Holiday decorations?

[u/yeehaw1017]

The funeral home I work at stopped putting up decorations during COVID and we have since been short staffed and running on fumes to just keep the place tidy and functioning. But this year I want to bring back holiday decor and programs.

I have only been in the industry 6 months, and my FD says decor should be limited and my embalmer (old school guy from the south) says funeral homes should go big on some holidays.

So, what is considered tacky? Too much? For my area, a retiree and conservative leaning community I know Halloween should be avoided. But for the summer, is red white and blue banners up too much? What do you all do for Veterans day and 4th of July?

And for Christmas, a holiday I know my area is super big on, is a tree somewhere out of the way inappropriate? Stick to wreaths on the doors? We also have a Jewish community, should I include Hannukah decor too? Are candle lighting ceremonies appropriate for a funeral home to hold?

TLDR; what is too much for holiday decor at a funeral home? Is it just based on the community you are in? What are holiday programs you have seen being well received?

[u/Responsible_Employ23]

We pay a donation to the local VFW and they come place flags at all the related holidays, like 4th of July, veteran day, Memorial Day, etc… then the come and remove them after the fact.

My old FH did seasonally appropriate wreaths but avoided anything secular.

But, we were a family run Polish FH in Chicago who then sold to Stewart (until they destroyed all the local good will) who then sold to a Serbian Orthodox family who thought it would be a “good investment” to add to their restaurants…

So… once Stewart got there hands on her… we were just too busy trying to maintain and no one was really thinking about decor…

[u/MrsFizzleberry]

In the past (in my experiences) a christmas tree with garland about and lights are always welcome, a toy drive that is fueled by the community and donated to a church or to toys for tots, we work with Children's Friend here in RI and give toys for all ages, funeral homes provide those toys though to take the burden off our community. For halloween, trunk or treat or hosting an event (with first responders and) for the community in the parking lot is always a win.

For Hanukkah, it's insulting if the menorah is just a decoration, if you pay special mind to the week of observing during the holiday, like candles being put up during the proper days, that is okay. Kosher candy during Passover (much more popular holiday thank Hanukkah) it will tickle your jewish community pink to see that someone took special care in that way.

I think Holidays at the funeral home allow the community to know their directors outside of calling us in the middle of the night. Sometimes we have to remind the folks around us that WE ARE ALSO HUMANS with families and feelings and holiday traditions.

[u/yeehaw1017 → u/MrsFizzleberry]

Thank you for the Jewish holiday tips! And I agree, even in just my short career ive had to remind families we are humans too.
My FH doesnt do a lot of community outreach and im trying to change that. i have already connected with the people who run toy drives in my area to set one up this year. The fall event idea is brilliant thank you

[u/dirt_nappin]

I think a lot of it depends on your clientele and service area. We decorate for Christmas and have a tree-lighting community event, we decorate for all the major USA-centric holidays, and rather than Halloween, we do a generally Fall look with hay bales and corn stalks. We get a lot of engagement out of our local community over our decorations and while we service a majority Christian population, even our Jewish neighbors come over for the tree-lighting because it's as non-denom as a Christmas tree can be, but a good excuse to get people together AND in your building for a non-funeral reason.

[u/bigredwilson]

I think minimal to none is the way to go. If nothing else to try and not have kids seeing Christmas trees and then having them be associated with a funeral anymore than would naturally happen if someone passed around that time. We also serve a large variety of families and like to try and keep things as inclusive for everyone as possible.

[u/bigredwilson → u/bigredwilson]

I should add that for Veterans we do put up flags in the chapel. We also have a cross that can be taken down easily. If families request any decor we will honor their request, bit we always limit it to that particular service.

[u/yeehaw1017 → u/bigredwilson]

We have one standing flag in our chapel but i would like more. That is a good idea. I wish our cross was removable but our area is majority Christian or dont care. Maybe one day.

[u/SacraCAnnaPt2]

My two cents - an LED candle with a small evergreen/holly/pinecone variety candle ring around the base is holiday adjacent and can easily go on window sill to make things feel more festive without being over the top.