Need To Make 2 Large Cakes For A Wake, Any Ideas Or Thoughts
Decorating By jo_ann Updated 18 Aug 2006 , 2:57am by oceanspitfire
A friend of ours died early today from breast cancer. Her dh has asked me to make 2 large cakes for her wake. She will be laid out at home so the viewing will be from the time she arrives until her funeral (usually 2 days). Her and her dh were married 26 years. She has 3 grown children, 2 girls and 1 boy. They are all involved in the family water business. They just lost her mother about 6 months ago, also to cancer. Any thoughts or ideas for the design on the cakes or sayings would be appreciated. For some reason my mind just does not want to work right now. Thanks.
I am so sorry about the loss of your friend. How kind that you are going to make these cakes for her family and friends.
I would think depending on their religious beliefs, you could do a cross and some flowers on one or both. I would do it in her favorite color or pink because it's the color for Breast Cancer Research.
Hope this helps a little.
Cindy
I'm so sorry for your loss, and the loss of her family.
I would think of what is important to her and her family. What she liked to spend her time with. Also the religious theme if they have specific after life beliefs. If they are Christian I would definately go for something like that....simple white flowers, perhaps a few colored flowers...
A wake is really for the survivors....so, you may want to think in that way.
Also, I was starting to think in the pink line, but then, do they want that reminder? I really don't know about that. Yes, I want to support breast cancer awareness and research, but do I want to be reminded that breast cancer took away someone that I love, right this second? My jury is still out on that.
This is a hard one....Good luck to you. And God bless her family and friends in their difficult time.
Thank you everyone for your ideas and prayers. The family is really not religious. They've been through some tough times in the last couple of years with both her and her mom having cancer. I thought if I could see one of her sisters that maybe I could get some pictures of her throughout her life depicting milestones. The birth of her children, the times with her dh, mom and siblings to display. I have those wilton tailored tiers cake display sets. I could get copies of the pics and put them on that. BUT I really hate bothering any of them at this time. I don't know. Your ideas are fantastic though and I would love to hear other opinions. Thanks again.
I really like the idea of the pictures on the cake. I have seen that in some of the Wilton books. I would think that would be a good way for some reflection. Sorry for your loss
my only concern with pictures on the cake, is my family seems unable to eat an edible image picture of themselves....silly yes, but everytime I have done it...the cake gets cut all the way around the image...I see it sit on the counter for a couple of days and then someone tosses it out. I would hate for no one to eat cake because they didnt want to eat the pictures.
just make something pretty. don't worry about comemorating anything, or adding any representation of breast cancer. the last thing that the family needs is to be reminded of the loss and why. Besides, there will probably a collage of photos or photo albums there.
Theresa 
I am leaning towards tmriga's suggestion....just something pretty....
If you wanted to do words there are some neat phrases on websites who sell memorial benches and such...when my g/f lost a baby we got her a bench that read "Those whom we have held in our arms for awhile, we hold in our hearts forever"....
but they had lots of phrases to choose from..
I am so sorry for your loss. What a wonderful friend you are to be strong enough to make this cake during your time of loss. I would make a very beautiful, but simple cake and steer away from writing on it. I think this may be the one time that you don't want the cake to be the center of attention. Once again, I am sorry for your loss.
I'm so sorry for your loss. I would do something simple and pretty. This is not the time for a showy cake. I think sheet cakes with beautiful borders and a nice saying in the middle would be appropriate. Not too many colors-very pale. At weddings the first thing people will comment on are the cakes. At funerals, they won't remember there WAS cake.
I thank God every day that my mother is a survivor. My thoughts are with the family.
These are in no way going to be extravagant or showy. They want these cakes to represent things she enjoyed in life. Things her children accomplished and to remember her when she was healthy and vibrant. There will be alot of family and friends there. She will be laid out for 2 days and there will be people there constantly for those 48 hours that's why they are asking for 2 cakes
I would respect the families wishes for wanting to pay tribute to the meaningful wonderful years that will be long remembered and cherished by family and friends....
Perhaps having family and some friends selct pictures to display on the cake table would be the best and have the cakes in the colors and type of flowers she liked.
So sorry for your loss, I lost my mom to breast cancer...I think I wouldn't want to see that on the cake...too soon, too close to this great loss....
I would imagine pictures of her smiling and with family and birth of the children and marraige etc. keep the good memories present.
Blessings extended for your loss.
Suggestion:
Maybe a book cake simply decorated with a simple heartfelt message on one page and a favorite scripture or psalm on the other according to their faith.
I like the cross idea and the book idea too.
How about baking a cake and shaping it like a flower pot and doing bc roses or flowers on top, or making a sheet cake with her favorite flowers on it?
Maybe a picture of a dove flying into the clouds?
But I agree with the others...do not do a breast cancer ribbon. I think it would just remind them of how they lost her, even though I support the relay for life events. I think it would just be too hard on them.
Sorry for your loss of a friend.[/url]
What an awful way to lose someone. I'm very sorry for the family's loss.
I would concur something simple and unobtrusive- I know in my own times of grief/srress I havent even remotely thought of food and personally I wouldnt even notice if I did eat cake at a funeral if it were pink or white or chocolate or vanilla. Whatever you do will be appreciated.
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