
Funeral Ideas for Nan
Ideas for a loving Funeral for your Grandmother
The loss of a Nan can be pretty devastating as it may feel like you’ve lost the anchor that holds the family together.
Grandmothers liven up our lives, and times spent with them are often marked by laughter, contentment, and love. They are remembered for their abundant hugs, hearty and tasty meals, love for family, and always wanting to spoil their grandchildren. This kind of love and their commitment to family is the reason why their death can leave you feeling lost.
Are you wondering how you can honour the matriarch of your family? Grandmas are known for their quirky behaviour, and you may be struggling to plan the perfect send-off that pays tribute to who she was. Below are some funeral ideas for Nan to help you plan a fitting funeral for the woman who meant a lot to so many:
Ideas for the Funeral Service
Create a Family Video
Many people often create slideshows to play at a loved one’s funeral service, and you can do the same for your Nan. Look for photos from all stages of her life and put them together with tunes that they enjoyed. If you have videos of her, include them too. You can also add interviews from close friends and family members sharing their memories of the deceased. You can play the video at the funeral service and also share it with others.
Decorate the Casket with Their Favourite Flowers
Flowers have long been established to make a perfect tribute for the deceased. One of the ways you can personalise the funeral is to buy your Nan’s favourite flowers. You can incorporate them on and around the casket and in the decorations. Ask every close family member to take a bloom in memory of Grandma.
Create a Memory Tree
Bring a large tree branch to the service and distribute small note cards where guests can write a special memory of the deceased. Decorate the tree branch with these memory cards. If your grandma has a partner who’s still alive, you can give them the tree branch after the service. If not, take photos of each memory and consider adding them to your Nan’s, family, or your social media pages for future reference.
Put Together a Family Tree
Another beautiful way to pay tribute to your grandma is to put together a family tree that shows the significant position she filled in your lives while she was alive. New online databases and DNA testing have made it easier to research your ancestry and even provide geographical details of lost extended family members. You can also ask the rest of the family to participate in this project by contributing names, photos, dates, and stories of family members they know of and watch the family tree grow.
Include Grandkids in the Funeral
For a Nan who had a large family, it’s great to see their legacy during the funeral service. Give every grandchild the deceased’s favourite flower to wear or you can have them participate in the funeral by sharing a spiritual reading or poem in unison.
How to include grandkids in a funeral
Find Their Favourite Songs
Music is a form of therapy as it can evoke so many memories and emotions. Therefore, you shouldn’t overlook its usefulness for a funeral service. But with so many songs to choose from, it can be challenging to find the right music to play at your grandmother’s funeral. An excellent place to start is their favourite tunes. You can also include songs that held significance in their life like their wedding song or those that reflect their personality. Before adding any music to the playlist, listen to it and read over the lyrics to ensure it is wholly appropriate for the occasion.
Share Your Nan’s Talents
Was your grandmother known for the cookies she baked or salsa she canned? Consider serving it at her funeral. Perhaps she spent a lot of her time sewing, and there may be enough scarves for every family member. Why not distribute some of her wears to close family members to wear to the funeral service.
Hold the Funeral at a Non-Traditional Venue
A lot of funerals for grandmas are usually held at a church or funeral home. While this is a safe venue to go with, you don’t have to do it. Think about your grandma’s style and personality and find a befitting place that represents who she was. Some unconventional locations to hold your Nan’s funeral include a national park, a local biker bar or casino, etc.
Food Ideas
The same concept applies when choosing what to serve at your grandmother’s funeral. Include her favourite dishes into the menu, or you can gather together at her favourite restaurant and have a meal after the funeral.
Eulogy for Grandmother
A eulogy is simply a short speech people give at a funeral. It provides those in attendance with stories and memories that made the deceased special. Writing and reading a eulogy at your Nan’s funeral will hopefully give some closure to her death. The best eulogy is written from the heart, but with the passing of a loved one being a difficult time, it’s natural to be unsure how to structure her life, experiences, truths, and values, all in a short text. Feel free to read sample eulogies for grandma online for guidance.
Ideas that Help
While this text is comprehensive, it’s not exhaustive as there are many more funeral ideas for Nan. Just as every individual is unique, so should their funeral service be. Be sure to enlist the help of friends and family members; someone else may have the perfect idea to honour your unique grandma. Try to think outside the box when planning a funeral for your grandma, and whatever you do, ensure your tribute is as special as your grandma was.
