FIORE-BUCKLEY FUNERAL HOME
                                             236 Monmouth Road
                                                                   Oakhurst, Ocean Township, NJ 07755
         Phone: 732-531-3885
or: 732-775-2455
           Fax: 732-531-5583
Fiore Funeral Home in New Jersey - Logo
FIORE FUNERAL HOME
882 Broadway
West Long Branch, NJ 07764
Phone: 732-229-8855
Fred Fiore, Jr. - Manager
NJ License Number 3759
Fax: 732-531-5583
Celebration of Life

Celebration of Life Services

Honor the life of your loved one with a unique, personalized ceremony. 
Get Started Today

Celebration of Life Services

Honor the life of your loved one with a unique, personalized ceremony. 
Get Started Today

What is a Celebration of Life?

A celebration of life memorial service is a ceremony that is one alternative to a traditional funeral. It achieves the same goal as a funeral - gathering a group of people to pay tribute to and honor the life of loved one. A celebration of life service can pretty much be anything the family wants it to be. The ultimate benefit of a celebration of life is that it gives families the freedom to best represent and display the values, passions, and personality of the deceased.

More and more families want a ceremony that has a more positive environment that celebrates the life of their loved one as opposed to having a ceremony that is filled solely with sadness and grief. This is when we introduce and explain to them the concept of a celebration of life service. It can be quite a challenge to plan a ceremony that matches the unique life led by an individual, but if done right it is also one of the most rewarding and meaningful things you will ever do.

You should talk to your loved ones while they are still alive so they can help you plan their celebration of life. If it is not already clear to you, ask them questions like – “how do you want to be remembered?” or “how do you want to be honored?”. You may already know the values and passions of your loved one, but the best way is to get their insight into what kind of celebration of life they would like. 

Celebrations of Life vs. Funerals

Both funerals and celebrations of life serve as a way for families to acknowledge the passing of a loved one and say goodbye. However, there are many contrasts between the two ceremonies which commonly leads a family to choose one over the other.

A traditional funeral follows common rituals and customs, and tends to be a more structured ceremony. Usually, it has four main parts: the visitation, the funeral service, the committal service, and the funeral reception. For those looking for a sense of spirituality, religion, or tradition, we suggest holding a traditional funeral service rather than a celebration of life.

Through choosing a celebration of life ceremony, there is more freedom in the planning process. Essentially, this type of ceremony can include whatever your family thinks is appropriate to represent and honor your loved one. The purpose of this service is to tell the story of your loved one’s life and celebrate what made them special. 

In many cases, a celebration of life service is held after the body has been cared for. This allows your family more time to come together and plan a service that has includes input from everyone. It is common for families to hold a celebration of life weeks or even months after their loved one has been buried or cremated. This flexibility with time ensures you can schedule for a date for when family and friends are able to attend. In contrast, traditional funerals generally take place a couple days after death for the specific purpose of burial and a graveside ceremony. 

Learn More About Celebrations of Life

We have created a celebration of life planning checklist designed to make sure nothing falls through the cracks when planning an end-of-life celebration. Browse through it here. 
Planning a Celebration of Life Checklist

Celebration of Life Ideas

Below are celebration of life ideas and examples. Hopefully these demonstrate that the possibilities with a celebration of life are endless and that you can make it very personalized to suit your loved one. Visit our Planning a Celebration of Life page for more planning information.

For the Gardener

You could add a simple touch by filling the room with your loved one’s favorite flowers and plants. Hold the event outside in a park or garden filled with flowers to make it even more meaningful.






For the Foodie

Organize a dinner party that serves your loved one’s favorite foods and dishes. You could also organize a potluck, allowing friends and family to come together and share food and memories that remind them of your loved one.






For the Philanthropist

For the person dedicated to charity work, you could hold a fundraising event where donations go to the cause most important to the deceased.







For the Sports Lover

Use your loved one's trophies, sports memorabilia, and jerseys as decorations at the celebration of life. You could even organize a sports event, such as a golf tournament or an exhibition baseball or basketball game.






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