Life. There’s a lot to talk about.
Planning ahead doesn’t only mean working on details of a funeral service. How do you want to be remembered? How do you want to celebrate the unique lives of your loved ones?
Everyone Has a Story
One conversation you probably haven’t had is the talk about how you want to be remembered. Sharing stories with those who matter most isn’t just important today; it will be especially significant when it’s time to commemorate a life. Having the “Talk of a Lifetime” encourages families to have conversations about life and what matters most. These discussions can help families make important decisions about how they wish to remember and honor the lives of their loved ones.
Memorialization reflects a person’s life story, their values, interests, and experiences. It is transformative, healing, and comforting. Through meaningful memorialization — that is, taking time to reflect on the unique life of a loved one and remember the difference they made — families and friends take an important step in the journey toward healing after death. Meaningful memorialization planning starts when loved ones talk about what matters most: memories made, lessons learned, and how they hope to be remembered.
Today, individuals and their families have more options for memorializing their loved one at the end of life, and Oakcrest Funeral Services wants to help you celebrate what made them unique.
Make the Difference of a Lifetime
You can have the talk of a lifetime with anyone you hold dear — your parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, a spouse. It can happen anywhere you and your loved one are most comfortable — over a meal, at home, on a walk, while playing a game. The talk can be between you and your loved one, or you could include others, like family or friends. Your conversation can take place at any time — not just at the end of life.
Sharing memories will help your loved ones understand how important they are to you. They will see that their life matters. The things you discuss will help you appreciate their life story and get a glimpse of the legacy that they will one day leave behind.
Finding a way to start talking with a loved one may be the most difficult part; however, we might find that once the conversation starts, it may be hard to stop. Here is an idea of some of the questions you can ask when having the Talk of a Lifetime:
- What is your proudest achievement?
- What was the one piece of advice you received from your parents or grandparents that you never forgot?
- Tell me about the most memorable summer you had growing up.
- Tell me about your favorite teacher; what did you learn from him or her?
- Tell me about what you did for a living. What drew you to that kind of work?
- What family traditions do you hope your children and grandchildren will carry on?
Download Your Free Workbook
For more conversation starters, click here to download our free workbook to use as a guide. You will then be able to document your conversations. You can also make an audio or video recording of your conversation with them, thereby preserving their voice and/or image. Having the Talk of a Lifetime can make the difference of a lifetime. What is most important is that you take time to honor and remember the people who matter.
How We Can Help
Oakcrest Funeral Services is here to support and encourage you and your family and provide resources to guide important conversations about all of your memorialization options. Whether your family desires something traditional or something different, there is always room for personalization. A celebration of life should be as unique as the individual being remembered. Call us at 515-295-3731 for more information on this important step in the planning process.
