, exhibits all the canine-applicable signs of grief. Dog goes to the funeral home, peers into the casket, goes home, eats ravenously and plays again. If I do toot
- [Pro & Con Game • Part 3](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/pro-con-game-•-part-3/)
- [Make you own funeral rules](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/make-you-own-funeral-rules/) - A new widow was so tired of her family members telling her that her deceased husband was in a better place, that she posted this sign at the funeral. We have so much power to design our goodbyes. If there's something you feel strongly about… don't hold back. Rituals aren't for show. They
- [PRO & CON Game • Part 2](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/pro-con-game-•-part-2/)
- [Keeping the laughs alive](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/keeping-the-laughs-alive/) - Recycling this from a couple of years ago because it still makes me laugh.
- [PRO & CON Game • Part 1](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/pro-con-game-•-part-1/)
- [A paragon of I Want a Fun Funeral](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/a-paragon-of-i-want-a-fun-funeral/) - There's nothing I can say to improve this. CHECK OUT this incredible program for a funeral. Note that “Although you may feel unsure coming into this setting, be sure that Karen designed this night herself… She wanted all her friends and family to remember the good times, the laughs, the triumphs, and celebrate…” You don't
- [Fame and glory in the I Want a Fun Funeral book — I'm inviting YOU](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/fame-and-glory-in-the-i-want-a-fun-funeral-book-im-inviting-you/) - Be in my I Want a Fun Funeral book! It only makes sense, in a bestseller titled I Want a Fun Funeral, that it would include an abundance of examples, correct? Correctamundo. Examples of specific requests or ideas you wonderful people have for your own creative sendoffs. Of course we (I Want a Fun Funeral)
- [Little Fun Funeral Announcement](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/little-fun-funeral-announcement/) - https://youtu.be/YlG9gHhjUUA
- [Fun Funeral Recreation](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/fun-funeral-recreation/) - And now for something completely different. When Life's been wearing on you and you just can't take one more philosophical, existential thought about it… play a game. Which is in total keeping with the I Want a Fun Funeral approach to life and death. Find 20 words from the death and funeral genre. I made
- [Keister-Kicking, How to Prevent](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/keister-kicking-how-to-prevent/) - For the second day in a row today, I was way overdressed for my lunchtime jog. I couldn't quite believe one layer would suffice, so I went the safe route, bundled up, and felt like a granny as lean bare legs whizzed by me in shorts, gosh darn it. I wanted to be in shorts,
- [Prepare to be unprepared](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/prepare-to-be-unprepared/) - “It's been a whirlwind of activity getting ready for funeral on Friday. You’re never really prepared even when you know it’s coming.” I got this in an email from a friend the other day. It was an older family member… not tragic in any way, and not even unexpected, as she said. But still. "You're
- [Green Burial FAQs](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/green-burial-faqs/) - Whether you knew it or not, perhaps you have some questions about green burial. Count me as a fan; I always want to spread the word. Below, from the Green Burial Council, which is the environmental certification organization setting the standard for green burial in North America.
- [Score one for memories and celebration](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/score-one-for-memories-and-celebration/) - Can't resist sharing this since I live just outside Philadelphia, where the recent Super Bowl win is a bit of a big deal. I'm not pushing the wonderfulness of Philadelphia Eagles fans. I'm highlighting that our passing deserves great fanfare (no pun intended). We are all so loved, so missed, so remembered and longed for
- [We All Deserve](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/we-all-deserve/)
- [Folks jumping on the bandwagon](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/folks-jumping-on-the-bandwagon/) - Check it out. https://woollymag.com/culture/throwing-your-own-afterlife-party.html A really, really sweet and funny article about better goodbyes!! Can I get a Hallelujah?! It was great fun talking to the author, Abby Sher, who is clearly both very funny and very thoughtful. And she became inspired to want a fun funeral for her very self! Not that it's anywhere
- [The more (of it you do yourselves) the merrier](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/the-more-of-it-you-do-yourselves-the-merrier/) - People have a hard time wrapping their heads around a whole new way of doing funerals. They catch on quick to celebrating over being morbid, or telling happy stories instead of just crying. And as I describe my crusade for planning YOUR OWN in advance, people assume that includes ME carrying out that fantastic plan.
- [Celebrate, they say. Celebrate.](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/celebrate-they-say-celebrate/) - This week, it's a guest post from Beautiful Tribute, a company (from across the pond, no less) offering free online memorials (to people from anywhere, pond or no pond). ‘A Vote for the Fun Ways to Truly Celebrate a Life Well Lived’ by Victoria Bates Beautiful Tribute Advisor We give so much importance to staying
- [“I’m more terrified by the thought of having a boring funeral”](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/im-more-terrified-by-the-thought-of-having-a-boring-funeral/) - “Planning your funeral should be a priority and to prove why, here’s my plan” Actual headline of an article by a well-known (I think) British broadcaster, producer, director and columnist, Jasmine Dotiwala. It's not that it's a famous person saying it (except that she has the ability to influence people), but that she's saying the key
- [Going local](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/going-local/) - In honor of being in Parkesburg, PA today (lunch and a flight at Victory Brewing Company), a tweet from Caleb Wilde (the wildly famous [along the like-minded] funeral director in town) of Wilde Funeral Home.
- [ROLL UP YOUR SLEEVES to remember someone](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/roll-up-your-sleeves-to-remember-someone/) - It's Christmas and we're all scrambling, so I went to my posts from last December to see if I could just repost a blog. And lo and behold, I am able to steal the idea with a new twist. In the spirit of remembering the people in our lives who are no longer with us,
- [Joyful, crazy goodbye](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/joyful-crazy-goodbye/) - Boas and tutus. By request from the music loving and always dancing 40-year old mom/wife/daughter/friend planning her own goodbye party. Determined to not leave her young daughter with an experience and memory of overwhelming sadness, she called for lots of merrymaking. Costumes piled in a basket outside the sanctuary where her funeral was being held.
