Celebrating someone’s life does not end after the funeral or memorial. In the days, months and years that follow, stories, traditions, favorite foods, music and gatherings can keep someone present in the lives of the people who loved them.

Losing a young person brings a particular kind of grief, including the loss of everything you imagined was still ahead. A celebration of life can tell the whole story of who they were by bringing together family, friends, stories, music, photographs, humor and the ordinary details that made them themselves.

Planning ahead for your own celebration of life isn’t about paperwork. It’s about leaving your family the gift of knowing your wishes, preserving your story, and making difficult decisions just a little easier.