The reception after a funeral or memorial service can be traditional, personal and/or unique. Many families use this time to celebrate the life of a loved one through fellowship.
Stephanie Jones-Kastelic, co-owner of Friedrich-Jones Funeral Homes & Cremation Services, said that the reception serves as an opportunity “to continue the celebration of life and to commemorate the deceased.” For instance, mourners could incorporate their loved one’s favorite place to dine or bring photos and personal artifacts into the reception.
“We encourage families to be as warm and personal as they feel comfortable being,” Jones-Kastelic said. She also suggested to “focus on the type of celebration that would be meaningful,” such as the location (personal residence, country club, church hall etc.), size (large and public or small and private, etc.), theme (casual, formal, etc.), and so on.
She continued to say: “When you’re thinking about hosting at home, make sure to consider the potential stress of the coordination and cleanup. It’s difficult to anticipate your emotional needs at this difficult time.”
When selecting catering, decide on the amount and type of food and drinks that you’d like to provide. You may even want to serve your loved one’s favorites. During difficult times, family members and friends might find comfort in a shared meal dedicated to the deceased.
For a list of restaurant and catering options, grouped by cemetery location in Naperville and Plainfield, visit friedrichjones.com/funeral-planning/catering.html. This list will be useful when planning family gatherings during the end-of-life planning process and ceremonies.
Contact Friedrich-Jones Funeral Homes & Cremation Services — located at 44 S. Mill St. in Naperville; call 630-355-0213 and at 15219 S. Joliet Road in Plainfield; call 815-436-9221 — for more information on end-of-life reception ideas. Please visit friedrichjones.com.