- [More on green burial, 'cause we just can't get enough](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/more-on-green-burial-cause-we-just-cant-get-enough/) - By way of Green Burial Naturally (producer of the incredible resource, The Natural Burial Cemetery Guide, State-By-State Where, How and Why to Choose Green Burial) Facebook page, I found a related post about the ever-popular (or striving to be) cardboard coffins. If you're one of those people (like yours truly) who's not a fan of
- [The Good, the Bad, and the Wax Figure](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/the-good-the-bad-and-the-wax-figure/) - I had a lively, in-person, fun-funeral-planning gathering this week in someone's home, complete with wine, brownies, and a roaring, crackling fire going in the den. We narrowly averted a couple of accidental cremations, but that can happen when you're living on the edge of alternative funeral talk and sitting too close to the fireplace. Lots
- [Happy Thanksgiving](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/happy-thanksgiving/)
- [It's confirmed, we want LIFE in our last wishes](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/its-confirmed-we-want-life-in-our-last-wishes/) - Of course I'm preaching to the choir again, but I can't help sharing signs of how much our funeral wishes are changing. It's almost nonexistent that someone says they want a sad, somber send-off. (Which is what we grew up with — we all know this kind of funeral.) People want to be celebrated. They…
- [Have a good headstone](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/have-a-good-headstone/)
- [A cemetery afloat with life](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/a-cemetery-afloat-with-life/) - Check this out, all you people who agree that death should include some life. This is a cemetery on an island in Venice, Isola di San Michele. Look at how beautiful it is! I'm not even a cemetery person, but this is just glorious. Read an interesting review of a visit there by A Passport
- [There’s a Better Way to Do Funerals](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/theres-a-better-way-to-do-funerals/) - A better way to do funerals is to plan your own ahead of time. Planning your own funeral isn’t for the faint of heart. But what if it turns out that it’s actually heart-warming, healing, and hopeful? That an activity we dread could be the best move we never considered making before? Let’s face it,
- [You tell ’em](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/you-tell-em/) - I swear, the simplest things can pack the most punch. Three words and a whole scenario is set. The exclamation point packs its own wallop, underscoring that this isn't a suggestion, but an insistence. (No Mourners Allowed!) We are making huge progress. People are saying what they want!! I need to be point out that
- [Can we stop with the grim reaper](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/can-we-stop-with-the-grim-reaper/) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FFs3o6wZv4
- [Asking for what you want is your best bet](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/asking-for-what-you-want-is-your-best-bet/) - Scratch-offs instead of flowers? Sounds a little crass — or materialistic — right off the bat. Except that it's what Julia Cranny was known for and loved! "She loved the lottery tickets on birthdays or Sundays and that is what she wanted," Julia's daughter Helen told the Meath Chronicle. The family said that any
- [Go BIG on Goodbye Gratitude](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/go-big-on-goodbye-gratitude/) - For anyone who needs reminding, Roberto Benigni is the Italian actor who accepted the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film for Life is Beautiful in 1999, for which he also won Best Actor. He screeched with joy, jumped up and down, walked on top of the seat backs, literally hopped up the steps to the stage, and
- [Questions for a Funeral Director, from one of the best](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/questions-for-a-funeral-director-from-one-of-the-best/) - For your reading pleasure… another post from one of the very best in the death care world, Caleb Wilde. He's on a mission to make us all more comfortable with death and the funeral industry. He has a new book coming out, Confessions of a Funeral Director. I like to share his insider advice since,
- [September Webinar on the calendar – join the party](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/september-webinar-on-the-calendar-join-the-party/) - We're on a roll. They're a hit! “Kyle is a breath of fresh air and brings fun and enlightenment to the process of planning your exit.” Janis H. Chester County, PA “The knowledge, peace of mind and inspiration that I gained from this webinar was amazing. Such an innovative way to bring comfort and
- ["Fun vs. Funeral"](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/fun-vs-funeral/) - Goofy, but we're not opposed to that. An apparent commercial for Bic pens—whether it was official or in any way sanctioned I have no idea. Probably something a kid made at home on his own. But I did chuckle! Someday I'm going to do fun videos. Until then, enjoy someone else's.
- [Manifesto](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/manifesto/) - REMINDER: Next Wed Aug 9 2017 is my hands-on, awesome, and fun WEBINAR! Email me to reserve your spot.
- [Meaningful funerals… it's a Feeling Thing](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/meaningful-funerals-its-a-feeling-thing/)
- [Not Your Average Ornament](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/not-your-average-ornament/) - It's the holidays—time to give to others and spread some joy, and I can do both in one fell swoop in recommending a book I recently discovered. I ambled up to the author's table at the NFDA (National Funeral Director's Association) Convention in Philadelphia in October and happily met someone more like me than the vendor selling
- [The summer you finally got your last wishes written down (and had FUN doing it)](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/the-summer-you-finally-got-your-last-wishes-written-down-and-had-fun-doing-it/) - It worked so well the first time we're doing it again! “The knowledge, peace of mind and inspiration that I gained from this webinar was amazing. Such an innovative way to bring comfort and light-heartedness to the subject of planning you own funeral. It was an amazing experience, thought-provoking and fun.” A.M. Little
- [In lieu of funeral attendance](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/in-lieu-of-funeral-attendance/)
- [Mourn-Me-Not Coffee](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/mourn-me-not-coffee/) - People often joke about ashes in coffee cans. Why joke when you can have the real thing? Don't settle for a can from your cabinet when you get this little beauty from Archie McPhee. It's both economical and entertaining. For those who don't take life too seriously… literally. There's no reason we have to conform
- [Scientific Reasoning for Fun Funeral W-E-B-I-N-A-R](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/scientific-reasoning-for-fun-funeral-w-e-b-i-n-a-r/) - Wednesday July 12, 2017 7:00–9:00 pm EST Special Inaugural Webinar Price $15 or 2 for $25 (Limited to 10 participants) Details here! Email me at kyle@iwantafunfuneral.com or call me at (215) 348-4306 to sign up or ask questions. I hope you join us!
- [Possible First-Ever Plan Your Own Goodbye Party Webinar](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/possible-first-ever-plan-your-own-goodbye-party-webinar/) - That's right. It's time to take the experience live! In two convivial hours you will get your goodbye plans well underway. No more of it hanging over your head, no more dreading, no avoidance. Simple. Efficient. Creative. Rewarding. And the group energy rocks it out with lively discussion, comaraderie, and shared commitment. Here's how
- [Coming Soon to a Computer Near You](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/coming-soon-to-a-computer-near-you/) - There's really no lack of people who want a creative sendoff. Lots of you have great ideas, bold ideas, and some kinda quirky ideas for your final farewell. We especially love the quirky, and there is no too quirky, just so you know. But I observe a disconnect between these lively ideas and the writing
- [Just. One. Thing.](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/just-one-thing/) - It's easy to get overwhelmed pondering a whole new way of doing funerals. As one person, with a smidge of visible fright recently said, “Hey, it's not like I'm an event planner here.” It's one thing to appreciate the idea of creative new goodbye rituals, but some people haven't exercised their imaginations since they were
- [Hello world!](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/hello-world/) - Welcome to WordPress. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start writing!
- [Tell me](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/tell-me/) - Acknowledgement to Mary Oliver The Summer Day by Mary Oliver Who made the world? Who made the swan, and the black bear? Who made the grasshopper? This grasshopper, I mean- the one who has flung herself out of the grass, the one who is eating sugar out of my hand, who is moving her jaws
- [Fun Funeral Side Effects](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/fun-funeral-side-effects/) - Greetings fun funeral fans! New Insight Thursday and confirmation of how the circle of life is so encompassing. It's magnificent how nothing occurs in a vacuum; any given action can be a boon to something seemingly unrelated. Existing Observation: A side effect of planning your own goodbye party in advance is that you're then much better prepared to plan one for
- [Dead. Grateful. Hippie Bus.](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/dead-grateful-hippie-bus/) - To counteract last week's gloomy post, we're going to the other end of the spectrum today: Color! Tie-dye! Hippie culture! A 1960s Volkswagon bus turned into a columbarium. (Columbarium - a room or building with niches for funeral urns to be stored.) I think this is the bomb. Yes, I admit that I did pause to assess my gut-reaction glee.
