A memorial lantern at a funeral or celebration of life
At a funeral, a memorial lantern holds a photograph of the person who died on the memorial table or beside the guest book, and its flameless candle stays lit through the service at venues that do not allow an open flame. Afterwards the family takes it home, so the light that stood beside them at the service is the one they keep.
Where it goes at the service
- On the memorial table, with framed photographs, a few things that were theirs and the order of service. A lit lantern draws the eye to the photograph inside it.
- Beside the guest book, so everyone who signs it passes their face on the way in.
- Near the urn or the casket, if the family and the funeral director are happy with that. Ask first; some families want that space kept plain.
- At the reception or celebration of life, on the table where people gather to share stories afterwards.
Why a flameless candle matters
Many funeral homes, churches and rented halls restrict or ban open flames, and a real candle beside photographs, flowers and paper programs needs someone watching it. A lantern with an LED candle can be switched on before guests arrive and left lit for the whole service and reception, with nothing to blow out and no wax on the tablecloth.
A memory card in the drawer
If the lantern has a drawer, it makes a quiet way for guests to leave something behind. Put a small stack of blank cards and a pen beside it, with a note asking people to write down one memory of them and leave it in the drawer. The family goes home with the lantern and a drawer full of stories they had not heard before.
Should I bring a lantern to the funeral as a gift?
Usually, it is kinder to send it to the family’s home, or to give it to them quietly in the days after the service, than to arrive with a parcel on the day. The family has a great deal to carry that day, in every sense. If you would like it on the memorial table, ask the family or the funeral director first. Some will welcome it gladly; some have planned the table already.
If the funeral is soon, check the delivery date at checkout before you order, and only send to the funeral home’s address if you have asked them and they have agreed to hold it.
After the service
The lantern goes home with the family. Their photograph stays behind the glass, the cards or keepsakes stay in the drawer, and the candle can be set to come on at the same time every evening. On the first anniversary, a birthday or the first holidays without them, it is already there, already lit.
The STILLWIND Memorial Lantern
It comes in wood, with a copper or black crown, and in a slimmer metal frame in black or white, each with three designs on the glass: Those We Love, Mom and Family Tree. A 4×6 inch photograph slides in behind a flickering LED candle with a remote and a timer, batteries included, and a velvet-lined drawer in the base holds cards and keepsakes. It arrives in a gift box with a sympathy card, and comes with the free Still With Me Starter Book, where the family can keep the memories people share at the service. The Unlimited Book on its own is $39, paid once.
Questions
Can you have a candle at a funeral?
It depends on the venue. Many funeral homes, churches and halls restrict open flames, so ask the funeral director. A flameless LED candle avoids the question and can stay lit for the whole service.
What do you put on a memorial table at a funeral?
Photographs of the person who died, a few things that were theirs, the guest book and the order of service. A memorial lantern holding their photograph gives the table a centre and a light, and a drawer for guests’ written memories.
Is it appropriate to bring a gift to a funeral?
A card is always appropriate. A larger gift is usually better sent to the family’s home or given in the days after the service. If you want it used at the service, such as a lantern for the memorial table, ask the family or funeral director first.