FUNERAL CEREMONIES
What does a good funeral ceremony look like?
Above all, it is personal. It should align with what the deceased wished for, but it should also help the bereaved – it is mainly for them. That is why it is good when they take part in the ceremony. We organize our funerals so that the bereaved are a part of them, not just passive participants.
A good funeral ceremony should also be dignified. It should have a firm structure and script, but it should also respond to the needs of the bereaved. Therefore, it can begin slowly and sorrowfully, but it can end cheerfully as a celebration of life.
Where should such a funeral ceremony be held?
In a place that allows us to grieve safely, while not plunging us into depression. The place should be uplifting, or at least pleasant. We hold funerals in historic villas, churches, lounges, galleries, ceremonial halls, cafés, and similar venues. For outdoor funerals, we choose gardens, parks, historical monuments, river confluences, weirs, forests, and meadows… Here are some nice examples of places for a good funeral.
What do we do at a good funeral?
We draw the bereaved into the events and give them space to say what was left unsaid, we perform a final service for the deceased, or we simply create a place where they can return to remember. We are in constant contact with the bereaved and help them plan the funeral step by step. We strive to make each ceremony unique and help the bereaved with what they need help with. Therefore, we only offer inspiration here on what we do at funerals and why it helps.
We play songs, or have them played
Music has accompanied ceremonies since time immemorial. Many songs remind us of happy and sad moments, awakening memories. We leave the choice of songs entirely in the hands of the family. We have no repertoire of songs, no set sequence, nor an exact number; it always depends on what the family specifically wants to do at the ceremony. However, we can advise on which song fits where.
How does this help us? Music helps us calm down and truly "be in the present." Putting together a playlist is a simple yet very absorbing therapeutic activity: what did the deceased like? What do we like? And what did we enjoy listening to together? By carefully selecting songs, we remember the deceased, honor them, and learn a lot about ourselves as well.
We write and deliver the funeral speech
We work closely with the family on the main speech: we sit down with them for an hour or two, listen as they talk about the deceased, ask questions, and learn more. Afterward, we write the speech, and the family can make further adjustments. A funeral speech should celebrate the life of the deceased but also offer relief – that our loved one lived here, that their presence influenced the world around them, and that their work can continue even without them.
How does this help us? It is a unique opportunity to open up to someone who did not know the deceased, meaning no stories are "worn out." Moreover, it takes away the "stress" of writing and speaking in front of people. Sitting down, having a coffee with us, and talking turns out to be a very pleasant way to spend time that aids in the grieving process.
We give the bereaved space to speak
Perhaps one of the guests has something prepared or written down and would like to say it out loud. These could be stories from friends, tales from youth, or sometimes just a simple "thank you" that they want to share with everyone at the funeral, but rarely find a suitable opportunity for. We give them the space to say it out loud – but we never force anyone into it.
How does this help us? If there is no reception or similar gathering after the funeral, the family often misses out on hearing wonderful stories and memories that guests would love to share with them. And sometimes it is simply nice to hear that we are not alone in our grief and that others loved our deceased as well.
Fire will carry our messages
There is always something we did not say to the person who passed away. Or could not, or did not want to. We will bring pads, pens, and paper. Then we light a fire and hand the messages over to the flames one by one. No one else will ever see them. We burn the messages in our ceremonial vessel, so we can be anywhere that is at least a little bit outdoors: a porch, a garden...
How does this help us? Fire is an ancient symbol of death, but also of purification. It gives us warmth and light, protects us from the darkness, but at the same time it can burn and hurt—just like love. When the fire consumes the messages, everyone can write with a clear conscience what they would truly say only and exclusively to the departed.
Water passes on our messages on small paper boats
We don't always have time to say everything while someone is still alive. We can send our messages to the departed across the water on special, soluble paper. We fold paper boats and set them on the river, or let them dissolve in our vessel. And then we just watch the words blur, along with a tiny drop of our grief. Water will deliver our messages.
How does this help us? Water symbolizes purification, and the river represents the flow of time. It washes away sins and wrongs, and without water, there would be no life. Especially if our loved one had a special relationship with water, what better way to send them our final messages?
The wind passes on our messages via balloons
In many traditions, souls go to heaven: whether you believe in this or not, watching your messages rise to the sky on balloons can be very healing. And not just for you—it is also great for children, so they don't carry away trauma from the funeral.
How does this help us? Writing a final message to the departed and watching it rise to the sky is a beautiful metaphor for passing on that even children can understand. Simply the fact that children draw a picture for the departed on a balloon and then have to let it go is an important lesson about death.
A minute of silence by candlelight
Holding a minute of silence for the departed is an expression of respect. It allows us to quiet down for a moment and sink into our own thoughts. We connect this with lighting a candle—everyone receives one and lights it from the main candle (in church from the paschal candle). Then we hold it in our palms. We dim the lights and turn off the music so we can truly take a breath for a moment. Finally, we can bring them forward one by one and place them by the coffin or urn.