- [(Not so) Fun and Funeral](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/not-so-fun-and-funeral/) - When you just can’t… • Think about funerals and fun in the same sentence • Stomach that there’s anything lighthearted about death • Muster an ounce of interest in reflecting on your mortality • Find a reason to celebrate anything at the end of a life • Feel anything but loss and sadness • Bear
- [Flipping the funeral paradigm](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/flipping-the-funeral-paradigm/)
- [Fun Funeral Confession #3](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/fun-funeral-confession-3/) - Returning to the confessional for True Confession #3. It can be darn hard putting forth my conviction that: Spending a lot of money on funeral merchandise (casket, urn, services, etc.) is not an indication of how much you loved someone. On a surface level, it's hard to argue with this at all. In theory, we are not so
- [Funeral Lightheartedness Friday](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/funeral-lightheartedness-friday/) - I did not come up with this, but it does make me laugh.
- [Easy Step to Getting-in-the-Game of Your Own Goodbye Party](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/easy-step-to-getting-in-the-game-of-your-own-goodbye-party/) - Nobody… okay, maybe .5 person per 1000 people, wants to plan their own funeral. But suppose it were a more popular project. Chances are one of the first questions would be “Where do I even begin?” And right now we're just talking about the service. I already tackled body disposition here, which is relatively straightforward. But
- [Fun Funeral Confession #2](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/fun-funeral-confession-2/) - Time for another True Confession. And this one will seem so loony that I can only laugh while I tremble to admit it. Loony because it's so dang obvious. So seemingly innocuous. Death is normal. Yup, that's a statement I often find impossible to spit out. The problem is context, which I will explain. As a concept, it's fine.
- [Fun Funeral Confession #1](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/fun-funeral-confession-1/) - Exactly what motivates one to look up a fun funeral website? You handful of people who come here — are you already sold on the notion of something out-of-the-box, as the pun goes? Are you already picturing laughter, embarrassing stories, a night of bittersweet toasts in your honor? Do you have any trepidation about that vision? The slightest
- [It's my funeral and I'll host if I want to](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/its-my-funeral-and-ill-host-if-i-want-to/) - The Party-Before-You-Go. Perhaps you've heard this, too — what a shame it is that people gather to celebrate your life when you're ironically no longer here to feel the love. It's hard to argue with. It's such a nuisance that we just can't plan for these life-changing events. All we can do is play the
- [It's my funeral and I'll host if I want to](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/its-my-funeral-and-ill-host-if-i-want-to-2/) - The Party-Before-You-Go. Perhaps you've heard this, too — what a shame it is that people gather to celebrate your life when you're ironically no longer here to feel the love. It's hard to argue with. It's such a nuisance that we just can't plan for these life-changing events. All we can do is play the
- [Dying with a little levity](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/dying-with-a-little-levity/) - With all the irreverence I can muster… a sampling of some common and not-so-common euphemisms for died. (I hereby grant permission to say I won one for the Reaper when my time comes.) Assumed Room Temperature Ate It Baste The Formaldehyde Turkey Be No More Be Taken Became A Root Inspector Become Living-Challenged Belly
- [Latest Funeral Buzz](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/latest-funeral-buzz/) - “It's not for everyone” — a sentiment that applies to many aspects of I Want a Fun Funeral. In fact, I'm head disclaimer proclaimer. And this may be the shiniest example of that yet: Funeral Homes with Bars. Yep, you read that right, and whether you cringed or did a “Woo Hoo!” the idea is out
- [Warm quilts and memories](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/warm-quilts-and-memories/) - This is a neat idea. 89 year-old grandmother Margaret Hubl of Nebraska was a quilter. (We all know a quilter, don't we?) As one of her granddaughters said, “Never did I imagine how many there were...” Margaret's family decided to put all the quilts out for display, so they draped them over the pews at
- [It's a LIFE tribute, not a death tribute](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/its-a-life-tribute-not-a-death-tribute/) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fq5nH2BoVOs&feature=em-upload_owner#action=share
- [It's a LIFE tribute, not a death tribute](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/its-a-life-tribute-not-a-death-tribute-2/) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fq5nH2BoVOs&feature=em-upload_owner#action=share
- [My best death conversation referral](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/my-best-death-conversation-referral/) - Today I'm plugging one of my favorite voices in the funeral world these days. Caleb Wilde, a sixth generation funeral director in Chester (my very own) County, PA. He's young, funny, wise, sometimes irreverent and always relevant. Not that he needs more viewers—his Facebook page has over 94,000 followers. That's a testimony to the power of his writing. You'll laugh,
- [Create-your-own-funeral school](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/create-your-own-funeral-school/) - Ever wonder what goes on behind the curious door of an I Want a Fun Funeral workshop? There is a bit of enchantment and every one has its own personality. I've shared a lot about what kind of information I share at my workshops: home funerals, shroud burials, buying you own casket, deciding your music ahead of time, and so on.
- [Neither Thing One nor Thing Two](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/neither-thing-one-nor-thing-two/) - Planning your own goodbye party is not a thing. Talking about death is not a thing. Comfort with knowing that one day one of your breaths is going to be your last is not a thing. We are so not okay with dying it's not even funny. Here I am trying to have fun with it, and not
- [Snippet of my own funeral plans](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/snippet-of-my-own-funeral-plans/)
- [Chuckle for a New World](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/chuckle-for-a-new-world/)
- [Sweetness. Pure, simple, and nothing artificial](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/sweetness-pure-simple-and-nothing-artificial/) - A five-year old girls dies and the funeral tea party is all about fun, toys, and cupcakes. Nope, not make-believe and not disrespectful. On the contrary, it was the highest of tributes to a girl whose infectious joy and good-naturedness was irrepressible, even at her passing. Or especially at her passing, because why would you not
- [Outstanding obit — just try not to smile](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/outstanding-obit-just-try-not-to-smile/) - Irishman Dies from Stubbornness, Whiskey This obit is a gem. It's not a long read, so please go treat yourself, but in case you just can’t, below are some highlights. Take them as role models for how you can gussy up your own or someone else’s. This partying Irishman seemed like a real (and wonderful) character,
- [Make Me An Ornament, a follow-up](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/make-me-an-ornament-a-follow-up/) - Last post for 2016. Lasts… firsts… we have the illusion that we have some control over them, but isn't Life always telling us otherwise? We do what we do, and Life does what It does, and we make the best of the compromise. I spent Christmas with my mother and my sister and her family
- [Happy Holidaying in Florida](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/happy-holidaying-in-florida/) - I Want a Fun Funeral is on Christmas break this week. I Want a Fun Funeral thought it would be able to eek out a blog post while down south with Florida family, but apparently it's a no-go. Way too much coffee-chatting, caroling, eggnog-ing, and all manner of overindulging. What's happening is enjoying LIFE — living
- [Don’t be a no-show for your own party](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/dont-be-a-no-show-for-your-own-party/) - Today I want to talk about taking ownership. As we own that ’tis the holidays and we have shopping, decorating, wrapping, and overeating to do… I'm talking about taking ownership of your own goodbye plans. ’Cause I've observed something in my four years of experimenting with this: Lots of people like this I Want a Fun Funeral idea. They
- [I’m Ready for My Closeup](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/im-ready-for-my-closeup/) - In the Strange But True category, and more Hmm, that’s different… than Fun per se, here's an option for being more involved and engaged in the funeral process than you might have every pondered: The Assisted Family Dress Experience! This is when you go in the back with the funeral professional to help dress and cosmetize your
- [Happy Thanksgiving to All](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/happy-thanksgiving-to-all/) - What qualities do Thanksgiving and I Want a Fun Funeral share? • It's about ABUNDANT celebrating — not having a snack, but a feast! And not just a meal, but an entire day! • Appreciating that life is finite. Some of our favorite people aren't at the table anymore. • Booze is frequently a main feature. • Gratitude is
- [Families, fun, funerals… make a meal of it](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/families-fun-funerals-make-a-meal-of-it/) - By this time next week, Thanksgiving dinner will be done, everyone stuffed, everyone hopefully still all speaking to one another. I often hear the suggestion among End-of-Life planning people that holidays are a good time to discuss your last wishes— good as in convenient, because you're theoretically with a large portion of your family all in one place. But
- [Seriously, I want to hear from you...](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/seriously-i-want-to-hear-from-you/) - fun funeral, life celebration
- [Funny tweet (wish it were mine)](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/funny-tweet-not-mine-wish-it-were/)
- [Tricks & Treats](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/tricks-treats/) - It was an exciting week at I Want a Fun Funeral! First, on Sunday October 23, 2016 there was the article on the front page of The Philadelphia Inquirer about my workshop. Thanks to an excellent reporter and photographer, anyone who couldn't quite imagine what the class was like got a pretty good impression. Beyond grateful.
