How celebrity funerals can inspire our own
When a celebrity figure dies, it can cause unexpected emotions of grief and loss. But these high-profile services can also provide an opportunity to see how their lives are celebrated and can inspire how we choose to mark the life of our own loved ones.
Why we grieve celebrities
There are many reasons why you may be affected by the death of a celebrity. It can often feel like you know a famous person. You may not have met them personally, but you have access to their public persona through social media and see them regularly on TV so they can become an important part of your life. You also may have an emotional connection to a famous person’s work which might have inspired you, helped you through a difficult time or remind you of your youth.
Celebrity deaths also remind us of our own experiences. ‘The death of someone famous may bring up memories of our own grief. Perhaps the person who died has a connection with someone you have lost or reminds you of them. Perhaps someone you loved who has died was a big fan of theirs. All these factors can make the death of a celebrity more upsetting,' says Cruse Bereavement Support.
Celebrities leading the way
One way celebrity funerals can act as a source of inspiration is through processions and funeral vehicles.
Paul Walker, star of the ‘The Fast and the Furious’ film franchise, died suddenly in an accidental car crash. To pay tribute to his life, his family hosted a public memorial where thousands of fans gathered for a motor procession.
Prince Philip designed a bespoke hearse from a Land Rover Defender and started working on the design 16 years before he died. His Land Rover hearse included an open top rear section, where his coffin rested, and was painted in a military green colour.
Just like other elements of a memorial service, a unique funeral hearse can be a touching tribute, celebrating your loved one’s personality or interests.
Minimal fuss
But not all celebrity funerals are extravagant affairs, and the funeral you arrange doesn’t have to be either. Some celebrity funerals serve as a reminder that it’s fine to keep the service simple.
After losing his battle with liver cancer, David Bowie didn't want any fuss and chose a direct cremation without a funeral service or public memorial. A direct cremation is a simple, unattended cremation with no service. It’s a way of saying goodbye to the person who has died without having to organise so many moving parts.
Remembering your loved one after the funeral
Creating a memorial area can be a heartfelt way to honour your loved one following a funeral.
After his death and direct cremation, fans wanted a way to celebrate David Bowie, and this resulted in the creation of a large-scale Ziggy Stardust mural in Brixton, where he grew up. Since it was created in 2016, the mural has been visited by thousands of fans who wanted to pay tribute to and remember the artist.
But a memorial spot for your loved one doesn't have to be elaborate and large scale. Instead, it can simply be your loved one’s favourite place in nature, like a tree, a forested area or an open field. Or you could create a memorial bench where you can visit, sit peacefully and pay tribute to your loved one as often as you wish.
Eco-friendly burial ideas
There’s a growing consciousness among people about their impact on the environment. This is something that informs how we approach planning our own funerals.
Celebrities may also be leading the way with eco-friendly burial choices. The Archbishop and anti-apartheid hero, Desmond Tutu, requested an environmentally friendly burial. After his death in 2022, the body of Tutu underwent Resomation, an alternative to traditional cremation methods, using water instead of fire.
Actor Luke Perry chose a very rare type of burial before his death in 2019. He was buried in a ‘mushroom suit’, a type of eco-friendly shroud made of biodegradable organic cotton mixed with mushroom spores. As the mushrooms grow, they help to break down the person’s body while releasing nutrients that help other plants grow.
Here at Co-op Funeralcare, we offer alternatives to a traditional cemetery or graveyard burial. Aside from choosing a natural or woodland burial, you can also choose a coffin created from sustainably managed raw materials, or an urn made from natural materials. There’s even an option to have an electric hearse, helping you reduce your impact on the environment.
Celebrity funerals can help to guide our own meaningful service. Trends from celebrity funerals, such as direct cremations, like David Bowie's choice, provide ideas for simple, personalised goodbyes. Whilst burial choices, as seen with Desmond Tutu and Luke Perry, may be more sustainable options. For more ways to commemorate the life of your loved one, visit our personalised funeral page.
