Our thoughts and prayers are with you
It is never easy dealing with the death of someone, especially if that person has played a treasured part in your life.
When somebody dies, one of the first things to do after registering the death, will be to contact one of the local funeral directors.
Each of the funeral directors will be able to support you in the appropriate manner and advise you about the decisions and choices that you will need to make.
Holding the funeral service in church
There are many reasons for choosing to hold a funeral in church.
Some people are of the view that when the service is held in church, it is likely that there will be more time available for the service.
Funerals can be held in church, irrespective of where the committal is then held after the service in church, by an open graveside, or at the local crematorium.
Please advise the Funeral Director of your choice, and they can make the arrangements accordingly.
Practical arrangements
Your Funeral Director will function as the organising hub for the arrangements.
If you would like a funeral to be held in church – by all means initially check dates with the local clergy – but actually get the funeral director to make all the necessary arrangements.
Alternatively and in the case of cremation, the parish priest would be very happy to officiate at the funeral service at the crematorium.
The Funeral Director is usually better placed to ensure that a number of required professional services are available on any given date.
Planning the service
You might find that you already have some ideas or thoughts about what elements you would like to have in the funeral service.
On receiving details from the Funeral Director, the Parish Priest will contact you and very likely visit you to help plan the service.
There are many ways to add colour and personal meaning to the service, inspired by your memories of the person who has died. This might be through choices of music, a poem or a reading.
Happy to help with the eulogy
The Eulogy can take many forms, but often it is a short statement or collection of memories that reflects the life of the person who has died.
It can be a very demanding part of the funeral, especially if the person who is speaking is particularly distressed at the funeral service.
It is always up to the family as to whether they ask a family member or friend to take on this part of the funeral service. This can be a challenging thing to do, and the parish priest is more than happy step in, and perhaps read out a statement a family member has prepared.
Prayer:
God our Father,
Your power brings us to birth,
Your providence guides our lives,
and by Your command we return to dust.
Lord, those who die still live in Your presence,
their lives change but do not end.
I pray in hope for my family,
relatives and friends,
and for all the dead known to You alone.
In company with Christ,
Who died and now lives,
may they rejoice in Your kingdom,
where all our tears are wiped away.
Unite us together again in one family,
to sing Your praise forever and ever.
Amen