Beatles “Sing-a-long”

Kay, a teacher and an artist, was passionate about the arts and politics and involved in peace movements from People’s Park to the Grey Panthers. Her daughters decided to include a “sing a long” in her service in the Mausoleum Chapel at the Mountain View Cemetery in Oakland. Attendees were given a handout with the lyrics to the Beatles song “Golden Slumber”. To end the service, her daughters came to the front and invited everyone to sing along with them (and the Beatles!) while they played a Beatles CD. Attendees enjoyed participating in the service by singing along with others.

Scattering at Sea and Reception

Richard was a positive, upbeat gentleman who loved the SF Symphony and fine dining – but most of all he deeply loved his devoted partner, Jim. His private scattering on the San Francisco Bay, was held on the Neptune Naiad, in sight of the Golden Gate Bridge, and included a friend singing “You Lift Me Up.” Afterwards, there was a reception for a large group of friends, with food, many toasts, plus a photo board showing Richard participating in his many interests and activities.

Ava Maria

Bud was a well-known writer. and an accomplished pianist who loved Opera, and volunteered his time and talents to an Opera company for concerts and fundraisers. To honor his love of Opera, his wife asked me to arrange for an opera singer to perform Ava Maria during his graveside service at Mountain View Cemetery.

Military Honor Guard

Elizabeth was a beloved mother, and a talented artist who served in the Marines Women’s Auxiliary during WWII. Her outdoor service at the San Francisco National Cemetery in the Presidio included a display of her artwork, arrangements of her favorite flowers, and a military Honor guard with the playing of taps. She was laid to rest there, next to her beloved husband of 37 years.

Music: Sacred, and Satirical

Herb, a man of great wit, and large heart, was a dedicated and respected professional who also loved singing in the San Francisco Choral Society, and the San Francisco City Chorus. Over 50 Chorus members and other singer friends assembled at his service at St. Aidan's Church in San Francisco, to perform two choral pieces Herb loved to sing.. Selections ranged from Mozart’s Ave Verum Corpus to Tom Lehrer’s, satirical Vatican Rag. Additional speakers and videos of his life were also woven into the service. 

Giving Away Books of Beloved Teacher

Linda was well known, deeply loved, acting teacher. At the celebration of Linda’s life at the Forest Hills clubhouse in San Francisco, her daughter set up a display of framed photographs of Linda along with a collection of all Linda’s books about theatre and acting. Attendees were thrilled when they were told to pick a book they liked and take it with them to remember Linda.  

Free Spirit Who Loved to Party

Dawn was a free spirit who loved to party. Her son rented a private room at the Gordon Biersch brewery in San Jose for her Celebration of Life/party for family and friends. When he asked me what kind of music would be “appropriate” to accompany a video tribute he was making, I answered, “whatever kind of music she loved!”  He happily decided to use music from a Beatles CD he found in the CD player of his Mother’s Mustang Convertible.

Singer/Songwriter’s Music

Cathi was a talented singer/songwriter who loved music –specifically jazz.  She created and released several CD’s, - and gave a lot of pleasure to others through her music. As part of her Celebration of Life at the San Francisco Columbarium, three people who had collaborated with her on various projects performed Cathi’s work

Life Long Fan of the Grateful Dead

Beth was a life-long fan of the rock band, the Grateful Dead. Her life partner Mike, said that one of their most cherished times together, was at a Grateful Dead concert in Sacramento. It started to rain just as the band started playing “Box of Rain”. Mike said “we were standing out in the rain – with nothing bothering us – we were just in the moment.”  To honor Beth, we incorporated several Grateful Dead songs into her service at the chapel of the Neptune Society of Northern California in Belmont. At the front of the chapel, Mike placed Beth’s urn on a tie dye cloth, along with photos of her, and small stones she had gathered in her walks.

New Orleans Jazz Funeral Marching Band

A son hired St. Gabriel’s celestial brass band, an authentic New Orleans Jazz Funeral Marching band, to participate in his mother Pearl’s memorial at Olivet Memorial Park in Colma. The band lead a procession to the gravesite and played several songs during and after the service, including When the Saints Go Marching In.

High on a Mountain

Mt. Diablo State Park in Contra Costa county was one of Jim’s most beloved places. So his family reserved a place high up on the mountain for his family and friends to gather under a huge tree, for a scattering ceremony and celebration of his life.

Irish Cultural Center: Celebration with Food, Drinks, and Laughter

Howard lived an adventurous and active life of 96 years. In honor of his Irish heritage, his daughters held the celebration of his life at the Irish Cultural Center in San Francisco. Family, and friends including those he knew from his 40 years membership at the Sonoma Men’s Golf Association, shared fond memories of Howard, and spoke of his many adventures. Sharing continued over lunch and drinks, and included much laughter. A table display of memorabilia, and a photo board were set up for guests to enjoy.

Displaying Creations of a Seamstress and Crafter

Aline was an excellent seamstress and crafter. At the Celebration of Life for their mother, held at the San Mateo Senior Center, her daughters displayed many crafts and wonderful clothes their mother had made for them, including a beautiful wedding dress. Some of her creative crafts were also used as centerpieces at the tables where guests were seated.

Bagpiper for a Woman of Scottish Heritage

Knowing Scottish heritage was very important to Helen, her daughter arranged for a Bag Piper to play at her memorial in the Tower Chapel at Mt. View Cemetery in Oakland. The piper played at the beginning and end the service, then to lead a procession of family and friends to Helen’s final resting place, where he played additional music for her committal service.

Meaningful Reading for Father and Grandfather

Edwin, 97, was a loving, kind, and generous father and grandfather, who always had a joke to tell and a smile on his face. For his memorial at Skylawn Memorial Park in San Mateo, we included this and several other special readings: “Those we love remain with us for love itself lives on, and cherished memories never fade because a loved one's gone. Those we love can never be more than a thought apart, for as long as there is memory, they'll live on in the heart”

INSPIRATION

Learn 7 simple ways to personalize the service for your loved one. Read examples of how I have personalized services - whether by including a Beatles sing-a-long or showcasing the work of the person being celebrated. 

TESTIMONIALS

Discover what others say about working with me, and the personalized memorials, scatterings, and Celebrations of Life I have created for their loved ones.