- [Tricks & Treats](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/tricks-treats-2/) - It was an exciting week at I Want a Fun Funeral! First, on Sunday October 23, 2016 there was the article on the front page of The Philadelphia Inquirer about my workshop. Thanks to an excellent reporter and photographer, anyone who couldn't quite imagine what the class was like got a pretty good impression. Beyond grateful.
- [Fresh Air — Mine, not Terry Gross’s](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/fresh-air-mine-not-terry-grosss/) - “Give me golf clubs, fresh air and a beautiful partner, and you can keep the clubs and the fresh air.” Jack Benny It's the third week of October and I'm sitting outside on a 75° day, something I hadn't expected to do again until Spring. Lucky us, getting a couple more days o’ fresh air and
- [Funerals, Money, and One Question](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/funerals-money-and-one-question/) - Reality Check: You may sincerely desire a funeral service that is not ostentatious or grand, yet it's easy by default to end up with more than you desired. Few among us are completely immune to the vulnerability of appearances. We may say/think/believe that appearances don't matter, but when it's time to walk our talk, are
- [Hold That Thought](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/hold-that-thought/) - My weekly blog post is a BUST tonight. Got some malware on my MacBookPro and can't really get anything done. Have a LIFE-FILLED week!! Hope to be back in action next week. Kyle, your Fun Funeral go-to-person.
- [Making Your Own Casket…more fun to be had, again](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/making-your-own-casketmore-fun-to-be-had-again/) - It's that time again. Another vote for the power of making your own casket courtesy of The Guardian. “Scores of retirees across the country have formed clubs so they can get together and build their own coffins.” “I had a deep-seated feeling that people’s journey’s deserved a more personal farewell. ” Katie Williams “There is a lot
- [I Want a Champagne Toast](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/i-want-a-champagne-toast/) - A few words today about the “What do I care, I'll be dead” train of thought that some people favor as a way to avoid funeral talk. Fair enough, your absence from the event cannot be argued. However, the loose connection in that rationale is that your unavailability to be there somehow detaches you from it.
- [Fun & Games](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/fun-games/) - I Want a Fun Funeral loves all things fun, and games are particularly irresistible. How about a game called Morbid Curiosity that's after my own heart… for the sole purpose of making the topic of death easier to discuss, and having fun in the process. Since I missed the boat on being a part of it, the
- [Fun & Games](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/fun-games-2/) - I Want a Fun Funeral loves all things fun, and games are particularly irresistible. How about a game called Morbid Curiosity that's after my own heart… for the sole purpose of making the topic of death easier to discuss, and having fun in the process. Since I missed the boat on being a part of it, the
- [Periodic Review of What the Heck I Do](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/periodic-review-of-what-the-heck-i-do/) - I Want a Fun Funeral is about taking it up a notch, refusing to settle for a generic, boring funeral, and making sure your personality is in it! And this can only happen if you make some decisions in advance and write them down. And what *I, Kyle* do is teach you all the options and alternatives you don't know about
- [Calling all local peeps!](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/calling-all-local-peeps/) - Shameless Promotion Opportunity! As summer is unofficially coming to an end and we look ahead—whether reluctantly or excitedly—to the next season, here's what I Want a Fun Funeral has to offer for local folks. Hoping this goes in the “excitedly” category. I'm holding my I Want a Fun Funeral planning workshops at three adult schools
- [On your mark, Get set… Take out a pen](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/on-your-mark-get-set-take-out-a-pen/) - I always tell the amazing fun funeral planners in my workshops that writing down what you want is essential. I even mention it to strangers sitting at a bar if we happen to get on the topic. Which if you're me, is not a rare event. Chalk one up for my life, I know you're jealous.
- [Status quo, Schmatus quo](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/status-quo-schmatus-quo/) - Sometimes your vision is crystal clear, such as the disco-ball-in-the-mausoleum-lover from a few posts' ago. But other times it can be totally unobvious (not actually a word), yet there is something... just a gnawing little something, where you know that the status quo,—or whatever is being offered, isn't doin' it for you. Like the proverbial triangular peg in
- [Don't let the suspense kill you](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/dont-let-the-suspense-kill-you/) - Trivia! Do you know… The name of the theme music to the 1955-1965 show, Alfred Hitchcock Presents? “Funeral March Of A Marionette” written in 1872 by French composer Charles Gounod. According to Wikipedia, Hitchcock died on April 29, 1980, at 80 years old. His body was cremated and his remains were scattered over the Pacific Ocean. Don't
- [Don't let the suspense kill you](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/dont-let-the-suspense-kill-you-2/) - Trivia! Do you know… The name of the theme music to the 1955-1965 show, Alfred Hitchcock Presents? “Funeral March Of A Marionette” written in 1872 by French composer Charles Gounod. According to Wikipedia, Hitchcock died on April 29, 1980, at 80 years old. His body was cremated and his remains were scattered over the Pacific Ocean. Don't
- [Friday laugh](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/friday-laugh/) - It's late. Too late to write. Good thing it's always a good time for a cartoon. This is a fave. http://www.thedoghousediaries.com
- [Two Kyles are Better than One](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/two-kyles-are-better-than-one/) - I understand that song “A Boy Named Sue.” Intimately. Though probably less violently because I've never had to crash a chair across someone's teeth over it. Cheers to that! So when I met another middle-aged woman named Kyle — a first for me — it felt like Christmas and validation day all at once. Plus, she's into death, too. What
- [Funkytown in the Graveyard](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/funkytown-in-the-graveyard/) - Anyone else want a disco ball at their funeral? I met a woman last night who, upon hearing about my business, practically cut me off to tell me that she's already told her husband she wants a disco ball at her funeral. Or more precisely, in her mausoleum. Mausoleum?? Who does that anymore?! She was barely middle
- [A Kiwi after my own heart](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/a-kiwi-after-my-own-heart/) - Here's a little inspiration for you from the New Zealand Listener. A rhapsody of praise for the self-created, celebratory funeral from one Kevin Ireland. He and his wife decided, in their 70s and after attending one too many morbid funerals, that they wanted nothing but a good time at theirs. The article is on the longish
- [So many boxes, so little pine.](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/so-many-boxes-so-little-pine/) - Just as death stops for no one, moving stops for no one. And since writing a blog post ≠ packing a box, I gotta go with the box today. Tomorrow I am moving a couple counties over, near Valley Forge National Park. Yay, hiking in my own neighborhood! NOT Yay—forecast is for 95° tomorrow. If any of
- [Field Report from death conference: Fabulous](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/field-report-from-death-conference-fabulous/) - This past weekend I was at the Funeral Consumers Alliance (FCA) conference down in Atlanta. And I do believe a good time was had by all! Three days of people from all walks of life, coming together to talk openly, practically, and best of all—enthusiastically about our finite lifetime and how we want to deal with that. The
- [Don't be chicken](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/dont-be-chicken/)
- [Don't be chicken](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/dont-be-chicken-2/)
- [Just death](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/just-death/) - A horrible, soul-crushing week of violence and loss: three awful and shocking tragedies in Orlando, and then just this afternoon the killing of the UK lawmaker. So much death and sadness. Horror. Pain. No way to really take it all in. Virtually all of these senseless and tragic public deaths this week were of young people.
