Honoring Your Sims: A Comprehensive Guide to Funerals in The Sims 4

So, a Sim has shuffled off this mortal coil in your game. It’s a bittersweet moment, a testament to your storytelling prowess. But what now? How do you properly honor their memory? While The Sims 4 doesn’t offer a built-in “funeral” event, creative Simmers have devised ways to create meaningful memorial services. This guide will walk you through the process of holding a Sims 4 funeral, ensuring your deceased Sim receives a fitting send-off.

Crafting a Meaningful Memorial

Essentially, creating a funeral in The Sims 4 is about role-playing and using the game’s tools to create a realistic and emotional experience. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

1. Acquire the Urn or Tombstone: When a Sim dies, an urn or tombstone appears where they passed away. This is the centerpiece of your memorial. You can move it to your preferred location. If you’ve lost the urn, you can try going to the mausoleum at the graveyard and using the “manage the dead” interaction to potentially retrieve it.

2. Choose a Location: Decide where the funeral will take place. This could be your Sim’s home, a park, a graveyard, or any other location that holds significance. Consider the Sim’s personality and preferences when choosing a spot.

3. Set the Scene: Decorate the area to create a somber yet respectful atmosphere. Use dark colors, flowers (especially white lilies), candles, and photos of the deceased Sim. You can find many decorative items in the build/buy catalog.

4. Invite Guests: Invite the deceased Sim’s family, friends, and acquaintances to the funeral. Use the phone or computer to send invitations.

5. The Eulogy (Requires City Living): This is the emotional heart of the funeral. To give a eulogy, you’ll need the City Living expansion pack, which includes the podium.

   • Place the urn in the inventory of the Sim who will be giving the eulogy.
   • Place the podium on the lot.
   • Have the Sim interact with the urn. If they have level 6 charisma skill or higher, the option to “Give Eulogy” will appear. The higher the charisma skill, the better the eulogy will be.
   • Alternatively, you can click on the podium and select the Sim to give an announcement (which isn’t exactly a eulogy, but fits the occasion).

6. Share Memories: Encourage guests to interact with the urn or tombstone and mourn. Sims will share memories and express their grief, adding to the emotional atmosphere. You can also have Sims tell stories about the deceased.

7. Play Music: Use a stereo to play somber music. Classical music or mournful instrumentals are good choices.

8. Serve Food and Drinks: Offer guests refreshments, such as black coffee or tea. This is a traditional way to comfort mourners.

9. Release Balloons or Sky Lanterns: Releasing balloons (if you have the appropriate packs) or sky lanterns can be a symbolic way to release the Sim’s spirit.

10. Consider a Memorial Garden: Plant a special flower or tree in memory of the Sim. This creates a lasting tribute to their life.

11. Don’t Forget the Outfits: Have all the attendees dress appropriately. Make them wear black or gray clothing. This is very fitting for the mood.

Remember, the goal is to create a heartfelt and personalized tribute to your Sim. Use your imagination and the game’s features to create a memorable event. Consider, as well, the potential for learning within games, and learn more about educational gaming research at the GamesLearningSociety.org website.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How do I get an urn or tombstone after a Sim dies?

When a Sim dies, an urn (if they die indoors) or tombstone (if they die outdoors) will automatically appear where they died. You can then move it to a more suitable location.

Can I buy an urn or tombstone in The Sims 4?

No, you cannot buy urns or tombstones. Once you sell one, it’s gone for good. Be very careful about selling them!

Where do I find the mausoleum to manage the dead?

The mausoleum is located at the graveyard in Willow Creek. You can use the “manage the dead” option to retrieve urns of Sims who died in other households.

How do I give a eulogy in The Sims 4?

You need the City Living expansion pack, a podium, and level 6 charisma skill or higher. Put the deceased Sim’s urn in the Sim’s inventory, place the podium, and then click on the urn and select “Give Eulogy.”

What happens if I don’t have the City Living pack?

Without the City Living pack, you can still have Sims share memories and mourn at the urn or tombstone, but you won’t be able to give a formal eulogy using the podium. You can have sims make announcements using the podium, though.

How do I report a death in The Sims 4?

Other Sims will automatically call the Emergency Services by way of their cellphone to report the death. The option appears in the Household menu. However, the Grim Reaper shows up regardless.

Can I bring a Sim back from the dead in The Sims 4?

Yes, there are several ways:

• Ambrosia: If your Sim has a high cooking skill and you can obtain a Death Flower, an Angelfish, and a Potion of Youth, you can cook Ambrosia to bring a ghost back to life.
• Book of Life: A Sim with maxed Writing Skill and the Bestselling Author Aspiration can write the Book of Life and use it to resurrect a Sim.
• Wishing Well (Romantic Garden Stuff): The Wishing Well has a chance to resurrect a Sim, but it’s not guaranteed.
• Cheats: You can use cheats to add the ghost of the dead Sim to your household, then use cheats to remove the “ghost” trait and make them a living Sim again.

How do I find a dead Sim’s urn if it’s missing?

Check the following places:

• The location where the Sim died.
• The household inventory.
• The mausoleum at the graveyard (“manage the dead”).
• Around the home lots of the deceased Sim’s family members.

Can I have a baby with the Grim Reaper in The Sims 4?

Yes, you can. You need to use the cheat “traits.remove_trait IsGrimReaper” to deactivate the Reaper’s unique traits, allowing you to interact with him like a normal Sim, including “WooHoo” and “Try for Baby.”

How do I make a Sim mourn at a tombstone?

Simply click on the tombstone and select the “Mourn” interaction. Sims will express their grief and share memories.

How do I get the Death Flower in The Sims 4?

You need to create it through grafting. Graft:

• Cherry to Apple to make Pomegranate.
• Lily to Snapdragon to make Orchid.
• Pomegranate to Orchid to make Death Flower.

Can I invite the Grim Reaper to my house?

Yes, you can add him to your household using cheats: turn testingcheats true on via cheats. Select the ‘Add to household’ option when holding SHIFT+C and hovering over the Grim Reaper with your cursor.

How do I add a dead Sim to my family?

Befriend the ghost of the dead Sim. Once you have a high relationship, you can invite them to your household. Alternatively, use the testingcheatsenabled true cheat and shift-click on the ghost to add them to your household.

Is there a pet cemetery in The Sims 4?

Yes, the Cats & Dogs expansion pack includes the Deadgrass Isle district in Bridleton Bay, which features a pet cemetery.

How do I see ghosts in The Sims 4?

Ensure the Sim’s tombstone or urn is on your lot. Strengthen the connection to the physical world by interacting with the tombstone or urn. Ghosts typically appear at night.