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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 1, 2018)
PAID ADVERTISEMENT Celebration and Remembrance Create Meaningful Celebrations of Life to Remember MEMORIAL VENUES, OFFICIANTS, CATERING, FLOWERS, WELL-BEING & SELF CARE “One characteristic that makes us human is awareness of our mortality. It would seem that death has much to teach us. It touches every one of us in a number of different ways: we all will die and most of us will be mourners. Living in community, we will all have opportunities to receive and offer help at times of loss. When we brush up against death, we are reminded to value the gift of life. Awareness of death can enrich our daily lives by binding us closer to each other and to the continuum of our ancient past and unknown future…” T reasure e ach D ay : T he c hevra K aDisha , T emple B eTh i srael , e ugene , O regOn . Celebrations Of Life For as long as we’ve been recording our lives, rituals at the ends of them have played a part. With the advent of cremation, immediate services are no longer required, and with the scattering of family far and wide, the timing between the death and the gathering can stretch to serve convenience over necessity. Gatherings with the body present are called “funerals”, while “memorials” are usually held after the cremation or burial is complete. Funerals can be held at the home, the church or the funeral facility, while memorials or “celebrations of life” can take place in a wider range of venues. “Wakes” can span several days and are held in the home – usually after the death, although some folks enjoy them before – and the body is generally present. No matter the choice, all of these variants honor the deceased and provide comfort to the bereaved, and our community is filled with the people and places to help. WELL-BEING, SPIRITUAL AND SELF-CARE Caring for mind, body and spirit Tools for Peace of Mind in Life and Death 1374 Willamette in Eugene alan@stargateeugene.com “Life is what you celebrate. All of it. Even its end.” Joanne Harris, Chocolat CEREMONY OFFICIANTS Everyone’s death is unique. Historically, solace and assistance while burying our dead has been the province of religious and spiritual groups. Ritual and ceremony – the funeral’s “how-to” manual – has faded over time in increasingly secular societies as people disconnect from formal religion, but death often brings even the non-practicing person back to their spiritual roots, and seeking guidance for a ceremony is natural. Churches and temples can often recommend officiants within their congregations, and many will provide services for non-members, depending upon the circumstances. Funeral directors take on the role when spiritual facilitation is absent, and many funeral directors work directly with the religious group Officiants and Funeral Celebrants are perfect for do-it- yourselfers that may not belong to a congregation but want assistance in crafting a ceremony that honors someone’s memory and brings closure to those that remain. Officiants work directly with individuals and families to plan and conduct personalized Memorial and Celebration of Life services, lending their guidance and perspectives to help deepen the experience for all. Fees vary depending upon the type and length of ceremony, and honaria for services provided by a non- profit are customary. Barb Ryan, Officiant Memorials & Celebrations of Life All beliefs/traditions welcome 541-345-5058 https://tinyurl.com/BarbRyanCel Buddah Eye Zen Community Temple https://www.buddhaeye.org/ The Way is Right Under Your Feet 541-302-4576 Celebrant Institute Locate a Life-Cycle Celebrant in Oregon www.celebrantinstitute.org MEMORIAL VENUES For a more traditional atmosphere, local funeral home chapels and churches are often available, and many will rent out their facilities upon request. Many clubs, hotels, and even theaters have private-party rental rates, with an ambience that can lend itself to a bit more celebration, while Grange and fraternal organization halls (Elks, Oddfellows, VFWs, etc.) can provide that small-town family-friendly vibe. Set up a corner table with photos and memorabilia, order their favorite foods and drinks, compile a great music list, and make sure you’ve set up a microphone for sharing stories, poetry and songs. The Vet’s Club 1626 Willamette Street Eugene, Oregon 967401 541-338-4074 www.vmaeugene.com Wildish Community Theater 630 Main Street Springfield, Oregon 541-868-0689 www.wildishtheater.com Venue 252 252 Lawrence Street Eugene, Oregon 