A few fun ways to get involved with your community

Erin Brodbeck, LCSW, CT,
Director of Grief Services,
Center for Loss & Healing

Are you currently getting involved with your local community? Do you host events that attract visitors to your cemetery? A great way to get people in your community to come to your cemetery is by hosting an event.

At Sunset Memorial Park, we host a number of events throughout the year. We do this with hopes that families will not only enjoy the beautiful surroundings but also realize there are more reasons to visit a cemetery than to grieve a lost loved one.

In the spring and summer, we host ice cream socials. It is a great and easy way to attract people to your cemetery. We offer ice cream, musical entertainment, friendly conversation and prizes. It provides a great social atmosphere and lifts some of the heavy hearts visiting the cemetery.

In the fall, we enjoy gatherings with local students during Arbor Day and closer to Halloween for Pumpkin day. On Arbor Day, students from area schools help our horticulturists plant a tree in our cemetery. On Pumpkin day, students enjoy games, coloring and time in our pumpkin patch.

When you first start hosting events in your cemetery, I suggest starting small. You can host an informational luncheon or an ice cream social. Then consider branching out to larger events. When you get involved with your community, you will make lasting relationships and provide families new and unique ways to remember their loved ones. It will be good for your business and good grief for the families that you serve.


This article originally appeared in Modern Memorialization, Trigard Memorials' weekly electronic newsletter featuring information for the funeral industry. Sign up for your free subscription at http://www.trigard.com/thursdays.