How does this help us? In the constant stress and hustle, we often forget that emotions need to be felt. And not feared. The first step through grief is allowing yourself to feel it at all. So while the candles melt in our palms, they provide a bit of warmth and occasionally sting—just like memories that sometimes soothe us and other times prick.
Planting a tree or a memorial garden
A tree and plants in general symbolize the cycle of life, which is endless. If we keep the ashes of the departed at home, extended family and friends often lose the opportunity to visit a place to remember them. Through a tree or a garden, we give the ashes of the loved one a new meaning and return them to nature from where they came.
How does this help us? Watching a tree grow and change through the seasons helps us better grasp the cycle of life and cope with death. Moreover, all surviving family members can pitch in and care for the tree or garden over the coming years, which gives us a reason to return to the departed in our memories.
Scattering ashes into a river
Water symbolizes the purification of the soul and freedom, and the river represents the flow of life. The water will carry our loved one away and wash away part of our grief. We can add flower petals or a small floral wreath that will float along with them. Or some prefer to place the ashes into small boats that gradually drift away until they completely dissolve (and are eco-friendly). We always arrange the permit for the scattering.
How does this help us? The flowing of water reminds us of the passage of time, which brings us healing peace. The slow drifting away symbolizes the departure of our loved one.
Scattering ashes into the sky via a balloon
Not only the soul can go to heaven—ashes can be scattered there, too. Along with the ashes, we fill a balloon with helium and release it. The balloon then bursts at an altitude of about 9 kilometers and scatters the ashes of our loved one into the sky. As the balloon rises and moves out of sight, we can better realize that while the departed has left us, they are heading toward the light and will never truly leave us because they will be all around us.
How does this help us? It is a simple yet beautiful metaphor for departing into eternity that even children can understand.
Placing the urn in a cemetery or in nature
Perhaps you have the urn with the ashes of your loved one, but haven't yet dared to place it outside the home. Or perhaps you held a ceremony and took the urn home. If the time has come when you want to "release" the departed, we can place the urn together into a columbarium or grave. Or even by a tree in a woodland cemetery.
How does this help us? We release the departed into "their world" and unburden our own souls. We will know that our loved one has found their permanent place, no matter what happens to us, and people will have a place to visit and remember them.
Placing the coffin in a grave at the cemetery
If you wish to place the departed into a grave in a coffin, we can help you arrange everything and combine it with a memorial ceremony. We can add final gifts for the departed into the coffin. And we can place a box with messages from the surviving family members on top of the coffin so they can be with the departed "forever".
How does this help us? Saying goodbye directly to the body of the deceased gives us a unique opportunity to truly realize that they are gone. We believe that once adults have come to terms with this, children can also handle seeing the deceased and will not develop a fear of death.
Painting messages on the urn or coffin
Since time immemorial, people have given art to their deceased loved ones: statues, jewelry, musical instruments... Today, the easiest way to give something to the deceased so that it stays with them is to paint or write it directly on their urn or coffin. These can be personal messages or perhaps drawings by children.
How does this help us? We will have the peace of mind knowing that our messages and “gifts” truly remain with the deceased. For children, it is also a comforting activity they can easily take part in – unlike us adults, who often experience the whole funeral planning process as very detached.
Butterfly release
The butterfly symbolizes transformation, a change from one form of existence to another. In other cultures, it is also a symbol of the soul or love. However, to ensure we do not harm them, the temperature must be at least 21°C. We can release them together during the funeral service or even at the wake.
How does this help us? The departure of our loved one can be both a beautiful and fragile moment, and we can symbolically release their soul “on the wings of butterflies.”
Lantern release
We are reminded that even in the darkest night, the light of hope shines. Symbolically, we can send messages to the deceased into the sky via lanterns and watch them fly away. During this ceremony, however, it is important to remember that we can only release lanterns in calm weather, away from residential areas and airports. In bad weather, we therefore think of an alternative ceremony, such as balloons instead of lanterns.
How does this help us? The belief that the soul departs for the heavens is not shared by believers alone. Therefore, this ceremony is a lovely alternative for all family members. The light of the lanterns helps guide not only our deceased loved one, but us as well.
Ash fireworks
A funeral can and should also be a celebration of life. Fireworks are a symbol of new beginnings (like the New Year), but originally they served to drive away evil spirits. We can customize fireworks to carry the ashes of the deceased and scatter them across the sky. And it doesn't necessarily have to be at night – we can also arrange them to be visible during the day.
How does this help us? Scattering ashes through fireworks is definitely not something you see every day. Perhaps your loved one was so unique and optimistic that you cannot imagine them wanting a sad, quiet funeral. This gives them one last chance to truly surprise you.
Church funeral
Funerals have been held in churches for at least several thousand years. Therefore, a church is a fitting place for a funeral even for those who are not particularly religious: it is an uplifting place that transcends us.
