|
Planning a Funeral Service
By Lee A. Smith
The epitaph or the final chapter to a well lived life is
a funeral. Planning funerals can prove to be extremely
overwhelming especially during an emotional crisis.
Often it can become really difficult to take care of all
the small details when grieving for the loss of a loved
one. It is at this time when the family and friends of
the bereaved family take control of the situation and
plan the funeral service. The various practical and
ceremonial tasks are delegated and distributed among the
close friends and family members. The usual task list
includes the following activities:
• Answering the telephone and providing information on
the funeral to friends and mourners.
• Writing letters or emails to the distant relatives and
acquaintances of the deceased, informing them about the
death. A funeral or memorial program can also be drafted
and sent along with the letter.
• Setting up and managing a phone chain in order to
notify people of the death. A phone chain is extremely
useful in getting the notice out without having to
assign one particular person to make all the phone
calls.
• Keeping a track of the senders of donations and
funeral flowers in order to send out 'thank you' notes
later.
• Making arrangements for funeral flowers and other
decorations at the church, the funeral home, or any
other funeral location.
• Choosing the coffin.
• Helping to arrange for a charity for the purpose of
receiving donations in lieu of flowers if required.
• Finding a venue for the memorial service and also
handling all the arrangements.
• Getting the funeral order of service printed for the
distribution at the service.
• Arranging for food and other necessities to be
delivered to the mourning family during the week before
the funeral service as well as the week after it.
• Writing the obituary in the memory of the deceased.
• Providing the pastor with favourite poems, scriptures,
anecdotal stories, etc. for describing the deceased.
• Setting up a memory display table or photographs.
• Babysitting if required.
• Handling the logistics of services such as podium and
microphone, chairs, police chaperone, musicians,
parking, transportation, accommodation arrangement for
out station guests and relatives, and honoraria and fees
to the musicians and officiant.
Special tasks
Apart from these regular tasks, there are certain
special tasks as well. Pallbearers are required to carry
the coffin from the funeral vehicle into the service.
Ushers are needed to help seat guests and speakers are
required for short readings, verses, and poems.
By distributing all the tasks among the family members
and close friends, planning and executing the funeral
arrangements isn't such an ordeal. It is an obvious fact
for the bereaved family to be emotionally drained out if
they have to carry it alone. Family and friends
therefore play the most important role in the planning
of a funeral service.
Funerals are a tough time for a family. Get advice and
information to ease the pain at:
funerals |
