Unique & Creative Funerals

Services that help heal

Creative Funerals

At Pray Funeral Home, creativity isn’t about being different for the sake of being different.

It’s about creating space for real remembrance, real connection, and real healing.

When a service truly reflects the person who died—how they lived, what they loved, who they were to others—it naturally invites stories, laughter, tears, and shared memories. And those moments matter. They help families and friends begin to grieve in healthy, meaningful ways.

That’s why we put so much care into designing services that go beyond the expected. Not because tradition is wrong—but because one size never fits every life.

Why meaning matters more than form

A meaningful funeral doesn’t follow a script.

It follows a story.

Some people were quiet and reflective. Others filled rooms with energy. Some loved tradition. Others lived outside the lines. When a service honors that honestly, people don’t just attend—they participate. They talk. They remember. They connect.

We’ve seen it time and again

When a service feels personal, people stay longer. They share more. They leave supported instead of shut down.

That’s the heart behind everything we do.

A service doesn’t have to stay inside four walls.

Some lives simply can’t be contained in a single room.

We’ve helped families create services in theaters, on ball fields, at golf courses, in barns, outdoors, and in places that held deep personal meaning. We’ve seen services that included music, art, storytelling, movement, shared meals, and quiet reflection.

The form is never the point.

The connection is.

When people feel comfortable and engaged, memories surface more naturally—and grief becomes something shared instead of carried alone.

A person writing in a notebook on a table with a candle and a picture of a couple

How we design a meaningful service

Most families worry they won’t know what to say or where to start. That’s normal—and that’s where we come in.

We help you slow things down and begin with simple questions:

What did they love?
Where did they feel most like themselves?
What stories do people always tell about them?
From there, we shape a service that feels natural and true.

Together, we’ll:

Uncover what mattered most—the people, passions, places, and values that defined their life
Choose a tone and setting that fits—traditional, contemporary, or something in between
Create moments that invite participation—music, visuals, shared stories, personal items, and meaningful rituals
Design a gathering that encourages connection, not just observation

This is where our team—and our in-house “Creationeers”—shine. We don’t just plan services. We help families create experiences that gently open the door to healing.

Real services we’ve helped families create

A Sporting Life Remembered

For Evan “Drew” Adams, his service reflected the joy he found in friendly competition—pool, golf, bowling, and time at the casino. Friends moved from station to station, laughing and remembering. The service ended with “Drew’s Last Strike,” when his brother rolled a perfect strike as the room erupted in applause.

It didn’t feel like a performance. It felt like Drew.

A Life Lived on Stage

Barbara Collinsworth-Johnson helped design the very performing arts center where her memorial was held. Family, friends, and colleagues gathered in the space she loved, with music, storytelling, and video woven together like acts in a play.

For those who knew her, it made perfect sense—and it gave people permission to remember her fully.

A horse drawn carriage with people walking

Dade’s Parade

Dade Schultze was known nationwide for organizing wagon trains. When he died, fellow wagon masters escorted him to the cemetery in a final procession across his land. It wasn’t flashy. It was faithful—to who he was and how he lived.

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A group of people sitting at a table with food

Light shines over a garden filled with flowers and a small stream flowing by in the afternoon.

Wildflowers bloom in a sunny, grassy field on a bright spring day.

A group of people standing around a table

A group of people in a room with white curtains and pictures

Inspiration from our community

Through our Corteo Contest, inspired by Cirque du Soleil’s reflection on life and death, we invited people to share how they would imagine a meaningful farewell. The responses were thoughtful, emotional, and deeply human.

We’ve shared winning essays—and how we would bring those ideas to life—not as blueprints, but as reminders that there is no wrong way to honor a life when it’s done with care.

View Winning Entries