What Is a Repass? A Memorial Tradition I Learned from My Clients

When I first heard a client refer to their memorial gathering as a "repass," I'll admit — I paused.

I grew up in the South, and I had never heard that term used before. I asked a quick clarifying question, and what I learned reminded me of something I truly love about this work: every family brings their own traditions, language, and meaning to the way they remember a loved one.

And there is always something new to learn.

What does "repass" mean?

A repass (also called a repast) is the gathering that happens after a funeral or memorial service. It's where family and friends come together to eat, talk, laugh, cry, and remember the person who has passed.

In many communities — especially in parts of the Northeast, in Black families, and in Catholic traditions — the word repass is commonly used. In other regions, people might say:

• Reception
• Repast
• Celebration of Life
• Memorial gathering

Different words. Same beautiful purpose.

Why this moment stuck with me

I've been creating memorial slideshows for years, but hearing this term for the first time was a reminder that language matters — and so does listening.

When someone tells me they need a slideshow for a repass, they're not just describing a time on the schedule. They're describing the tone of the moment:

• Less formal than the service
• More conversational
• More storytelling
• More about connection

That helps me shape the slideshow differently — warmer pacing, softer transitions, and a flow that works well in a room full of family members sharing memories together.

Memorial slideshows at a repass gathering

Many families choose to show their slideshow at the repass instead of during the formal service - or at both. And it makes perfect sense.

A repass is where people linger. Where stories come out. Where photos spark laughter and tears at the same time.

A memorial slideshow in that setting becomes more than a tribute — it becomes a shared experience.

Learning from families is part of the work

One of the most meaningful parts of what I do is learning from the families I serve. Every culture, every region, every generation brings something different to how we honor life.

Sometimes that learning comes from:

• A new tradition
• A new phrase
• A new way of gathering
• Or a new way of saying goodbye

And I'm grateful for all of it.

No matter what you call it, the goal is the same

Whether you call it a:

• Repass
• Repast
• Celebration of Life
• Memorial reception
• Family gathering

The heart of it never changes.

You want to honor someone who mattered. You want to share their story. You want to give people a moment to remember — together.

That's what a memorial slideshow is really for.

And if I get to learn a new word along the way? That's just one more reason I love this work.