- [Sometimes… there's just sadness. Period.](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/sometimes-theres-just-sadness-period/) - I write with a bit of a heavy heart, on behalf of the losses of people I don't even know. I drove by a local funeral home tonight that was so busy there had to a police presence on the road to keep traffic moving in and out. Two wakes there tonight—one for a 21 year
- [Sometimes… there's just sadness. Period.](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/sometimes-theres-just-sadness-period-2/) - I write with a bit of a heavy heart, on behalf of the losses of people I don't even know. I drove by a local funeral home tonight that was so busy there had to a police presence on the road to keep traffic moving in and out. Two wakes there tonight—one for a 21 year
- [Why we ‘Put off till tomorrow…’](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/why-we-put-off-till-tomorrow/) - I've been thinking a lot about issue of knowing we should get our funeral plans done in advance, and even—halleluia!— actually wanting to, and still not getting around to it. And let's face it, unless you have a terminal diagnosis or are pushing 90s, it's quite hard to believe it's a priority. Still. People die unexpectedly
- [Obituaries R Us… another one to inspire](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/obituaries-r-us-another-one-to-inspire/) - Writing your own obituary ahead of time (hmmm, like there's any other way?) is not for the faint of heart. Which I say only because it's the one thing I haven't yet been able to do, fearless-fun-funeral-planner that I otherwise am. But I think I have found the role model I needed. See what you think
- [Think big, ask big. It makes a difference.](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/think-big-ask-big-it-makes-a-difference/) - “To a chorus of Mr Blue Sky, my wife was the star of her own show” Welcome to my favorite story yet, from a young widowed husband in the UK. His wife, who just recently died of cancer in her 40s, had this on her wish list for her funeral: “A live performance of ELO’s Mr Blue Sky in the
- [Seinfeld. Just for a laugh.](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/seinfeld-just-for-a-laugh/)
- [How To Be Buried in a Castle](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/how-to-be-buried-in-a-castle/) - A story has been going around the internet this about a custom urn that was created as a replica of a White Castle hamburger. Even though I am resolutely for all forms of personalization, my initial reaction was that maybe this was kind of tacky. (And you can call me a snob.) You know—have an awesome funeral, make it
- [Putting the ‘cut’ in cutlery, and other random requests](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/putting-the-cut-in-cutlery-and-other-random-requests/) - Back to suggestions for how to make your goodbye party your own. Since the goal here is to make your sendoff unique, it doesn't follow that a blanket list of ideas is helpful—because what's perfect for you wouldn't even exist for another person. Or at least not in the same quirky way. And that quirky aspect is what
- [Let's Go Crazy](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/lets-go-crazy/) - Like half the world today the news of Prince's death came as a shock. At 57, it's young, but not tragically young like Buddy Holly dying at 22. But surely it’s “premature;” we all hope to make it well into old age—at least 70s or 80s if not 90s. It's fascinating to me, however, how we still…
- [Let's Go Crazy](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/lets-go-crazy-2/) - Like half the world today the news of Prince's death came as a shock. At 57, it's young, but not tragically young like Buddy Holly dying at 22. But surely it’s “premature;” we all hope to make it well into old age—at least 70s or 80s if not 90s. It's fascinating to me, however, how we still…
- [At my funeral I want______________.](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/at-my-funeral-i-want______________/) - People are always wanting more examples of fun funerals. Ideas, ideas, ideas… people want ideas. And that's music to my ears, because it means people are thinking bigger and desiring better goodbyes. That's my mission, so Yee Ha! However, I feel the need to point something out. You already have awesome ideas, people! I was in Seattle this
- [Not Getting Out of Here Alive](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/not-getting-out-of-here-alive/) - “Putting a little life into your last wishes.” That's my tagline. And I like it! Dying…death…funerals… the more life has a part of it, the more meaningful it can be. I had a revelation this week, which I will have to write more about in the future, that death is not just a literal once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,
- [Don't Try This at Home](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/dont-try-this-at-home/) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQJOs8rm6xM Time for a video. It's only 5 minutes and it's funny. Kooky funny, but with an educational bonus. You always learn something with Caitlin. Caitlin Doughty is the founder of the Order of the Good Death. She also has a webseries on You Tube, Ask a Mortician. She's doing boatloads to advance our current funeral
- [Don't Try This at Home](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/dont-try-this-at-home-2/) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQJOs8rm6xM Time for a video. It's only 5 minutes and it's funny. Kooky funny, but with an educational bonus. You always learn something with Caitlin. Caitlin Doughty is the founder of the Order of the Good Death. She also has a webseries on You Tube, Ask a Mortician. She's doing boatloads to advance our current funeral
- [Don't be boring. (Gulp)](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/dont-be-boring/) - We've been talking (well, I've been talking; let's be honest) about how to make sure your goodbye party has your spirit in it, i.e. it's not generic or cookie-cutter. I always struggle a bit with specific examples because the whole point is—what's unique in your life? In a perfect fun funeral world, our goodbye parties
- [Don't be boring. (Gulp)](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/dont-be-boring-2/) - We've been talking (well, I've been talking; let's be honest) about how to make sure your goodbye party has your spirit in it, i.e. it's not generic or cookie-cutter. I always struggle a bit with specific examples because the whole point is—what's unique in your life? In a perfect fun funeral world, our goodbye parties
- [“The well-timed appearance of an ice cream truck”](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/the-well-timed-appearance-of-an-ice-cream-truck/) - There's no denying that when someone dies, there is sadness and grief— and possibly mountains of it, depending on the circumstances. No amount of “fun funeraling” can bypass that, though of course I take the position that even in the worst cases — and in fact especially in the worst cases — going above and
- [Don't Forget the Headstone](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/dont-forget-the-headstone/)
- [Don't Forget the Headstone](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/dont-forget-the-headstone-2/)
- [Take It Up a Notch](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/take-it-up-a-notch/) - So I'm on a crusade to share examples of how to make a goodbye party the most meaningful and memorable it can be. Because as I've said, why else bother? If our goodbye ceremony doesn't impact us (ahem, in a wonderful and profound way), then we missed the boat. We went through the motions without tugging at our heartstrings. We want to prevent that
- [I Love You Like a MUSEUM](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/i-love-you-like-a-museum/) - So… speaking of making sure your goodbye party includes the parts of your life that have made your life worth living, there are people already doing this without any prompting from somebody’s blog post. Check out this wonderful story. “When Louise died in 2011 after 60 years of marriage, he decided…their love deserved more than a monument
- [How to 1-Up a Prayer Card  (Or not)](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/how-to-1-up-a-prayer-card-or-not/) - So last week I talked about ways to personalize your goodbye party so that you'll be RECOGNIZED, for God's sake. By which I don't mean that people know that's you in the casket, or that you set yourself up for rewards and accolades. I mean that your spirit and your personality are evident. It's not just like the last funeral someone went