877-901-7128 www.thevenue252.com Cowfish Café & Club 62 W. Broadway 541-683-6319 Dance room, Pool, Bar, and Video Private Parties Welcome www.cowfishclub.com CATERING & CELEBRATION FOOD Catering for a Celebration of Life, whether in home or out, makes sense in the press of a memorial when so many other things may need to get done. Local foods, organic foods, and foods prepared with caring and love can express the health and community oriented values that were lived in life. Co-creating a feast with a professional collaborator who will use your preferred ingredients keeps you in the driver’s seat without having to do all of the work. Buying beer, wine, juice or natural goodies in bulk can save you money, and having it delivered is handy, too. Mac’s Eugene Catering Because the Details Matter! www.MacsEugeneCatering.com 541-344-8600 Red Barn Natural Grocery Celebrate Naturally – in Bulk! BEVERAGE CASE-LOTS – 10% OFF (Special Orders only – 541-342-7503) redbarngrocery@aol.com Eat well ‘til you can’t eat no more” FLOWERS Sympathy flowers provide beauty and comfort, helping to soften a difficult time. While “in lieu of flowers” requests are increasingly common, there are times when flowers offer the perfect touch, especially when they’re chosen with the environment in mind. Unlike their plastic counterparts, real flowers can be composted (and sustainably managed cemeteries compost their grave tributes!) so keep it natural whenever you can. Talk to your florist about biodegradable floral display parts, returnable stands and containers, locally sourced in-season arrangements, live plant tributes, and other ways to minimize the environmental impacts of these special gifts. Rhythm & Blooms Celebration & Sympathy Flowers 541-485-4659 • eugenesfavoriteflorist.com Dandelions Flowers & Gifts Family Owned-541-485-1261 www.dandelionsflowers.com LEGACY AND REMEMBRANCE Memories resonate long after the funeral and celebration of life are complete. Photo albums, DVD compilations and professionally compiled personal history books are some of the ways a life story is told. Household altars and shrines carve out a personal spot for urns, keepsakes, photographs, and personal mementos. Monuments do it in stone – and they don’t have to be in the cemetery, either. Consider a quiet corner of the yard, or even a traveled pathway – burying ashes on personal property is fine, and a sapling tree or shrub planted on the spot will absorb them all over time. Get creative, and enjoy the process of remembering. Backyard Shrines Engraved Basalt Columns Stone Birdbaths Traditional Monuments in North American Stone Call Oak Hill Cemetery • 541-689-7800 Home & Cemetery installation Celebration of Life Videos Memorial DVDs David Ray - 541-953-1851 • lane-media.com Trena Cleland What is your life story? Personalized Legacy Books • www.TrenaCleland.com Where Love is Remembered C emeteries are an unsung community treasure. They’re the perfect green- space – permanently zoned, and already beloved by generations of fami- lies. A growing number of landscape architects and cemetery planners are incorporating natural burial into the designs they create for cemeteries – designs that include planning for natural elements like habitat improve- ment, sustainable land management, and bioremediation – and helping communities to reclaim and repurpose these special historic places. Check out the cemeteries listed on the Natural End Map (www.naturalendmap.com), the Green Burial Council (www. greenburialcouncil.org) and other online guides to natural burial for places all over the country that are bringing life back to the Cemetery. Many people already have a cemetery that they’re attached to, where family members are already buried. Only a decade ago, it was nearly impossible to find a cemetery that offers natural burial (burial in a biodegradable coffin without an outer burial container), but today cemetery boards and management across the country have natural burial on their agendas, and are working hard to figure out how to accommodate this trend. Historic cemeteries already have plenty of natural burials, because that’s how we did it a long time ago. And most active cemeteries – especially rural ones run by fraternal organizations and townships – already permit vault-free natural burials but just don’t advertise it. Sometimes it’s just a matter of contacting your cemetery and letting them know you want it. When cemeteries experience the demand, they change. Check out our listings of local cemeteries that have signed the Natural End Pledge.
