A living tribute is a gathering to celebrate the life of a person suffering a terminal illness: a reunion of family and friends, neighbours and colleagues.  It can be the greatest celebration of your life - or the life of someone dear to you.

 

The thought of someone dying brings fear into all our hearts. It’s the fear of the unknown, the fear of losing control of our emotions. And the fear of saying the right thing as well as not knowing how to grieve properly. A living tribute allows your loved one to feel your love and compassion before they leave this earth. Why wait until it’s too late to say the things you should have said while they were alive?

 

A living tribute is anything you want it to be. It can be a black-tie affair, a disco, or a camping weekend away. Whatever you or your loved one does to feel happy, is how you celebrate with a living tribute.

 

​We share so many heartfelt stories in eulogies and at wakes. I often hear people saying, ‘I wish I had told him’ or ‘I regret not saying anything’. It is bittersweet. A living tribute allows you to celebrate and cherish all the life stories one more time, surrounded by the people who care the most. Imagine the funny stories, the sad stories and achievements.

 

I did this for my mother on her 70th birthday. Family and friends gathered at a favourite Chinese restaurant on the south coast. We laughed, cried, hugged, told lots of funny stories and lots of sad stories. It was mum's life, and we got to share it again with her, one last time. The smile on her face was priceless, and I can still hear her laughter.

 

Time was of the essence for me before mum lost her ability to speak, communicate and move. Mum had motor neurone disease. A relentless disease.

 

If you think a living tribute is something you or your loved one would like please contact me. We can get together and make it happen. It may be challenging, yet you won't regret it.

 

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