Wednesday, January 13, 2010

How To Go About Preparation Of A Funeral Service

By Paul Silva

Death is a harsh reality and yet we prepare so little for it. Honouring the dead is a centuries old tradition that has gradually changed to suit the times. A traditional funeral service was conducted in church, with specific hymns, poems and a eulogy for the departed. But, this trend is changing today, with more and more people wishing to organise a more personal funeral service for their loved one.

Organising a funeral service, right after the death of a near and dear one can be quite a traumatic and painful experience. One of the misconceptions about funeral services is that it is legally mandatory for the family of the deceased to arrange a service, but this is not true. Secondly, a majority of people have an erroneous belief that a service can be conducted only in a church. It is noteworthy that even though traditionally such services were carried out in a church, with the trend of personalizing, many funeral services are being held within the premises of the deceased. Thirdly, such a personalized service does not mandate presence of a casket or even a pastor or clergy to conduct the rituals.

But, in keeping with the idea of a personal funeral service, substantial thought must be given to the wishes of the deceased person. The selection of music should be from among the personal choices of the dead, though it is preferable to have soothing music. You have the choice of playing recorded music or hiring a live music band.

Some families prefer display of the personal items of the deceased in a collage, for the gathering to reflect on his or her life. Another important factor in any funeral service is an address, in the form of a poem, a song or even a speech talking about the deceased.

Lastly, it is advisable to give the guests assembled at the service some kind of a memento that will help them remember the departed forever.

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