We know how to communicate with clergy and connect the sacred part of the ceremony with our secular part in a way that unites families, generations, and cultures.
In a church, of course, the ceremony can feature not only a coffin but also an urn, and in most cases, recorded music chosen by the deceased (or the survivors) can be played.
In a church, we can support not only the soul of the deceased (through prayer), but also our own souls: we can speak to the deceased, pass on messages to them, and do other things that bring healing.
Scattering ashes into the sea
Many of us wish to have our ashes scattered into the sea. We can arrange this simply, pleasantly, and legally. We can be by the sea with you and perform our signature ceremony there, or we can arrange a proper nautical funeral. We can rent a yacht and turn it into a wonderful trip, or it can be a tiny, delicate ceremony of scattering. Or how about flying to the sea in the morning by small plane and returning by evening?
How does this help us?
Even the journey to the sea symbolizes a path, the end of something old and the beginning of something new. And the sea? It symbolizes both death and infinity – and with that, blending and reconciliation.
Scattering ashes via rocket or airplane
Sometimes it makes the most sense to say goodbye where a person loved being the most – in the air. We have already escorted more than one pilot or model aircraft enthusiast this way. And scattering via rocket? That is not just for fans of the movie Good Bye, Lenin!, but for anyone who wants to depart a little differently.
Scattering ashes from a rocket or airplane sounds unusual, but we can make it dignified, safe, and legal.
How does this help us?
There is powerful symbolism in it: our loved one “disappears into the wind,” and then slowly and quietly merges with the forest or blooming meadow where the ashes fall.
The Taste of Memories: Custom Cream Puffs
Did your loved one enjoy a good cup of coffee? Did they love fine salmon? Did they start every morning with yogurt and fruit? Taste and aroma carry memories we often aren't even aware of, yet they take us straight to that exact moment. Perhaps enjoying an Aperol Spritz on the beach with the deceased.
We make custom-flavored mini cream puffs based on what the deceased loved to eat or drink, or based on your favorite memory together. We have partnered with Věnečky Janeček.
It's a small yet thoughtful detail that makes the funeral feel that much more personal.
Food has always been important to humanity, and we often associate it with specific people or memories. When we recall them, it becomes easier to realize that they are now in the past and that we must say goodbye—but for that brief moment, we are warmed by the very fact that they were here. After all, we cannot fool our senses: taste and aroma transport us to the place and moment we associate with them. Preparing for a funeral and thinking about the tastes and aromas that remind us of the deceased helps us better process their departure. And that is an important first step on the path toward healing.
A funeral as a walk
Why does walking help us come to terms with death?
Walking: Walking supports both physical and mental health. Above all, however, it is a symbol of life's journey. It reminds us that we manage all changes better when we take them step by step. And conversations flow much more naturally while walking than sitting at a table.
Nature: Spending time in nature reduces stress and fatigue while improving mood.
Socializing: A shared journey or common destination strengthens a sense of community with fellow travelers. It can help improve family relationships or even give rise to a supportive group.
Focus: Nature allows us to refocus—sometimes it's enough just to listen to birdsong or the rustling wind and clear our minds. At the same time, a slow walk lets us tune into what is happening inside us and accept it more easily.
Memories: A walk allows us to bring long-forgotten memories to light. We know that sounds and scents trigger our memories much better than storytelling.
Penance: Pilgrimages have long served as a way to seek atonement for sins. In the past, they were prescribed by priests, and later undertaken by believers of their own accord.
Spirituality: In European history, as well as in fairy tales, a pilgrimage is part of a rite of passage. It helps us navigate through change.
The Cycle of Life: The changing seasons and constant transformation remind us of the inevitability of death, but also that a traveler's current state is only temporary. The sun will rise again—at least, it always has so far.
Would you like to see what it looks like?
Watch Fokus Václava Moravce (Czech Television). It was some time ago, but we filmed with them about everything that can be done during a ceremony to help bring comfort. We also discussed why and how we do it.
Not sure? Call us at 775 856 857, or send an SMS or message on WhatsApp.
We'll figure something out together.
HOW DOES A FUNERAL CEREMONY HELP?
DO FUNERAL RITUALS AND CEREMONIES HELP THE BEREAVED?
It helps in parting with the deceased
We need to realize that our beloved departed is now in a better place, wherever that may be. A funeral ceremony helps us achieve this: an unforgettable experience that we share together, with a powerful narrative that we become a part of.
It brings beauty and a celebration of life
A funeral is sad, but it can also be uplifting. A funeral ceremony helps us accept death and say goodbye to our loved one, but we believe their life deserves to be celebrated. Traditional ceremony halls are cold and gloomy, whereas our ceremonies are warm and full of love.
Helping find a new place in life
A funeral is also a ritual of acceptance: it helps us accept the new reality and begin building new relationships and bonds with family and friends. Much like a shared meal or a celebration. And a proper funeral should also conclude with a gathering over food and drink.