- [Once-in-a-Lifetime, At Ye Own Funeral](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/once-in-a-lifetime-at-ye-own-funeral/) - I just read an article on The Guardian about a “perfectly lovely and life-affirming a funeral” of someone who died suddenly and unexpectedly at only 49. I read a lot of stories about dying, death, and funerals, but this author, Kathryn Flett totally made a light bulb go off in my head. She ends the article with this: “It
- [Old favorite](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/old-favorite/)
- ['Ol Blue Eyes Cued up for the Funeral](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/ol-blue-eyes-cued-up-for-the-funeral/) - Every week I hear a favorite new thing someone's experienced at a funeral. Tonight it was Frank Sinatra playing at a funeral service (in a church, no less.) (And I don't mean Frank himself, just to be clear.) And later, Dean Martin was played. People got up and shared wonderful stories, and there was so much music, and the wonderful gal
- ['Ol Blue Eyes Cued up for the Funeral](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/ol-blue-eyes-cued-up-for-the-funeral-2/) - Every week I hear a favorite new thing someone's experienced at a funeral. Tonight it was Frank Sinatra playing at a funeral service (in a church, no less.) (And I don't mean Frank himself, just to be clear.) And later, Dean Martin was played. People got up and shared wonderful stories, and there was so much music, and the wonderful gal
- [Talk. About. Death. It's okay!](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/talk-about-death-its-okay/) - My friend Terry had 35 people at her monthly Death Cafe tonight here in Doylestown, PA. 35 people who want to talk about death. At the public library, in a small(ish) town, of their own accord. I would take this as a pretty good indicator of how much people are not getting their death-talk needs met
- [Talk. About. Death. It's okay!](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/talk-about-death-its-okay-2/) - My friend Terry had 35 people at her monthly Death Cafe tonight here in Doylestown, PA. 35 people who want to talk about death. At the public library, in a small(ish) town, of their own accord. I would take this as a pretty good indicator of how much people are not getting their death-talk needs met
- ["Go without any fuss"](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/go-without-any-fuss/) - That's the phrase which summed up David Bowie's funeral plans. As the media is reporting, he presumably had a "direct cremation," which means there was no service or viewing. The body is taken to the crematory, where often the the crematory operator is the only witness. It's private, efficient, and economical. The main thing worth pointing out, to me, is that
- ["Go without any fuss"](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/go-without-any-fuss-2/) - That's the phrase which summed up David Bowie's funeral plans. As the media is reporting, he presumably had a "direct cremation," which means there was no service or viewing. The body is taken to the crematory, where often the the crematory operator is the only witness. It's private, efficient, and economical. The main thing worth pointing out, to me, is that
- [Memorize This One Phrase When Shopping for Funeral Services](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/memorize-this-one-phrase-when-shopping-for-funeral-services/) - Ever known of someone who went into debt because of funeral costs? Or just overpaid (while being under satisfied), because they thought there was no way around it? It’s not uncommon to hear people complain about the high costs of funerals, yet there are ways to manage it. Shopping for funeral services is fraught with
- [Taking it to the grave… Stuff, not secrets](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/taking-it-to-the-grave-stuff-not-secrets/) - The saying “You can’t take it with you” is true enough, yet it doesn't stop good-humored people from disregarding it for their own amusement, i.e. burying Mom, Dad, Sis, Bro, BFF, with various stuff from their life. I just read a fun story about a 97-year old woman who told her daughter to “toss a few” plastic green bananas into
- [More Obituary Fun](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/more-obituary-fun/) - Rock star obituary here from Holland, MI. (No, not the death of a rock star. But yes, the obituary of an apparently quite witty, entertaining, down-to-earth, well-loved young guy). Read the whole thing here (it’s a goodie). It begins “Michael "Mike" Parkhill, Jr. made his last wildly inappropriate and probably sarcastic comment on December 7, 2015. Mike was born and immediately
- [Status Quo Funeral, or Maybe Not?](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/status-quo-funeral-or-maybe-not/) - If you've ever wondered if the typical, expensive funeral is really what you would want for yourself (or for someone else) this story, A Modern Home Funeral vs. a Traditional Funeral Home, by Kateyanne Unullisi, is a must-read. She describes her personal experience burying her young husband as a near travesty, despite being absolutely common and unremarkable. Too grief-stricken
- [List minute, but top level Unusual Thing to be grateful for](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/list-minute-but-top-level-unusual-thing-to-be-grateful-for/) - It's a sad fact that most of us don't plan our Goodbyes in advance, despite their general inevitability. Thinking about what you want and writing it down can seem intimidating or morbid, but nothing could be further from the truth. I'm going on record (yes, of course I am biased, but somebody around here has to speak the truth)
- [Your parting wishes? Don't worry about the details.](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/your-parting-wishes-dont-worry-about-the-details/) - Maire's last wishes. "Cremate me and put my ashes in a boat. I want to go from Lake Michigan to the Atlantic Ocean." – Last wish of a terminally ill 24-year old woman who knew what she wanted, but probably not how great an impact that wish would make on so many people. Maire Kent didn't have
- [Your parting wishes? Don't worry about the details.](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/your-parting-wishes-dont-worry-about-the-details-2/) - Maire's last wishes. "Cremate me and put my ashes in a boat. I want to go from Lake Michigan to the Atlantic Ocean." – Last wish of a terminally ill 24-year old woman who knew what she wanted, but probably not how great an impact that wish would make on so many people. Maire Kent didn't have
- [A tattoo to remember you by](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/a-tattoo-to-remember-you-by/) - I'm not a tattoo person myself, but I get that they're a big thing and here to stay. And as little as I contemplate tattoos (which would be very little), even I have thought that since they're so personal and identifiable, you'd think someone would want to save them for posterity. Well, that someone is Save My Ink, also known
- [Here's how to honor someone](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/heres-how-to-honor-someone/) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6Qtc_zlGhc I am positively mesmerized by this. The whole student body of Palmerston North Boys' High School (in New Zealand) performed this "haka" for their beloved teacher who died unexpectedly. I had to research what a haka was, and apparently it's a traditional, ancestral war cry, or dance, from the Maori culture in NZ, but is
- [Here's how to honor someone](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/heres-how-to-honor-someone-2/) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6Qtc_zlGhc I am positively mesmerized by this. The whole student body of Palmerston North Boys' High School (in New Zealand) performed this "haka" for their beloved teacher who died unexpectedly. I had to research what a haka was, and apparently it's a traditional, ancestral war cry, or dance, from the Maori culture in NZ, but is
- [Highly recommend – Call a funeral home. Call a few funeral homes.](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/highly-recommend-call-a-funeral-home-call-a-few-funeral-homes/) - Okay, I did it. I did my very first funeral home shopping for costs. And apparently, for education, since I got that in spades. What I learned very quickly, in the 30 mins it took me to have conversations with three local funeral homes: Prices vary! I knew this was true, but doing the shopping yourself
- [And don't forget a good headstone](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/and-dont-forget-a-good-headstone/) - Ever thought about how you could make your headstone creative and fun?! Or whatever it is about you that would make it more personal?
