15 Unique Celebrations That Honored Special Lives

When we remember someone, it’s not the big things we miss most. What we recall best are all the irreplaceable little things that made someone special. Dignity Memorial® providers go above and beyond to tell unique stories filled with texture, detail and meaning.

Personalized funerals, celebrations of life and memorial services aren’t just something we do sometimes. Our promise to every family, every time is a one-of-a-kind remembrance that reflects the values, character and traditions of the loved one being honored.

Tens of thousands of families every year turn to us after the loss of a loved one and know firsthand the talents of our funeral directors and celebrants. Many of them take time to tell us how their experiences exceeded their expectations. We share a few of their testimonials below.

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The Insider's Guide to Funeral & Cremation has the information you need to make informed choices about planning final arrangements for yourself or someone you love.

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It was obvious that Tiffany listened to our stories about our mom. She added little things like owls and butterflies throughout the venues we used. The little things that showed how carefully she listened and how much she cared about making the day special for us.

Barbara W.

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Alan did an unbelievable job of making my dad’s service so special. We received compliments from people who attended the service some saying it was the best they've ever attended. From the food to the memorabilia on display that the stagers did to help portray to everyone our dads passion for his family and his other love, his native Belfast N. Ireland.

Roisin B

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I loved the way the funeral director made it so calming when I went to go pick up my mom's remains she had her in a box which was then put in a velvet bag that was surrounded by candles and flowers along with a sail boat and a poem. It was such an amazing experience then she carried the remains for me out to my car. I very much loved this place.

Denise C.

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My funeral director, Alex, paid attention to every detail and even filled me in on some things that I didn't even think about. I would say that he went above and beyond, but I get the feeling that he is just that kind of a person to everyone. He was very attuned to what we were going through and his compassion was genuine.

Joseph E.

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Sadly my father passed away after a courageous battle with cancer, which left us planning his funeral. Planning a funeral is a daunting task for any family, but Doane Beal & Ames was beyond helpful and professional during this time. They offered suggested that made the wake and funeral more customized. From the Life Story Wall, to the remembrance card (formerly known as a prayer card), to including my dad's corvette and Camaro in the funeral procession, Doane Beal & Ames assisted us in honoring my father with respect and dignity that celebrated the man he was. Additionally, Doane Beal & Ames was responsive to any questions we had along the way and assisted to plan a seamless wake and funeral that allowed my family to focus on honoring my father rather than worrying about the details.

Brittany M.

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My mom left this world with minimal instructions but I knew how I wanted to honor her. I have to say the staff at Saul Gabauer were absolutely fantastic. They walked me through the processes and decisions, checked on me throughout the week and were extremely kind and compassionate. When I asked them if I could paint my moms burial vault they We’re taken aback for a split second having never had that request before. And then they went into complete planning mode for me to come and do it. Mom And I are artistic and I wanted to honor her and have her surrounded by flowers and her favorite song. The staff had everything set up, checked on me AND had the vault out for me to see at moms burial. Mom didn’t want anything other than a brief service and they kindly helped me to plan that as well.

Jana S.

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The way that they collaborate to create a celebration of a loved one’s life is truly remarkable. They do not miss a detail, and truly take the time to know you and your loved one and honor every wish of the family. What at first felt like an overwhelming and insurmountable task turned into a stress-free and actually enjoyable process thanks to the warmth and professionalism of the staff.

Tina K.

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We just had a Celebraton of Life party for my sister-in-law, Carol at the Hodges Life Celebration Center. Michelle Matuszak really knows how to put together a wonderful send-off!! At the first meeting, she asked all kinds of questions about Carol. She wanted to know favorite colors, songs, hang-out spots - anything and everything she could learn to help make the Celebration very personal.

Victor C.

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Joe Craciun and his staff were the epitome of heartfelt compassion and professionalism! They believe in FAMILY and treated us just like THEIR family. And when they knew they had a Veteran, they went above and beyond in Honoring him. With the utmost respect, they genuinely CARED about our husband/father and they genuinely CARED about us!

Victor C.

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They helped to bring my vision for my mom's celebration of life to a reality in a seamless manner. I was completely overwhelmed with how far above and beyond they went in creating a personalized and fitting day for me, my mom, and our family. My mom would have been overwhelmed with this tribute to what she meant to us. My mom's favorite color was purple, and the team at Dorsey - E. Earl Smith Funeral Home ensured that it featured prominently throughout. The table displays were beautifully arranged and beautifully represented the life of my beautiful mom.

Sue S.

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Brandy helped us make selections, coordinated our services, and helped with numerous tasks such as helping to write the obituary and implementing special requests. Our family member was a lifelong Dallas Cowboys fan. Brandy arranged to paint the vault the right color of blue and put a silver star on the lid. That brought smiles to all the faces of family and friends. Though we didn’t request it, I also noticed she used cowboy colors on the table to display photos.

Deborah L.

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Rick is the best. When my family met with Rick to plan my fathers funeral he was kind and patient with the perfect amount of levity. He told us he likes to spend a little extra time at the gravesite so loved ones can write on the casket. I had never heard of such a thing but we trusted him and did it. Best decision ever! Everyone wrote something on the casket with silver or gold paint pens. Some were heartfelt and others funny. He then takes pictures of all the sayings and provides the pics to the family.

Wendy B.

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They helped us throughout the entire process: from explaining the different options we had for placing the urn, giving us a tour of the Cemetery and showing us where the urn could be placed (above or under ground), showing us the various menu options for a repast, options for decorating the room where the Memorial Service was held (optional). The entire staff went above and beyond and made sure that all our needs were met.

Reina G.

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Plan a beautiful, personal remembrance

Particular passions, milestone moments and legacies created weave together to tell a unique story. The Insider’s Guide to Funeral & Cremation Planning will walk you through inspirational ideas and the simple steps to planning a very personal celebration. Fill out the form and a planning advisor will contact you to answer your questions and provide a customized estimate for final expenses.

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