Both funerals and celebrations of life are essential items in the grieving process. However, the main difference between the two is the physical presence of the body during the ceremony. At a funeral, the body is present whilst at a celebration of life it is not. However, there are other factors that vary between the two based on things like religion or culture. In each service though it is a group of people coming together to mourn the loss of a family member or friend.

When you are to look up the term ‘celebration of life’ you will find hundreds of definitions and examples of different ceremonies that have taken place. However the common ground between them all is it is a gathering of people, coming together in a personal way to memorialize the life that the deceased lived. Like the name suggests, the focus is on the celebration of a positive life lived, and a way to all come together and reflect on the happy memories that have been shared together. However a funeral is more focused on the religious or traditional side of the ceremonies, and relies heavily on psalms and hymns to explain the journey of life.

In celebrations of life it focuses primarily on the personal details and memories that people had with them. However, there is no formal procedure that is tailored towards celebrations of life, unlike the rituals and practices of a funeral. The celebration is planned exactly how the family and friends wanted

The term ‘celebration of life’ is fairly loose. There are no formal arrangements or traditional procedures because events are specifically tailored to the deceased or the wishes of their family and friends.  By focusing on the party and the life lived by the deceased, the atmosphere is different, which is the varying point between funerals and celebrations of life

The final point to make about the differences between celebrations of life and funerals is the cost. If people are looking for a more budget friendly service, they normally go with the celebration of life because they can happen at any time after your loved one has based. On the other hand, a funeral has many expenses, such as the casket, transportation, or burial fees.

If you have any further questions on the topic, please contact us at Charles J O’Shea Funeral Homes.