Remembering A Life Dinner Parties

Remembering A Life dinner parties are a meaningful way to have thoughtful conversations about life, death and how we want to be remembered. Whether you gather in memory of a loved one who has died or simply want to open up dialogue about life and loss, an intimate dinner party is a wonderful way to start the conversation. We’ve put together a simple how-to for each.

Remembering A Life – Honoring a Loved One Dinner Party

Honoring loved ones who have died can be particularly meaningful when a small group of family and friends gathers to share stories and memories. An intimate setting, such as a small dinner party, can inspire meaningful conversations and keep memories of a loved one alive.

The How-to

Hosting a Remembering A Life – Honoring a Loved One Dinner Party is as easy as any gathering you may have with friends and family.

1. Set a date and time.

2. Select a location. We suggest a quiet place such as someone’s home, but a quiet natural setting, such as a park, can also be nice.

3. Invite your guests. We recommend a guest list of six to ten people.

Sample invitation:
Please join me/us in a relaxed evening of memory sharing and storytelling in memory of (loved one). We’ll enjoy a casual meal featuring many of (loved one’s) favorite dishes, share stories and enjoy each other’s company.

4. Plan the menu or invite guests to each bring a dish. A potluck makes it easy!

5. Consider serving dishes that your loved one enjoyed.

6. Start the conversation! Chances are, the discussion will start and naturally progress, but you can also have a few questions on hand to ask (see our suggested list below).

7. Invite guests to jot down a special memory and put it in a memory jar so you can read the memories later.

8. Take a photo of the group as a remembrance of your time together.

9. As a special touch, send each guest off with a meaningful gift to remember your loved one:

• Recipes from dishes served that evening that your loved one enjoyed
• A photo of your loved one (if available, photos of your loved one with each of the guests)
• A copy of a poem or other written item meaningful to your loved one
• An item belonging to your loved one selected for each guest based on what would be meaningful to them (if you are ready to part with your loved one’s possessions)
• A Remembering A Life Memory Jar so guests can continue to collect memories of your loved one

Conversation Starters

• Share a fond memory of (loved one).
• Share a funny story about (loved one).
• What do you miss most about (loved one)?
• What did you learn from (loved one)? How did they influence your life?

Remembering A Life – Let’s Talk About Death Dinner Party

Having meaningful and thoughtful conversations about death, dying and how we want to be remembered is a great first step in normalizing topics that have been historically taboo. And a Remembering A Life Dinner Party is a perfect – and fun! – way to get the conversation started.

The How-to

Hosting a Remembering A Life – Let’s Talk About Death Dinner Party is as easy as any gathering you may have with friends and family.

1. Set a date and time.

2. Select a location. We suggest a quiet place such as someone’s home, but a quiet natural setting, such as a park, can also be nice.

3. Invite your guests. We recommend a guest list of six to ten people who you think will be open to discussing topics related to death and dying. If someone has experienced a recent loss, or is terminally ill or knows someone who is, make sure they are comfortable participating.

Sample invitation:

Remembering A Life Let's Talk About Death Dinner Party
Life, death and how we want to be remembered is something we don't often talk about, so we're hosting a dinner party to get the conversation started! Please join me/us for a relaxed evening of thoughtful, meaningful and even fun conversation. We’ll enjoy a casual meal, share stories and enjoy each other’s company.

4. Plan the menu or invite guests to each bring a dish. A potluck makes it easy and fun!

5. Search the internet for popular dishes to bring to a funeral if you want the meal to even more closely follow the theme. Funeral potatoes are one popular dish.

6. Consider contributing some beverages or other items that fit the theme (e.g., we found wines and sparkling waters that had names related to life and death – they make great conversation starters!)

7. As you sit down for your meal, let your guests know that, while you’re looking forward to an open discussion, no one is obligated to answer a given question. Ensure guests know you have created a safe and open space.

8. Start the conversation! Chances are, the discussion will start and naturally progress, but have a few questions on hand to ask if the conversation stalls or gets off track. When the Remembering A Life team hosts a dinner party, we write each of the questions below on a slip of paper and put them in a Remembering A Life Memory Jar so guests can randomly select a question for the group to answer.

9. As a special touch, send each guest off with a goody bag of items that they may find helpful as they continue to explore these topics. We, of course, love the Remembering A Life line of items, including the Remembering A Life Journal, Remembering A Life Memory Jar, Remembering A Life Journey Cards, Have the Talk of a Lifetime Conversation Cards, and more.

Conversation Starters

• How do you want to be remembered?
• Who are you remembering today?
• What would you like to take place after you die? Service? Burial? Cremation? Natural burial?'
• What special touches would you want at your funeral/service?
• Is there something special you’d want to give away to people who attend your funeral?
• Where did you get your ideas about death?
• What were your first experiences with death/funerals and how did they form how you feel about your own death?
• Have you been with someone when they died? What was that experience like for you?
• Have you ever had an after-death experience with a loved one?
• Do you have fears about death/dying? What do you think is the root of those fears?
• How does the portrayal of death/dying/funerals affect your own thoughts about death?
• What does a good death mean to you?
• What are some of the most meaningful funerals/services you’ve attended?