Funeral event planners ease the pain and burden felt by the bereaved

Ivy, a woman whose husband died after battling cancer, was at a loss on how to handle the necessary details for her spouse’s funeral.

 

“’Di ba ‘pag namamatayan ang tao para tayong zombie na hindi natin alam kung paano tayo mag-uumpisa?” she said.

 

So Ivy did the next best thing: hire a funeral event coordinator. 

 

The death of a loved one in itself is already a tragedy for any person. But add to that the burden of organizing a wake, choosing a coffin, attending to visitors, and orchestrating a funeral—in the midst of grieving—and many people find the whole thing too much to handle.

 

Funeral event planners have come to the rescue to help ease the stress brought about by planning funerals, especially unexpected ones, as reported by GMA News TV’s News to Go on Thursday.

 

 

These event planners map out the final rites of the departed even up to their burial.

 

Hazel, a funeral event planner, said what she does for a living is different from coordinating other events, saying it’s always an “on call” process.

 

“Unlike a wedding that is planned ahead, like months, for funerals minsan we have to do it in four hours or six hours, and we have to deliver,” she said.

 

What is important, said Hazel, is ensuring the life of the deceased is commemorated and celebrated as much as possible.

 

“First is appreciation (of the person’s life). Next, mawawala na ‘yung thought na may namatay. Instead, they celebrate the life,” Hazel said.

 

Hiring funeral event planners can cost from P18,000-P300,000, depending on the type of service planned.

 

Ivy said hiring a planner to coordinate her husband’s funeral helped her a lot because she did not have to take a lot of things into consideration while she was grieving.

 

“Malaking bagay talaga ‘yun kasi medyo nakakabawas ng sama ng loob… hindi talaga kami nahirapan,” she said.

 

Ivy’s husband’s coffin and clothing, as well as his wake and its theme, were all handled by the funeral event planner she hired.

 

The wake venue was designed in such a way that it became a sort of museum showing snippets of his life, hobbies, and memorabilia.

 

Ivy believed she made the right choice in hiring a funeral event planner.

 

“Sa pakiramdam ko ‘yun din ‘yung gusto niyang mangyari sa pag-alis niya, para lahat kami hindi mabigat ang loob sa pag-alis niya,” Ivy said. “Alam ko ngayon happy na siya.” –Gian Geronimo/KG, GMA News