Funeral can take many different forms and is in effect a person’s last public appearance on this earth and entitled to reverence.
The idea behind a Christian funeral is to commit the deceased to the afterlife, but in modern times its scope has been extended to one of thanksgiving for the life of the person who has passed on.
The most moving funerals reflect the nature and qualities of the person and a great deal of thought is given to those who knew the deceased as to how these feelings can be best expressed.
Usually the officiant will want to discuss the service details beforehand and make suggestions. However, you are those close to the deceased should offer ideas of your own as you see fit.
Music
It is common practice, although not mandatory, to have music at the beginning and the end of the funeral service and even during it. Some people select this music while others leave the choice to the organist.
You might want to play some of the deceased’s favorite music, and most chapels have the facilities to play CD’s. If you provide us with the recordings we can do the rest for you.
If your preference is for live music, you do not have to be confined to organ music only. We can arrange for a band or you might choose to employ a band that was known by the deceased.
Whatever you decide, please inform us your preferences regarding venue and date and we will do our best to secure this for you.
Click here for some of suggestions.
Hymns
If the funeral is a Christian one, you will most likely need to choose some hymns. It’s a good idea to choose ones that are familiar with the congregation. In a 30 minute service you can probably choose 2 hymns.
When selecting hymns, ask around to find out if the deceased had any favorites or expressed any preference. Here is a list of the more popular ones.
Readings
At a Christian funeral, it is normal to have a reading from the Bible although you do not have to restrict yourself to Biblical texts. This is also a nice way to bring other people to participate in the service.
Poems or other devotional passages are suitable whether a religious funeral or not. Perhaps you might choose a particular reading from the deceased’s favourite author.
Here are some suggestions, and we would be happy to recommend other passages if you have a particular theme in mind.
A eulogy
Who’s in charge when I die
Your next of kin and your executor(s) are in charge when you die. If you have no will or no close relatives there can sometimes be complications.
Should I make a will
By making a Will you will ensure that your assets, no matter how small, are distributed in line with your wishes.
Making a Will
A will sets out how your estate (your assets) should be distributed, and names an executor(s) to take care of this task. A will is only valid if your signature has been witnessed by 2 adults who are not beneficiaries of the will in anyway.
Using a Solicitor
It is a good idea to ask a professional for help when you are writing your will, and it is not very expensive to hire someone for this task. You will receive help putting together a will that is free of confusion, and will most clearly reflect what you desire.
