While people don’t necessarily expect a gift when attending a celebration of life service, some families offer a memento to their guests. Of course, every family has its reason for providing a small gift. However, most would say they want others to think about their deceased loved one every time they see or use the item.
Jump ahead to these sections:
- What Can You Include on a Celebration of Life Bookmark?
- Celebration of Life Bookmark Design Ideas
- Messages or Quotes to Include on a Celebration of Life Bookmark
- Where Can You Purchase or Order a Custom Celebration of Life Bookmark?
The small gift varies, depending on the personality and interests of the deceased. For example, if the deceased enjoyed gardening, the family might pass out a packet of flower seeds. On the other hand, if the family member was known for their baking skills, you might pass out a recipe.
And if your loved one enjoyed reading, you might want to offer specially designed bookmarks for the attendees.
Here are some thoughts on making that happen.
What Can You Include on a Celebration of Life Bookmark?
You may balk at the idea of celebration of life “party favors.” If that phrase doesn’t seem appropriate, you might want to describe a small gift as a remembrance gift or memorial item. Here are things to consider when designing or purchasing the bookmark.
1. Photo of your loved one
Some people choose to place a photo of their loved ones on the memorial bookmark. Do you have a picture of your family member reading or writing? Or maybe one in a famous library or bookstore?
2. Name, birth date, and death date of the deceased
You’ll probably want to include their name, birth date, and death date on the memorial item. This will help others keep track of the death date – so they will remember when your family might need extra support.
3. Memorial phrase
Many online bookmark retailers use memorial phrases like “Always in Our Hearts” or “In Loving Memory.”
4. Signature
If you are looking for a unique design element for the celebration of life bookmark, you might consider using your loved one’s signature.
5. Text
We’ll take a deep dive into the writing you might want to include on your celebration of life bookmark in one of the following sections.
6. Bookmark tassel
Whether you choose the color based on your loved one’s favorite hue or select a color that matches the design is up to you.
Celebration of Life Bookmark Design Ideas
There’s a lot that goes into designing even such a small item. Consider using the following resources if you don’t have any experience with fonts, images, and other design elements.
Most people design memorial items so that they would have suited the preferences of the deceased.
7. Use a template
Search online for a memorial bookmark template. Some may be available for free. However, some companies charge for the download, which allows you to customize and print it independently. This is an excellent option if you decide to complete this task at the last minute.
8. Ask the artist or graphic designer in your family
Get others in the family involved in the project by asking them to contribute to the art or design of the bookmark.
9. Order a metal bookmark
If price is not a concern, you may consider ordering a metal bookmark/a>. These can be etched with your loved one’s name or a favorite quote.
10. Add a charm to the bookmark’s tassel
Consider adding a charm at the end of the bookmark tassel to make the bookmark even more personalized.
11. Hire an online or local artist
Consider hiring an artist to handle the design if you want a customized piece.
12. Design your own bookmark online
The easiest and least expensive way to design a celebration of life bookmark is to use a printing website similar to the one you would use to print holiday cards.
Messages or Quotes to Include on a Celebration of Life Bookmark
Families choose to have a celebration of life ceremony to highlight the unique personality traits of the deceased. In fact, for such an event, personalization is key.
As you ponder what message or quote to include on a celebration of life bookmark, consider using a phrase that your loved one was known to say. Maybe the phrase could be your loved one’s favorite movie or book quote. Perhaps you could use their favorite Bible verse.
Here are some other ideas for the text for a celebration of life memorial bookmark.
13. “A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies . . . The man who never reads lives only one.” – George R.R. Martin
Martin is known for writing A Game of Thrones.
14. “You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me.” – C.S. Lewis
Lewis, the author of the Narnia series and books about Christian apologetics, is often quoted.
15. “One glance at a book and you hear the voice of another person, perhaps someone dead for 1,000 years. To read is to voyage through time.” – Carl Sagan
A planetary scientist, Carl Sagan knew what it was like to experience the greatness of the stars, so it’s saying something to know he compared reading to studying the night sky. Sagan died in 1996.
16. “But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.”
This verse can be found in Isaiah 40:31.
17. “Remember Me” by Christina Rosetti
This poem begins:
“Remember me when I am gone away,
Gone far away into the silent land;
When you can no more hold me by the hand,
Nor I half turn to go yet turning stay.”
18. “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference.”
Did your loved one have a favorite quote? Perhaps one that was always displayed on their mirror or refrigerator? Share these words of wisdom with others.
19. “Unable are the loved to die, for love is immortality.” – Emily Dickinson
Scholars refer to Dickinson’s poems by their first line since many were untitled.
20. “When friendships are real, they are not glass threads or frost work, but the solidest things we can know.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
Celebrate your loved one’s friendships with this quote.
21. “And Joy is Everywhere” by Rabindranath Tagore
“And Joy is Everywhere;
It is in the Earth’s green covering of grass;
In the blue serenity of the Sky;
In the reckless exuberance of Spring;
In the severe abstinence of gray Winter;
In the Living flesh that animates our bodily frame;
In the perfect poise of the Human figure, noble and upright;
In Living;
In the exercise of all our powers;
In the acquisition of Knowledge;
in fighting evils...
Joy is there Everywhere.”
What personality traits do people think about when they remember your loved one? Consider this poem if your loved one found joy in the mundane.
22. “No kind action ever stops with itself. One kind action leads to another. Good example is followed. A single act of kindness throws out roots in all directions, and the roots spring up and make new trees. The greatest work that kindness does to others is that it makes them kind themselves.” – Amelia Earhart
We love this quote by Kansas native Amelia Earhart.
23. “The Window” by Rumi
This short poem states:
“Your body is away from me
but there is a window open
from my heart to yours.
From this window, like the moon
I keep sending news secretly.”
24. List of books
Instead of using a quote or poem on the bookmark, why not write a list of your loved one’s favorite books or authors? Some consider sharing favorite literary pieces with others as a personal act.
Where Can You Purchase or Order a Custom Celebration of Life Bookmark?
Let us help you find a company to order a customized celebration of life bookmark.
25. Funeral home
A full-service funeral home should have access to printers and designers to help you with this task. In addition, there’s a benefit to buying such items from the funeral home because it allows you to make all your purchases from one place.
26. Funeral Prints
Funeral Prints has sacred and natural images that one might expect on a memorial bookmark. The company also promises a quick turnaround time. Orders placed by 3 p.m. ET will be printed and shipped the same day.
27. Cherished Prints
Cherished Prints offers beautifully designed, customized bookmarks.
28. Zazzle
Zazzle allows its customers to download a template to customize and print independently. However, the company will also complete the process and ship it to your door.
29. Honor You
Like Zazzle, Honor You allows you to customize and print your own bookmarks, or the company will take care of the task for you.
30. Etsy
Many Etsy stores specialize in bookmarks for funerals. Look at each store’s ratings and previous designs to find a supplier right for your situation.
Are You New to Planning Celebrations of Life?
Maybe you have attended funerals in the past that didn’t reflect the vivacity of the person who died. If so, you may be interested in learning more about planning a celebration of life.
Cake has a lot of resources on how to create a personalized funeral. We’ll walk you through complex subjects, such as celebration of life etiquette, and give you unique venue ideas. We even have lists of songs and poetry to consider for the service.