The funeral ceremony pays a final tribute to the deceased. Whether civil or religious, funerals are always tricky and trying time for families.
Each person is unique, but when paying tribute to the deceased, it is not always easy to find the right words. With the increase in the number of secular ceremonies, the funeral’s personalization becomes a key element, which will allow the family to begin the process of mourning.
There are many possibilities: choosing a text, music, or reading a speech gives meaning to the ceremony. As such, we encourage you to write the books yourself that will be read and to choose the music or tune that could be played.
To enlighten you and help you achieve a personalized tribute, we invite you to discover our advice below, as well as examples of texts and music. You will also find this article guide helpful that will allow you to structure your speech.
1. Funeral ceremony: Procedure and personalization
Our society is evolving, and the funeral profession is no exception to these evolutions. In Europe, more than one ceremony in three takes place outside a place of worship. To answer this, funeral professionals must now create, from scratch, new farewell rituals. To achieve this, the commitment of families when organizing the ceremony is essential.
The different types of funeral ceremonies and their progress
To pay a final tribute to the deceased, you choose between organizing a religious ceremony or a civil ceremony. This decision must be made following the wishes of the dead.
Religious ceremony
A religious ceremony occurs in a place of worship (church, chapel, temple, etc.). Depending on your beliefs and those of the deceased, the funeral ceremony can be a blessing or a mass. The role of funeral directors will be to put the family in touch with the parish team so that they can organize the ceremony. They also participate in the celebration by carrying out various logistical tasks that may differ depending on the parishes.
During the religious tribute, the family will have the opportunity to speak, if they wish, to pay a final tribute to the deceased. The family can also request the presence of a choir or a musician.
At the end of the funeral program, the family is invited to follow the funeral procession to the crematorium or burial place.
Civil or Secular Ceremony
A civil ceremony takes place in a place called “secular.” Most often, it is a private ceremony room belonging to a funeral home or crematorium.
As part of a civil tribute, the family’s investment is essential for an auspicious ceremony. Indeed, public service is broken down into several stages between the moment of meditation on a musical background and speaking.
How to personalize the homage paid to the deceased?
In addition to texts and music, you can also consider other moments to personalize the ceremony.
Our tips for writing your speech
Finding the right words, to sum up, the life of a loved one is not always easy. This is why we advise you to follow these tips:
· Structure your speech
Start by establishing a plan for your speech. This will help you structure your address and prioritize your thoughts. At these times, remember that there are no right or wrong speeches. Just speak with your heart.
· Use short, simple sentences.
We advise you to be as concise as possible in your remarks. Please keep it simple; no one will hold it against you.
· Tell a story through an anecdote or a memory.
Tell one or more memories that are meaningful to you. When you read your speech, don’t be afraid to laugh or smile. It is probably the most beautiful tribute you could pay him.
Request the presence of a musician
“Music soothes the soul.” This well-known proverb is all the more accurate at the time of the funeral. The presence of a musician, choir, or singer allows, for a few moments, to soften the atmosphere. It also brings a particular dimension to the tribute paid to the deceased. So, it would be best if you had a musician present at the funeral.
Customize the last gesture
At the crematorium or the cemetery, you will be invited to pass one last time in front of the deceased coffin. It is an awkward moment since this moment acts of separation from the dead. This is why we recommend that you give meaning to this moment by creating a personalized ritual (flower petals, an object that belonged to the deceased, etc.). Do not hesitate to discuss this with your master of ceremonies to make arrangements on this subject.
2. Choose a text for a funeral
If you don’t want to write a speech, you can choose to read a text. There are many texts which make it possible to express the penalty linked to the loss of a loved one. The themes addressed generally refer to the afterlife or hope. If you do not feel able to speak during the funeral, you can ask the master of ceremonies to read one or more texts on your behalf.
In different website online, you will find a collection of texts which will allow you to prepare for the funeral ceremony.
3. What music(s) for a funeral?
Whether civil or religious, the funeral ceremony can be personalized with music chosen by the family. We advise you not to select more than five songs. To help you choose the music, you will find below a list of the titles we want to be played at the crematorium and the cemetery.
- Rest high on the mountain
- I will remember you
- Time to say goodbye
- Stairway to heaven
- I will be missing you
Conclusion
So, here are the things you need to pay attention to respectfully send the deceased to the new world. The funeral program is a tribute to the one who left us forever. So, this has to be unique. Please pay close attention to all the details we talked about.
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