Commemorating the life of someone you love… you!

A little while ago, we brought you the story of a great-grandfather who decided to host his own wake. Many of your thought this was a wonderful idea – after all, what’s the point of having people say nice things about you if you’re not there to demurely deny them?

Now they’re calling it: hosting your own funeral is officially a trend in the US.

According to Next Avenue, some American funeral homes are helping cater to the demand. One funeral services guide offers ideas for “celebrating the life of a loved one before death,” complete with tips on organising such events.

Tips include having a guest book for everyone to write a personal message, or setting up a memory table where guests can leave significant items for the person.

There are some advantages to arranging yours or a loved one’s funeral pre-mortem – obviously, it give people the chance to pay tribute to the person’s life and achievements, but it can also provide opportunity to attend to practical matters such as details of the will, resolving any long-burning issues or feuds, and doing research for the eulogy.

You also get to choose the music and who gets to speak.

However, there’s the potential that the event might not exactly be fun for the participants and can be a huge emotional burden. It could also be considered a tad narcissistic, especially if the would-be-deceased is in robust health and planning a round-the-world adventure.

What do you think: will this trend catch on? Have you ever been to the funeral of someone who is still alive? Would you go to one if invited?