What is memorialization?

Karen Darby-Ritz, 
Advance Planning Manager, 
Camino del Sol Funeral Chapel
and Cremation Center

Memorialization has many definitions, but according to Merriam-Webster, it is “to do or create something that causes people to remember a person, thing or event.”

As you know, families choose to memorialize their loved ones in many different ways. For example, recently in New York, an infamous party boy was memorialized by turning his viewing room into a replica of Bungalow 8. It was decked out with palm trees, a DJ played music, and everyone wore Snoopy t-shirts. His family and friends honored him the best way they knew how, in true party style. Another example is the recent memorial service for a millionaire car collector. He sat upright in his favorite Ferrari during his visitation.

There are those who enjoy the flair of an extravagant memorial service, and then there are those who don't want to "make a fuss." They don’t want a viewing, a service or a party for friends. Which style is correct?

The answer is simple. There is no right or wrong way for a family to honor their loved one's life, as long as they do some form of memorialization. A memorial can be as simple as a picture on a bronze memorial or as extravagant as a black tie and ball gown styled party with all their friends and family in attendance.

Our job as memorialization experts is to educate the families we serve about the importance of memorialization and to honor the life of their loved one. Their options are limited only by their own imagination.


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.