Where

• Select a location for the memorial service that is appropriate to honor the life of the deceased. Hold it in a religious facility if you want a religious ceremony with a priest, a pastor or another religious adviser officiating. Hold it in a home, a rented hall or outside in a park for an informal service. Memorial services can be held in many different locations.
  
  

Notifications

• Notify close relatives and friends of the details for the memorial service as soon as they are finalized. Notification should be done by telephone or email. This is also the appropriate time to let people know if they will be welcome to step forward and share their thoughts at the ceremony. Include the specifics of the memorial service in a published obituary.
  
  

The Program

• Decide if there will be a program and what is to go into it. Memorial programs include a picture or pictures of the person, as well as the obituary. Other things to include are poems, the words to a favorite song, or anything appropriate to the life of the deceased. List the schedule of events for the service in the program.
  
  

Religious Memorial Services

• Determine the structure for the memorial service. Consult the pastor, priest or religious adviser involved. She may have a set form for memorial services that should be followed. If there is not one, suggest that the pastor or priest open with a prayer and scripture readings. Follow this with a homily, and then some words about the deceased. Invite people to give an eulogy if allowed. In some churches, this is not acceptable. Close with a prayer.
  
  

Informal Memorial Services

• Choose whether the memorial service will have a structure or be free-form. Schedule the events as you deem appropriate. For a structured service, consider designating a person to lead the service. A suggested format would be an opening prayer, then an introductory statement, followed by some words about the deceased. Open the floor to others who wish to speak next. Add a closing prayer if appropriate. Play the person's favorite music as people enter and leave. Another format is to gather the people attending in a circle and let them speak about the person. There is no set order of speaking in this instance.
  
  Decide whether to hold a reception following the memorial in either of these cases. The memorial service can also take the form of a wake. Gather the deceased person's friends and family together to mingle and share stories and memories. Think of it as a party in honor of the person and a celebration of his life. Serve food and drinks at this type of gathering.