Michael Scarpaci: How to choose the final outfit for your deceased loved one?

Scarpaci funeral home in Staten Island, understands the pain of losing a loved one. And he knows, when it comes to the funeral ceremony, there is so much that goes into planning and arranging. At times, it can be overwhelming for the family members who are already going through a difficult phase. 

While arranging a funeral, people often forget to pay attention to what will be the final outfit for the deceased. If you’ve lost a loved one and they didn’t make their preferences clear, follow these guidelines by Michael Scarpaci to choose final clothing for your loved one. 

Casual or formal? 

While choosing the final outfit for your loved one, consider their personality and the type of memorial service you are hosting. For instance, if the funeral service is more traditional, then you can go with formal clothing, such as their favorite suit or dress. On the contrary, for non-traditional funeral service, it’s absolutely alright to choose an outfit that is more casual, says, Michael Scarpaci. This means the final outfit could be anything from the deceased’s favorite holiday sweater to their lucky hat and favorite sports jerseys. But make sure whatever you choose, it goes with the personality of your loved one and the type of memorial service organized. 

Religious considerations - If the funeral ceremony involves any religious or cultural customs, it’s important you pick clothing that goes well with the religious traditions. The best way to do that is to consult the religious leaders in your community and ask about the specific dress that your deceased should wear during the service. 

Special items to bring for the loved ones - Sometimes people have a wish to be buried or wearing special things such as wedding or engagement rings, and their favorite jewelry and accessories. These things and items can make the funeral more personalized. Other common items include:

• Pictures
• Letters to the deceased
• Favorite books

Remember, if your deceased body will be cremated, all metal must be removed from the body before the cremation. 

These are some of the things you need to consider while choosing the final outfit for your loved one. However, if you still find yourself wondering which is the appropriate clothing for the deceased loved one, consult Michael Scarpaci. 

5 ideas by Michael Scarpaci to make your loved one’s funeral personalized

Losing a loved one is never easy for anyone. However, there are ways you can make the funeral service of your loved one special and personalized. 

According to Michael Scarpaci, manager of Scarpaci funeral home in Staten Island, from displaying photographs to music and mementos, there are many ways to give your loved a special farewell. 

Let’s see the top 5 ideas to make a funeral service personalized. 

Photo display - If you’re looking for an idea to personalize a funeral service, displaying different types of photos is a good way to get started. Unlike most funerals where photos are displayed formally, you can choose a more creative way to display photos. For example, you can make a collage of your favorite photos of your loved one. It is a good way to encourage people to share their memories with the deceased person.  

Personalized floral arrangements - The next idea is using personalized floral arrangements to make your loved one’s funeral unique and special. To do this, you can use little accessories in flower arrangements, including your loved one’s favorite coffee mug or fishing tackle if you’re loved one enjoyed fishing. There are various ways to personalize floral arrangements. To know more, consult Michael Scarpaci. 

Play your loved one’s favorite song - Michael Scarpaci understands that a funeral is remorse and grieving time for friends and family, but he says it is also the time to celebrate your loved one’s life. To do so, you can even play a favorite song of the deceased person. Doesn’t matter whether the song is traditionally regarded as appropriate for the funeral or not. If it’s your loved one’s favorite song, then it is perfect in all ways. 

Use clothing - Nowadays, people follow a trend of using pieces of clothing that the deceased person used to wear. This is another way to personalize a funeral service. They often turn their loved one’s clothes into pillows or small sachets so that they can stay close to them all the time. Or use them at the funeral service to make the occasion more personalized. 

Gifts for guests - Another excellent way to personalize a service is to offer gifts to the funeral attendees. Mementos to guests not only personalize a service but also give guests a small keepsake. You can choose a small photo magnet or a bookmark with a favorite poem. 

These are some of the ways to personalize a funeral service. If you need more ideas and suggestions, consult Michael Scarpaci.