Saying goodbye to a loved one in any way is hard and since there are a lot of emotions, it can be impossible to remember what others have said or even recognize their presence. Sadly enough, many families aren’t able to get together outside of weddings and memorial services.

When families have funerals, there are often receptions afterwards. While cremation services in Chicago, IL can have different styles to them, it’s also very popular to have a reception of some sort after a memorial service. Saying goodbye to a loved one in any way is hard and since there are a lot of emotions, it can be impossible to remember what others have said or even recognize their presence. Sadly enough, many families aren’t able to get together outside of weddings and memorial services. And when someone in their ranks has passed on, it’s important for them to spend time together. Once the memorial service is over, having a reception is a nice idea.

Family members are often preoccupied with the service itself and their grief, outside of that, it’s often nice for someone else to offer to host the reception. If you are a family friend, part of a church they belong to, or are connected to the family in another way, you might step up and make the offer. Families are often relieved to have someone else taking charge of the situation.

You will want to know about how many people will attend so you can prepare. If the family is having a small memorial with just family and friends, that’s a different story than a reception that is going to be open to anyone in the public who happens to attend the memorial services. You don’t want to run out of food or have way too much, either.

It’s okay to keep things simple. You don’t have to host an elaborate reception with a three-course meal and decorations. The family will appreciate even something like cold meat sandwiches, some chips, and dessert. It’s just a nice time for them to gather and spend more time together in a different setting. They can catch up, talk about memories, and just be together. It’s hard for close family members to remember to eat when they are grieving, and this reminder is good for them. They need to keep their bodies strong in the midst of everything else.

Hosting the reception doesn’t have to be hard when you enlist the right kind of help. Get a few other people to help serve, make salads, or participate in other ways and you can pull it off beautifully and really support the family in need at this time.

If you notice there are cremation services in Chicago, IL and you are a family friend or connected in another way, offer to host the reception to take that burden from the family. You can get details and ideas from the professionals at Chicagoland Cremation Options by calling (773) 631-0018. We’re here to help with cremation services, but we also want to support the families in grief and gather support for them from those around them. You can visit with us in person at 9329 Byron St, Schiller Park, IL 60176.