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There are many reasons families choose not to have a funeral. In this is true for you, a Belated Goodbye ceremony can still be held to honor your special person.

If you have waited some time after a loved one's death before considering a ceremony, you can still have a Remembrance Ceremony — we'll just call it a Belated Goodbye. It will still focus on the life and personality of your special person and what he or she meant to family and friends.

Because you've waited, it can now be held at a more convenient time, or on a date that's significant to the family or whoever is hosting the ceremony. Ideas for dates include:

on the person's birthday

on a wedding or partnering anniversary

before you scatter the ashes/cremains

on the date of a meaningful event you've shared, such as an ethnic celebration or the Daytona 500

during a certain time of year that's been meaningful to you, like blackberry picking season, when certain flowers bloom, or storm-watching season

a year after the death

before you move from the home you shared

or, simply, when everyone who wants to be there can get together

A Belated Goodbye can be especially important if the person had a long illness, and/or was cared for at home or with help from hospice, since family and other caregivers can be too tired (or simply overwhelmed) to have a ceremony at the time of the death.

Because some time has passed since the death, we can take more time to plan, so your ceremony can be more elaborate and creative if you wish. We can choose a theme that represents your loved one. There will be time to make arrangements to hold it at a place special to the person or the family/friends.

 Gathering to remember and honor someone who has died fulfills a deep need for individuals, the family, and the community. A Belated Goodbye can be as simple or elaborate as you wish.

Please contact me to talk over your ideas, without obligation.