When a loved one passes away, the traditional way to honour them and signify their passing is by arranging a funeral. If they were religious, then this would likely take place in a church, with them then having a burial place in the churchyard. However, if your deceased loved one isn’t religious, what are your options for arranging their funeral?
We’ve produced this short guide with inspiration on some of the ways you can commemorate the death of your loved one without religious ties.
Humanist Funeral
A humanist funeral is a non-religious (although they are open to anyone regardless of religion, background or culture) funeral service that celebrates the life and legacy of a loved one, whilst recognising the profoundness of saying goodbye.
Rather than including religious readings, hymns and a focus on God or heaven, a humanist funeral focuses on the life lived by the deceased individual. The heart of the ceremony is the tribute section, which may include a variety of tributes paid by families or friends, while pieces of music and reading may also be included.
A humanist funeral is carried out by a celebrant, who will work closely with you and your family to create a unique and personal ceremony for your loved one.
You are also free to hold a humanist funeral wherever you choose (as long as this is permitted by the establishment/landowner if not in a public area), allowing you to hold it in a place that may have meant a lot to your loved one.
Cemetery or Green Burial Site
Assuming that your loved one does not wish to be cremated, then you may wonder where would be a suitable burial ground for them (if they had not expressed a preference before their passing). Although they have the right to be buried on local church grounds if they were a member of the parish, you may feel that this does not align with their beliefs or what they would’ve wanted.
Alternatively, then, you have the option of a cemetery or green burial site. Having become increasingly popular over recent years, green burial sites are an especially good option for those who were passionate about the environment and lived their life according to sustainable principles.
Personal Headstone
Many traditional gravestone motifs (such as doves, hands and angels) have religious connotations. If you’re looking for a more modern memorial that is personal to you and better represents your loved one, then you can instead choose to have a bespoke headstone created for their grave.
This allows you to choose an engraving and/or inscription that is unique to your loved one.
If you live in the Lanarkshire area of Scotland and are looking for a hand-crafted memorial to commemorate your loved one, then get in touch with us here at Stewarton Memorials. We can create bespoke headstones made to your personal specification.
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