- [A "live" green burial experience - watch now](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/a-live-green-burial-experience-watch-now/) - Few people know about the burgeoning green burial movement going on all over the world. A wonderful documentary, A Will for the Woods, is now available for free streaming until March 26, 2015. The movie follows the real-life story of a man dying of cancer, but determined that his passing will have a positive environmental impact.
- [And now for something completely different...](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/and-now-for-something-completely-different/) - A song being found on more and more funeral play lists. For those with the ultimate sense of humor, where the song originated. http://youtu.be/WlBiLNN1NhQ
- [A "live" green burial experience - watch now](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/a-live-green-burial-experience-watch-now-2/) - Few people know about the burgeoning green burial movement going on all over the world. A wonderful documentary, A Will for the Woods, is now available for free streaming until March 26, 2015. The movie follows the real-life story of a man dying of cancer, but determined that his passing will have a positive environmental impact.
- [And don't forget a good headstone](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/and-dont-forget-a-good-headstone-2/) - Ever thought about how you could make your headstone creative and fun?! Or whatever it is about you that would make it more personal?
- [PS on the Body Donation... more fun than you thought](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/ps-on-the-body-donation-more-fun-than-you-thought/) - Yesterday's post talked about the simplicity of deciding your body's fate after death, with only three real options: burial, cremation, and body donation. But as our vast and seemingly unlimited world is wont to do, even body donation has its options. Ever seen the BODIES exhibit, where human bodies are on display, allowing us to see
- [Elvis Has Left the Building](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/elvis-has-left-the-building/) - Burial. Cremation. Body donation. Those are the three options available for your post-life body. This is an easy place to start for getting your parting wishes down on paper. Don't make your family guess, struggle to remember, or possibly argue over what they thought you wanted. Just put in in writing so it's easy for them to carry
- [The pondering of ashes and a giggle](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/the-pondering-of-ashes-and-a-giggle/) - http://youtu.be/009dkARgNHg I love spreading the word about Caitlin Doughty, a Los Angeles mortician, who has a website The Order of the Good Death, a video series, Ask a Mortician, and a new book, Smoke Gets in the Your Eyes & Other Lessons from the Crematory. She's a little (or a lot) nutty, but all the better to
- [Somber reflection](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/somber-reflection/) - I just got home from seeing American Sniper. So many feelings. Can't not contemplate life, and death, vulnerability, fate. Even thinking "I Want a Fun Funeral" seems impossibly wrong. There's nothing amiss with my mission of better funerals, more honest and easy discussion, and treating death as the inherent part of life that it is. Yet sometimes, the words fun and
- [Another Funeral Rule moment of enlightenment](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/another-funeral-rule-moment-of-enlightenment/) - Have you ever thought about the expenses incurred for funerals, and whether they accurately reflected your values? We're so averse to seeming disrespectful, or thinking that money shouldn't matter at a time like this, or just plain wanting someone else to make the decisions, that we don't even know what we're buying or why, An
- [Do you want funny stories at your goodbye party?](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/do-you-want-funny-stories-at-your-goodbye-party/) - Larry David on Broadway Theater, ‘Seinfeld’ and Death Etiquette In this article in today's New York Times, Jason Zinoman interviews Larry David about his Broadway show, "Fish in the Dark," a comedy that deals with a family patriarch on his deathbed. Most of the interview was about David's career—interesting and entertaining, but not about DEATH—except
- [Quick question, gut reaction](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/quick-question-gut-reaction/) - Quick, without overthinking or analyzing — What feeling does the topic of your own funeral provoke in you? Fear? Nervousness? Morbidness? Anxiety? Delight? (Sorry. Making sure you're really thinking.) I'm trying to get a handle of what emotion it is that people feel when the subject of their own funeral comes up. One or two words of your
- [Upcoming class right here in the neighborhood](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/upcoming-class-right-here-in-the-neighborhood/) - Announcing right here in Montgomery County, PA, for the first time ever at Cheltenham Township Adult School.... I Want a Fun Funeral Workshop. Two consecutive Sat mornings, Feb 28 and Mar 7, 10:00am –12:00 noon. Here's the course description: Just as you only live once, you only die once! Contemplating your own funeral is not for the faint
- [Sunday night comedy, no funeral talk](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/sunday-night-comedy-no-funeral-talk/) - I'm watching SNL40, and you should, too. (It's actually a superb demonstration in honoring... be it person, place or TV show.)
- [Valentine's Day even here](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/valentines-day-even-here/) - No one wants to talk about death and funerals on Valentines' Day. Not even me, who has practically no boundaries on the topic. But what is apropos, and not antithetical, is love. Because when someone we've loved with all our heart is no longer here, that love has not gone away. In fact, it's likely multiplied. That kind
- [Your funeral, your casket, your way](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/291/) - Retired driver ready for last stop in a school bus casket Epitome of a personal, unique, smile-inducing wish for someone's goodbye party, brought to life. From the Casa Grande Dispatch. "Davis draws comfort from the thought that when he makes that final bus trip — the one that all of us will make one day — his final resting
- [Quick tip when thinking about your own goodbye party](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/quick-tip-when-thinking-about-your-own-goodbye-party/) - When communicating your funeral wishes to your family, it can be just as helpful to say what you don't want, in the event you can't yet figure out what you do want. Any guidance is better than none at all, and written down is better than just telling them. Minor points, but given how helpful any information
- [Report from the field](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/report-from-the-field/) - I had an event tonight at Delaware Valley College. "I Want a Fun Funeral" to inspire, educate, and support people getting their own funeral thoughts down on paper... well ahead of time. Doing it when you're dead is impossible, thanks to Mother Nature's finality on the matter, so the smart thing is to do it well ahead
- [Mini Thought for the Day](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/mini-thought-for-the-day/)
- [Call Me, says the law about funeral homes](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/call-me-says-the-law-about-funeral-homes/) - Time for another fun funeral fact per the FTC Funeral Rule. You have the right to get prices over the telephone! Did you know that? Most funeral directors would prefer you come in and discuss their services in person, as understandably, there are lots of details and options to discuss. Giving a price over the phone
- [Get Thee to "Confessions of a Funeral Director"](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/get-thee-to-confessions-of-a-funeral-director/) - I could write blog posts till I've got one foot in the grave and never convey what Caleb Wilde of Confessions of a Funeral Director does in every single post. Read Five Ways Funeral Directors Can Bully Their Customers for his commentary from inside the industry. You don't want to go to a funeral home and
- [Get Thee to "Confessions of a Funeral Director"](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/get-thee-to-confessions-of-a-funeral-director-2/) - I could write blog posts till I've got one foot in the grave and never convey what Caleb Wilde of Confessions of a Funeral Director does in every single post. Read Five Ways Funeral Directors Can Bully Their Customers for his commentary from inside the industry. You don't want to go to a funeral home and
- [Humming Their Way Out of Your Funeral](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/humming-their-way-out-of-your-funeral/) - Music is arguably the most moving part of a goodbye celebration. Pick you own tunes ahead of time and your loved ones will forever be grateful. Your spirit will be so present — they will recognize you and feel blessed to bear witness to your life in a way they can relate to and will remember. It
- [Friday Funny](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/friday-funny/)
- [FCA - The "Consumer Reports" of Funeral Purchasing](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/fca-the-consumer-reports-of-funeral-purchasing/) - One of the best resources in the country for information about funerals is the Funeral Consumers Alliance, a nonprofit organization that protects consumers' rights, championing the need for and access to meaningful, dignified, affordable funerals for people. They do for funeral purchases what Consumer Reports does for products. That is something anyone could benefit from at some point in their life.
