Across the country, funerals are changing. In recent years, we’ve seen elaborate goodbyes that go far beyond a casket, like the deceased posed in a favorite chair, or even playing video games during the service.
Here in New Orleans, creativity takes a different turn. Funeral director Ryan Warner with Professional Funeral Services says more families are choosing cremation over traditional burials, and that shift has opened the door for new ways of remembering loved ones.
“Some families still delay cremation so they can have a traditional viewing,” Warner explained. “That’s when you’ll see some of the more elaborate setups. But after that, the creativity often comes in how people memorialize, splitting ashes, spreading them in favorite places, or making keepsakes.”
He says the eco-friendly burial trend hasn’t quite caught on in the city, since burials are less common here, but that doesn’t mean New Orleans families are any less imaginative.
From jazz funerals to personalized ceremonies, Warner says farewells often reflect both tradition and innovation.
One thing remains the same: families here find meaningful, creative ways to celebrate a loved one’s life—and keep their memory alive long after the service is over.