A Death Doula's Substack

A Death Doula's Substack

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A Death Doula's Substack
A Death Doula's Substack
How I Plan Great Living Funerals

How I Plan Great Living Funerals

Planning a funeral where the decedent isn’t…umm…dead.

Catherine Durkin Robinson's avatar
Catherine Durkin Robinson
Aug 26, 2024
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A Death Doula's Substack
A Death Doula's Substack
How I Plan Great Living Funerals
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Let’s discuss this relatively new phenomenon.

Some of the greatest moments at a funeral are the tributes. Eulogies. Speeches where loved ones get up and talk about the deceased person in glowing terms with emotion and profound sentiments.

Many times I've heard such tributes and wished that the guest of honor, the one evoking all these kind words, wasn't dead. I wished they could hear how much they were loved and admired.

A living funeral corrects that.

What Is a Living Funeral?

A living funeral is a celebration of life before death.

I'm not a funeral director, but as a death doula, I have worked with many clients to plan both traditional and non-traditional funerals or memorial services. Lately, I've been hearing from people who want to attend these post-death events.

And why not?

Why Are Living Funerals Popular?

Reasons vary, depending on the person.

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For example, I had a client who wanted a living funeral to encourage loved ones to better accept or come to terms with her impending death. The…

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