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Alpha Phi Omega (APO) national service fraternity is one of the largest collegiate fraternal organizations with over 500,000 initiated members. APO has very strong affinity with its alumni, but knew they could do more to harness it and to increase alumni engagement. This was especially important as they headed into a capital campaign for their Centennial. APO partnered with LifeWeb 360, a community engagement platform honoring members who have passed, to engage alumni in a meaningful and authentic way—helping brothers feel connected to something bigger than themselves or their collegiate chapter.
You’ve decided to host a celebration of life event—now what? The first step to planning a celebration of life is to decide what type of event is right for you, your loved one, and their community.
Celebration of life events come in all shapes and sizes. There is no “one way” to host one. We’ve gathered together some popular event ideas to inspire you and to help you decide what event would be perfect for celebrating your person.
7 tips for planning an authentic memorial event.
There is no “right” way to celebrate the special people who have impacted your life—memorial events come in all shapes and sizes!
When planning a celebration of life, funeral, or any other memorial event, remember to focus on what feels right for your loved one, you, and your community. Ask yourself, “What would my person want?”. Make that your guiding light and you’ll be sure to plan an authentic celebration that feels like your loved one.
Here are a few more tips to help you plan a memorial event as unique and memorable as your loved one.
In the spirit of International Joke Day, we’re sharing a few LifeWeb memories from our community that celebrate the fun side of their loved ones
If you lost a loved one due to COVID-19 in the US, you may be eligible for up to $9,000 in reimbursement for their funeral expenses via a new program from FEMA. Find answers on the Funeral Assistance Program, including who’s eligible and how to apply.
Before spending nearly 50 years together, raising two children and making a huge move from their home state of New York to Arizona, 19 year old Gale met Ed on a blind date - sort of. She was fixed up with his best friend but when they went to the fraternity party they were all attending Ed caught her attention and, before she knew it, the best friend was forgotten and she fell under Ed’s spell. She was drawn to his big beautiful eyes, smile and warmth.
An avid reader of science fiction and fantasy herself, Jan fostered a love of reading in all her children. Every night all 5 kids would be on Jan’s bed as she read them a chapter of The Hobbit and later, the Lord of the Rings.
During the day, she would teach them horseback riding, another one of her fervent passions. Julia, her daughter, remembered how as an overconfident girl she would jump her Shetland pony over everything, resulting in many painful accidents. However, Jan would not let these incidents hinder Julia from getting back on.
In high school, Rachele Louis used to skip lunch to draw.
A self-proclaimed introvert, Rachele has loved tinkering her whole life. Growing up with two immigrant parents from Haiti changed how she understood and looked for things. As a child, Rachele created her own toys out of paper, making an assortment of objects from 3D boxes to catapults.
This passion for making designs led Rachele to a career in architecture, and a daring move to California from her hometown of New York City.
As a Black woman and founder of a company that deals with death everyday, I’ve come to see just how grief hits different when it’s a life that has been taken prematurely. And in the particular cases of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, Atatiana Jefferson, and too many others, it hits even harder for a life robbed in a pervasively disgraceful standard affair.
The more we remember all the ways George was a human, the stronger we keep his memory alive towards change.
As COVID-19 continues to disrupt daily life, some ideas on how you can strengthen connections during social distancing. Even though our norms surrounding grief have been upended, we still have ways to support and connect with the people in our lives.
Above all, remember that “social distancing” means practicing physical distancing, but not giving up our social connections. Let’s navigate this new life together.
Given social distancing and the isolation that can come with it, being there for the people in your life that have lost someone close to them is more important than ever. Fortunately, how we support those grieving in our life has not changed so much - it's still about showing up for them, being an empathetic listener, and loving big. For you and anyone in your life that has lost someone during this period of social distancing, a few ideas.
If you’d like to host a virtual wake / funeral reception / Shiva for your loved one, you can use this step-by-step guide to make it a success. A virtual wake is a time for people who can’t all come together in person to come together all the same to celebrate the life of their loved one and support each other in grief. Friends and family can share stories, songs, and photos, just like they would at an in-person wake. COVID-19 can’t stop love.