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FROM THE EDITOR: June/July 2006 |
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Written by Anja Sonnenberg
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Attending a funeral is an inevitable occasion that we must all face at
some point in our lives; and it seems that the older we get, the more
experience we gain with these somber events. Shifting trends in how we
say good-bye have led to some confusion about traditional customs and
funeral etiquette, but despite changing funeral practices, flowers
still play an important role on how we commemorate the death of a loved
one.
Attending a funeral is an inevitable occasion that we must all face at some point in our lives; and it seems that the older we get, the more experience we gain with these somber events. Shifting trends in how we say good-bye have led to some confusion about traditional customs and funeral etiquette, but despite changing funeral practices, flowers still play an important role on how we commemorate the death of a loved one. Nothing is more appropriate than the age-old tradition of sending flowers to express your sympathy.
Flowers have traditionally been sent to the funeral home for display during the visitation and service, but if no service is held, it doesn’t mean that flowers shouldn’t be sent to the family. Canadians are moving away from traditional funerals and instead they are choosing alternative ways to remember their loved ones. This shift in the funeral industry has been fueled by religious diminishing restrictions, ties to ethnic cultures weakening, environmental considerations becoming more important, and the acceptance of cremation.
According to the Cremation Association of North America (CANA), cremation is being chosen for one out of every four deaths occurring today. These figures project that by the year 2010, the level of cremation will be two out of every five deaths, with urban areas higher than rural. The CANA reports that major factors influencing the increasing popularity in cremation are increasing life expectancy, regional differences diminishing, origins of immigrants changing, education levels rising, environmental considerations becoming more important, and an economical alternative to traditional funeral practices.
So how do changes to the funeral business affect you? Despite the changing trends, most families still want flowers to be part of their grieving process. If they chose not to have a traditional service, there are still opportunities where your can serve them. Urns and cremation boxes can be accentuated with floral tributes such as a small wreath or garland. If there is a ceremony to scatter ashes, sympathy wreaths, loose flowers, and flower petals can be incorporated into the tribute.
Remember that the shift away from traditional visitations and services is also affecting what customers are asking for when they decide on the appropriate funeral arrangements. Flowers are being designed to capture the spirit and aura of the person’s life. Most families want arrangements that celebrate their loved one’s life. Personalized arrangements that include mementos such as toys, jewelry, books, gardening tools, and golf clubs are becoming the norm when it comes to funeral tributes.
However the family decides to say good-bye, they will look to you for advice and inspiration when choosing arrangements. By offering them patience, compassion, and beautiful flowers, you’ll be able to create the perfect funeral tribute for their loved ones.
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