|
In Lieu of Flowers, Consider Memorial
Seed Cards As a Funeral Gift
By Mary Hickey
Perhaps there is a reason that the term, "in lieu of
flowers" has gotten so popular. The trend seems to be
that families direct well wishers to putting that money
towards something more lasting and meaningful. Often
people say, "in lieu of flowers please make a donation
to..." and they list their loved one's favorite charity.
While it's been a tradition at weddings to provide a
little something such as a keepsake gift or wedding
favor, now funeral favors or gifts are becoming a
popular option to sending flowers or making a donation.
Instead of or in lieu of flowers, I recommend memorial
seed cards. The cards are eco-friendly and instead of
sending flowers that die, friends and family can grow
flowers in memory of the departed. The seed paper is
handmade and in the paper making process a variety of
wildflower seeds or forget-me-not seeds are added to the
paper. When the paper is planted the flowers grow. The
most popular memorial card option is plantable heart
seed cards. The top of the card says, "Plant this card
and wildflowers will grow" and the bottom is
personalized with, "In Loving Memory of...... Always in
our Hearts." Cards are often purchased by family or
friends and the cards are handed out at the service.
There is a growing trend in office coworkers sending
these plantable seed cards as an appropriate funeral
gift to family members of coworkers or if the coworker
passed then the office gives the cards to the family to
distribute at the funeral. We suggest that a child or
young adult hand each person who enters the service a
card. Sometimes the cards are handed out with a memorial
folder or program.
It's also becoming popular to send a memorial seed card
before the service as an invitation to people who may
want to attend the service. The card is custom printed
with the time, date and location of the service. That
same type of card has also been used after the funeral
as an eco-friendly thank-you note to those who may have
sent a donation or provided a meal for the family.
Another use for the flat memorial seed cards has been
for class reunions. A card is handed out to each of the
attendees saying, "In memory of our following friends
from the class of 1979 who are gone but always
remembered", and the names of the departed are then
listed on the card.
It's common in the Catholic church to provide a prayer
or mass card at a funeral. A more modern memorial card
choice is a plantable cross seed card. The cards can be
printed to say, "God called her home, and now heaven's
gardens are more beautiful. Plant this cross and
wildflowers will grow in loving memory of......" Another
option is to use more of a celebration of life focus for
someone who may have been more spiritual than
traditionally religious.
Another option is the butterfly seed cards that contain
forget-me-not seeds. This option is a folded card and
allows you to add a poem or verse on the inside left
side, and the loved one's name on the right side.
Hopefully, now when you see "in lieu of flowers" you'll
know there is an option to send a gift of keepsake cards
as a funeral favor that grows wildflowers or
forget-me-not flowers in memory of your loved one.
Memorial cards and Funeral Gifts
Plantable Memorial Seed Cards
Mary Hickey is an urn designer and thought leader in the
funeral industry. For some drastically needed new life
celebration ideas, contemporary memorial poems and
verses visit her site Next Gen Memorials. She is
co-founder of Renaissance Urn Company, based in San
Francisco. |
