Love can be expressed in countless ways, from giving beautiful flowers to sharing a box of chocolates. But have you ever thought about how meaningful it would be to hear your loved ones express their love and affection before you die? 

 

Imagine this: your parents, all your friends, all your colleagues, and people that you love, all gathered to celebrate your life. They talked about how much you meant to them, and some people take it as an opportunity to express things they wish they had said to you sooner. This certainly seems like a typical funeral, but there’s a significant difference—you’re still alive to witness it all. This is the essence of a living funeral, a unique and touching way to experience the love and gratitude of those around you while you can still appreciate it.

 

Talking about death is almost taboo in some parts of the world, including Southeast Asia. People try to avoid the subject because the idea of death is upsetting, but there is a service that offers a chance for people to say goodbye to their friends and families on their own terms and to celebrate their lives while they are still alive. It’s called ‘Living Funeral’. This may sound strange, but it could be incredibly profound when you think about it again. 

 

The idea of living funerals isn't new. The Japanese have a unique ritual known as Seizenso, in which elderly people can arrange their funerals while still living. Satsuki Kawano, a cultural anthropologist, writes in a 2004 study for the journal Ethnology that this activity helps elders feel more autonomous and challenges outdated assumptions about aging.

 

In South Korea, a unique trend has seen tens of thousands attending a different kind of “living funeral”. The Hyowon Healing Centre, administered by a funeral home, performs mass funerals in which people write their wills before resting in wooden coffins. This ceremony is said to make individuals think about their mortality to appreciate life more, seek reconciliation, and, ultimately, live better.

 

In Southeast Asia, living funerals have been held in several countries, including Singapore. Earlier this year, Michele Ng organized her own "living funeral" before passing away from cancer as a final "intimate and joyful" gathering with her loved ones at home. Her story was covered by several news sites earlier this year, where Michele saw her live funeral as a birthday celebration. Ng wants an intimate setting with beautiful music, food, and love-filled words. She invited around 30 people and encouraged them to send her a final letter and participate in a book exchange. Her favorite musician from a local band also played during the living funeral. It was a joyous and loving event, and she expressed her desire for death to be near to people's hearts rather than something to be feared.

 

Michelle Ng's Living Funeral | Source: Mustsharenews.com

 

According to The Straits Times, Angjolie Mei, the founder of The Life Celebrant, previously received only one request to organize a living funeral every year. But then she received three or four calls a month after Michele Ng's tale went viral. The concept of a living funeral can be somewhat controversial, often leading to minor disagreements among the soon-to-be departed's family members, many still believe that funerals should be performed after death, which may stem from a feeling that it is the only way to truly respect the dead.

 

The latest YouGov survey has found that almost three in four (74%) Singapore residents have heard of living funerals – 38% are fully aware of what it entails, while 36% have a rough idea – while a quarter (26%) are completely unfamiliar. But when asked how they would personally feel about having a living funeral, only a quarter (25%) of Singaporeans say they are comfortable with the idea.

 

Awareness of living funerals in Singapore | Source: YouGov

 

Again, you deserve to know how much people love you before you die. But, how do you feel about holding your own living funeral?