Other Ways to Use Funeral Flowers
Giving flowers at a funeral is a tradition that can be traced back to 14,000 years ago. The use of funeral flowers is something that many families choose to take part in, as a way to both remember their loved one and decorate the room where the funeral will be held. Not to mention, those close to the family of the deceased have a custom of sending flowers regardless as a way to express their sincere condolences and sympathy.
While the flowers are well received by families, many people don’t know what to do with funeral flowers after the service. Our funeral specialists know a few meaningful ways families can “repurpose” the funeral flowers and floral arrangements after the service instead of throwing them away. Keep reading to learn what to do with your loved one’s funeral flowers.
Donate Them
Usually, family members choose a few floral arrangements to take home and display them, mainly if a memorial service or a gathering follows the funeral at home. But, this is merely moving the flowers from point A to B, families still have to find ways to use the flowers after the service.
Consider brightening someone else’s day and donating the flowers. Funeral flowers can find another home with friends, relatives, or co-workers. You can also choose to give them to a church, retirement home, or a hospice facility.
If you choose to donate funeral flowers to hospice or other caregiving facilities, there are a few things to take in consideration. Remember these are meant to be funeral flowers, the last thing you’ll want is someone receive a note saying, “I’m sorry for your loss.” Take the time to take off all the cards, ribbons, and any other indication that express the flowers’ first intentions.
Second of all, consider the setting of flowers. While a floral wreath or green plants can easily be donated to anyone, some are not. For example, a floral arrangement of a standing Christian cross or a breast-cancer ribbon-shaped floral arrangement might seem out of place in certain facilities. Keep this in mind as you choose where to donate your flowers.
It’s okay to feel overwhelmed after planning the funeral and taking care of all the arrangements. Having to think about what to do with the funeral flowers can be just as exhausting. Reach out for help with friends and family members, or ask the funeral director if they could possibly assist with the life of the flowers once the funeral service is over.
Remember Family Members
Another meaningful way to use funeral flowers is using them to remember other family members. Leave some flowers on their gravesite, columbarium niche, or resting place. Families tend to have the same local cemetery, so you can easily move the flowers from the funeral service to their resting site. Honor their memory by bringing a beautiful floral arrangement that would otherwise be unused and discarded.
Another meaningful way to repurpose them is asking the funeral director if the flowers can be used for someone else’s funeral service. Most families find it surprising that this is a common practice that adds a bit of light to those grieving the loss of a loved one – especially funeral or memorial services that don’t receive many flowers.
Preserve Them
Choose to create a memorial keepsake with the funeral flowers. Using the petals or even the whole bouquets, you can craft a beautiful memorial keepsake in honor of your loved one. This is an excellent opportunity to ask the family to come in and participate, including the children, as you all can join forces to make these keepsakes tell stories about your loved one, and start processing the grief of losing them. Crafting can be a powerful healing and bonding experience for everyone.
The easiest way to preserve flowers petals is by placing them between two sheets of paper and pressing them, people often choose a book to do this. With the dried flowers, you can turn them into holiday ornaments, candles, potpourri, or even as a decoration for memorial journals. Consider adding some of these flowers to the funeral book to have an even more personalized keepsake.
Giving funeral flowers another life is a beautiful way to pay tribute to your loved one. It’s certainly a better way of using them than discarding them. Always check in with the funeral director and funeral counselors at The Gardens of Boca Raton for ideas and options if you’re planning on receiving funeral flowers for your loved one’s service.
