It’s Not Too Late to Celebrate Your Loved One’s Life

• Minimal funeral service with a maximum of 10 people, resulting in some family and friends being denied the closure of the service.
• Bans on physical contact at funeral services, denying each other the comfort of hugs and a warm embrace.
• Choosing direct cremation or direct burial without a funeral service.
• Holding virtual services where the majority of loved ones had to log on online, sometimes from their car in the parking lot.
• Choosing to delay a service out of respect for loved ones who were high risk for Covid-19.

If 2020 barred you and your family from being able to gather to grieve and celebrate the life of the person you lost, it isn’t too late for a do-over.

We are here to take care of you, your family, and your loved one’s wishes to honor their memory in the way that you had originally intended.

From elaborate services and celebrations to small, intimate ceremonies, we are honored to be a family’s choice for celebrating their loved one’s memory. When it comes to planning, there is very little we won’t do (permitted it’s within the law!) to create the Celebration of Life that you desire.

Some of our most memorable Life Celebrations include:

• For someone with a deep love for Hawaii, loved ones wore Hawaiian shirts and received floral leis at a Celebration of Life in his memory.
• For someone who treasured history and requested a funeral that hearkened back to simpler times, a funeral procession with a horse-drawn hearse carrying a simple pine casket.
• For an artist, their original artwork was displayed on our chapel walls and tables throughout the funeral home; walking in felt like an art gallery dedicated to their work.• For a military veteran and advocate for historic preservation, a flag-draped casket was pulled by a horse-drawn hearse and traveled past his historic home before going to the cemetery.

We are ready to make your memorial service as unique and special as these were to the families who experienced them.

Dan frequently reminds our families that that the funeral is not for the deceased – it is for those left behind, including, and especially, you. We also believe in the importance of gathering as a family—whether related by blood or bonds—to experience the comfort of shared mourning and celebrating the life of the one you’ve all lost.

Sharing memories, learning new stories, and coming together as a group of people who loved the person you’re grieving can be exceptionally healing and is a beautiful way to extend your loved one’s impact and legacy.

Don’t let this opportunity pass you by – reach out to schedule a Celebration of Life on your own terms, honor your loved one in the most special way possible, and ensure everyone who wants to participate can do so, in person.

Call us at (224) 252-5323 today for assistance with scheduling your Celebration of Life arrangements. We are eager to walk alongside you to plan the unique funeral service that your family deserves.

But wait, there’s more! And, if you book with us by September 1, we will also provide a memorial tree in honor of your loved one—no cost to you at all. You just choose where you want it planted.

You will have a choice of more than 50 varieties of trees, all of which are 4-8 feet tall and come with a guarantee from our expert partner, Platt Hill Nursery in Carpentersville.

A Celebration of Life will only take a few hours, but your complimentary memorial tree can provide a living tribute to your loved one for a lifetime.

If you have any questions at all, please do not hesitate to call us at (224) 252-5323. We are happy to address any questions or concerns you may have. We would be honored to serve your family.

Daniel and Joy Symonds

Owners, Symonds-Madison Funeral Home