- [FCA - The "Consumer Reports" of Funeral Purchasing](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/fca-the-consumer-reports-of-funeral-purchasing-2/) - One of the best resources in the country for information about funerals is the Funeral Consumers Alliance, a nonprofit organization that protects consumers' rights, championing the need for and access to meaningful, dignified, affordable funerals for people. They do for funeral purchases what Consumer Reports does for products. That is something anyone could benefit from at some point in their life.
- [How a piece of rye toast can make an obituary](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/how-a-piece-of-rye-toast-can-make-an-obituary/) - They say it's the little things in life that sometimes matter most. Same goes for death. The obit for a good friend's Mom was fairly traditional, the usual fare of family, hobbies, and associations. But the last sentence read "Joan enjoyed a crisp Manhattan, a buttered slice of fresh rye bread, and a good game
- [The Boy in the Cave](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/the-boy-in-the-cave/) - Don't live in the Stone Ages of funeral customs. We can do BETTER than we have settled for. We all deserve to be celebrated, honored, recognized, and thanked! Profusely. Each and every one of us deserves a personal, no-holds-barred, unmitigated gratitude party for the life we lived and the difference we made. And the magnificence is
- [A Coffin to Carry You Off In](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/a-coffin-to-carry-you-off-in/) - Few people know that the FTC ( the Federal Trade Commission) has something called a Funeral Rule, designed to protect consumers when buying funeral services. One of the ten rights listed addresses your right to buy a casket or urn of your choosing, from any vendor you want, for any reason, no explanation required, and without
- [Betcha Didn't Know This About "Death and Funeral Talk"](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/what-happens-when-you-dont-share-your-funeral-wishes/) - I have bad news and I have good news. The bad news is that avoiding the topic of death and funerals is really lame. The awesome news is that you can become strong-bodied and able again by just plain opening up and talking. It's that simple. Because a little-known fact is that once you get over the hump (refusal/reluctance/fear) of talking about death, and specifically
- [Betcha Didn't Know This About "Death and Funeral Talk"](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/what-happens-when-you-dont-share-your-funeral-wishes-2/) - I have bad news and I have good news. The bad news is that avoiding the topic of death and funerals is really lame. The awesome news is that you can become strong-bodied and able again by just plain opening up and talking. It's that simple. Because a little-known fact is that once you get over the hump (refusal/reluctance/fear) of talking about death, and specifically
- [I want a fun funeral, and maybe you do, too.](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/hello-world-2/) - First day of website! Blog posts to come. Looking forward to intriguing discussions about rejuvenating our death and funeral rituals, and actually talking about death in a way that's enlightening and enlivening! So much more to come. Sadness is inevitable, but there is so much joy to be had, let's take it on!

## Pages

- [Home](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/) - Putting a little life into your last wishes.| #fun funeral #iwantafunfuneral #lifecelebration
- [Links and Resources](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/links/) - Let’s face it, contemplating your own funeral isn’t on anyone’s To Do List, so it helps to have some support. You should know that there is a wealth of resources to support the “death positive” conversation.
- [Events](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/events/) - A listing of upcoming Events from I Want A Fun Funeral, including Live Events and Webinars.
- [About](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/about/) - Who starts a company called I Want a Fun Funeral ? That would be Kyle Tevlin, who can’t seem to help herself from trotting down unusual paths.
- [Plan Your Own Sendoff](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/plan-your-own-sendoff/) - [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ custom_padding_last_edited=”on|desktop” admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_color=”#56508d” min_height=”113px” custom_margin=”||26px|||” custom_padding_tablet=”50px|0|50px|0″ custom_padding_phone=”” transparent_background=”off” padding_mobile=”off” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ header_text_color=”#ffffff” custom_margin=”40px||40px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”] The Fun Starts Now! [/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_color=”rgba(244,233,105,0.35)” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_margin=”|auto||138px||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” inline_fonts=”Verdana” global_colors_info=”{}”]
- [Ahh… Fall. Sharing some links.](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/ahh-fall-sharing-some-links/) - It's Fall… leaves are turning 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 time of year to spend as much time
- [Home (old)](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/home/) - Welcome to the new world of planning your own goodbye party. No matter that you won’t be there to enjoy it. The secret is that your fun comes now, in the planning of it. That’s where we come in.
- [Checkout](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/checkout/) - [download_checkout]
- [Purchase Confirmation](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/checkout/purchase-confirmation/) - Thank you for your purchase! [edd_receipt]
- [Transaction Failed](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/checkout/transaction-failed/) - Your transaction failed, please try again or contact site support.
- [Purchase History](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/checkout/purchase-history/) - [purchase_history]
- [Webinars](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/webinars/) - From the comfort of your own home you are guided through getting your last wishes down on paper. Supplied with our forms and expertise, the group energy fosters creativity and understanding. From start to finish, we’ve designed it to be an easy and friendly undertaking.
- [Plan Your Own Sendoff!](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/why-plan-your-funeral/) - The Reasons Why You Want to Plan Your Own Goodbye Party in Advance. Information and advice from I Want A Fun Funeral.
- [Thank You!](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/thank-you/) - Thank you for signing up! I look forward to helping you to make your planning easier and fulfilling! - Kyle Tevlin Please click here to download your free report!
- [Contact](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/contact/) - Nothing lights me up more than talking to those of like mind. If any part of “putting a little life into your last wishes” appeals to you, and you’d like to connect, don’t hesitate to get in touch.

## Categories

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- [Caleb Wilde](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/category/caleb-wilde/)
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- [I Want a Fun Funeral](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/category/i-want-a-fun-funeral/)
- [the book](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/category/the-book/)
- [Inc.](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/category/inc/)
- [Pets](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/category/pets/)
- [Legacy](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/category/legacy/)
- [Workshop ideas](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/category/workshop-ideas/)
- [inspiring](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/category/inspiring/)
- [IWAFF Quote](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/category/iwaff-quote/)
- [human composting](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/category/human-composting/)
- [Event](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/category/event/)
- [Funeral Revolution](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/category/funeral-revolution/)
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- [pandemic](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/category/pandemic/)
- [How to Plan](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/category/how-to-plan/)
- [planning your own funeral](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/category/planning-your-own-funeral/)
- [aquamation](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/category/aquamation/)
- [Last Wishes](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/category/last-wishes/)

## Tags

- [alternative containers](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/tag/alternative-containers/)
- [Ask a Mortician](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/tag/ask-a-mortician/)
- [body donation](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/tag/body-donation/)
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- [Caleb Wilde](https://www.iwantafunfuneral.com/tag/caleb-wilde/)
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