How To Handle A Cremation Service For A Loner

Some people are not cut out to be the life of the party, and others are introverts who much prefer time alone to gatherings of friends. If you have a loved one who passed away without leaving a string of friends behind, that doesn't mean that you cannot have a beautiful cremation service. A cremation service is not about the number of people who attend it, but the spirit with which it is given. These tips for handling a cremation service for a loner can help ensure that their memorial service is meaningful and memorable for you and their other loved ones.

Get Creative with the Guests You Invite

The deceased person may have not hung out with a ton of friends, but there are likely to be many people who appreciated the person. You may reach out to current and former work colleagues, classmates, in-laws, and even extended family members. You may also invite people that are special to you. People can appreciate the cremation service and who the person was even if they didn't know them in person.

Prepare a Speech That Addresses the Guests

When planning a cremation service for someone when you know there will be a low turn-out, address that fact in the introduction to the cremation service. Even if someone else is giving the eulogy, prepare a few words to welcome the guests.

People may start to feel uncomfortable when they see so few people at the service, but you can set their concerns aside by addressing the elephant in the room. You may say something along the lines of stating, "The number of attendees here today does not in any way compare to the number of hearts that were touched by their life." Alternately, you may want to say, "This service was kept small for those who were the closest to their heart." You will set the tone for the service in how things are presented.

Prepare Memorial Gifts

When a cremation service is going to be small, that gives you more freedom with the kind of service you can have, and it also allows you to more affordably prepare memorial gifts in honor of your lost loved one. You may choose to give the guests a memorial coin, necklace, or even a memory book to pay homage to the person who is being remembered with the cremation service.

Finally, keep in mind that the cremation service is meant to allow you and the deceased person's other loved ones the chance to say good-bye and pay your final respects. It can be a commemoration of the person's passing, a celebration of their life, and a combination of anything that you feel is the best way to honor them.