It's about celebrating lives ... not mourning them

By: Melinda Skutnick | Mooresville Tribune
Published: December 18, 2009

Why mourn a person's death when you can celebrate his life?
That's the view one Mooresville business owner is taking as he hosts Celebration of Life events at his Village at Byers Creek restaurant.
Clark Johnson, owner of The Wine Loft – near the intersection of N.C. 150 and Perth Road – recently conducted his first Celebration of Life event and said he would like to extend that bereavement option to any individual or family seeking to fondly remember a loved one who recently died.
Johnson described the occasions as ones "to celebrate the life of someone after their funeral."
He said, "They are meant to be happy events, where people gather to commemorate and actually rejoice over the just-past life of someone important to them."
Johnson said the idea for these events at The Wine Loft emerged after three women approached him regarding holding such a celebration in honor of their mother who was terminally ill.
"They wanted to have a celebration for her life, as opposed to a mourning of her death."
Following the mother's funeral, Johnson said family and friends gathered at The Wine Loft and celebrated her life through conversation, music that she loved, food, wine and each other's company.
"They laughed a little bit, they talked," Johnson added. "I think we walked the difficult line between being too cavalier about it and at the same time being social and fun."
After word of mouth sparked another inquiry into this type of event, Johnson said he decided to create various packages for Celebrations of Life at The Wine Loft and try to spread the information about considering this post-death remembrance.
"A Celebration of Life would normally be held when it was expected that the person would die soon," he said, noting that this type of event is primarily for the families of those who have been given a limited-life prognosis.
Family members who have come to accept that their loved one will soon die, he said, can plan the event's details – such as a photo slideshow, buffet food, specific music, etc. – in advance, leaving the date flexible for some time after the funeral.
Johnson said he hopes his restaurant can offer the relaxed, warm, welcoming atmosphere people may seek during such an event.
Saying there's likely an unexpressed need in this community for Celebrations of Life, Johnson mentioned that celebrating the life after the person dies may seem callous to some. But as more people find the event "socially acceptable," he said he believes that unspoken need will become clear.
"This isn't just a dead body that's in the ground. This is a person who lived and breathed … They had a great life, a lot of friends, a lot of memories."
And that, he said, is worth celebrating.
For more information, visit www.thewineloftmooresville.com or contact Johnson: cjohnson@thewineloft.net or 704-664-3230.

It's about celebrating lives ... not mourning them

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