Every funeral homes Wickliffe, OH, serves the same purpose. However, when it’s time to plan your own loved one’s funeral, there’s a lot that you need to do. In addition to the memorial service, you also need to think about the funeral reception. This is a traditional meeting that happens after the burial. It gives the mourners a chance to connect with each other on a deeper level.

If you’re planning a funeral reception and don’t know where to get started, read this post.

1. Serve Good Food

Food connects people. Everyone needs to eat and most people feel better when they’re not hungry. After a long stressful day at the funeral, it’s comforting to come back to a fulfilling meal. You don’t have to spend a lot of money or expend a lot of energy. For instance, you can set up a buffet. Or create a few sandwich trays and buy some cookies. The goal isn’t to impress anyone with your culinary greatness, it’s to make the mourners feel better.

2. Plan

Planning a reception is the last thing you want to think about when you’re grieving, but you may feel better knowing that you honored your loved one’s memory in that way. Being busy might actually be helpful. You don’t have to think about your grief. You can lose yourself in the details. At the reception, you may friends and family members of the deceased’s that you’ve never met before. It’s your last little window into their world.

3. Get Help

If doing everything on your own is too overwhelming, get help. You can ask your loved ones or you can hire professional help. Either way, the burden will be shared. You don’t have to take everything onto your own shoulders. Your own health matters as much as anything else. No one benefits if you break down.

4. . Share Stories

During the funeral, there was likely a eulogy. However, it’s possible that there are people who would’ve spoken if they had been given a chance. You can give them the opportunity during the funeral reception. Encourage people to share stories about the deceased. It’s a moving experience for everyone involved. There may be tears, but that’s to be expected. When death strikes, it’s often devastating for those left behind.

5. Be Open

Your grief may feel so heavy that you’re tempted to shut yourself away. It’s better to fight the urge, if possible. The funeral reception will only happen once. In fact, it may be the last time that people gather in one room to talk about the deceased. Allow yourself to give in to your emotions and connect with the people around you. These are the type of memories that you’ll want forever.

At Orlando-Donsante-Previte Funeral Home, one of the premier funeral homes Wickliffe, OH, we can help your family time in their time of need. You can host the funeral at 29550 Euclid Ave, Wickliffe, OH, 44092. Please call us at (440) 943-2466 if you have any questions.