MAIN Death & Dying Funerals Eulogies, Readings, Poems, Quotes & Songs

"To live in the hearts we leave behind is not to die." ~ Thomas Campbell

Evoking the life of the deceased at a funeral service can be a daunting task for most families.

While attention is often drawn to the logistical and financial details of funeral planning, attention also must be paid to planning a proper tribute for a deceased friend or family member.

Unfortunately, it's a task that takes thoughtful consideration at a time when most families are at best under great stress, coping with grief, and short on time.

Creating a memorable funeral service:

However, there are a multitude of resources around the Web that can help with choosing the perfect poem or quote, the best funeral readings, or funeral music and songs to be played at the service. Finding just the right words for a eulogy can also help bring solace and comfort to those who gather in honor of the deceased.

How to write a eulogy

Writing a eulogy can vividly recall the life of the deceased in ways that may be profound, respectful, entertaining, and even amusing.

Effective eulogy writing entails collecting information about the deceased's family life and professional accomplishments. It also helps to elicit personal stories and family lore that shed light on the deceased's beneficial impact on the lives of those around them.

Incorporating readings from scripture, or excerpts from selected funeral poems or readings, helps bring closure and illuminate a life well-lived. As "brevity is the soul of wit", it is always advisable to keep a eulogy concise and on topic with well-chosen facts and stories that result in a eulogy that is both moving and memorable.

Funeral music and song suggestions

Funeral music is another important part of most services. This may simply entail playing the deceased's favorite song or song list or, in Christian services, working with organists and singers for a more religious musical program to accompany the service.

Besides music's ability to soothe and comfort, a special song played at a funeral can evoke the special times we have spent with the person who has died. Carefully chosen, the lyrics of funeral songs may also help to encapsulate the feelings of those in attendance better than they themselves can express.

While church hymns and songs of praise such as "Amazing Grace", "Abide With Me," "Just a Closer Walk With Thee" and "Ave Maria" have been some of the most popular music played at funerals in the past, there are certainly no hard and fast rules that govern funeral music today.

Pop hits such as "Candle in the Wind", "In the Arms of an Angel", "In My Life" and "Tears in Heaven" have also proven enduring funeral favorites. Country tunes, jazz, blues or gospel songs, classical pieces, and even movie sound tracks may be appropriate. Whatever the song or genre funeral music should accomplishe either one of two things: to honor the life of the deceased, or to comfort those who grieve.

Funeral poems, quotes and readings

Distilling the feelings of the bereaved or evoking someone's life into a few short words is best accomplished by adopting a favorite poem, quote or reading to incorporate into the service.

Often inspirational and uplifting, there are a large number of funeral poems and readings from which to choose that strike just the right note of solace to help the bereaved cope with deep feelings of grief and loss.

Quotes appropriate for funerals and memorials are also helpful in celebrating a life, or serve as a lesson in how the great thinkers and writers through history have dealt with grief and loss.

also see in Death & Dying -> Funeral Etiquette

More information about how to create a memorable funeral service around the Web:

Elsewhere around the Web, find sites offering more tips, advice and helpful resources for honoring the deceased with related funeral song playlists, poems, quotes and related how to's on honoring the deceased:

Dying: A Book of Comfort - Suggestions for music for funerals and memorial services, prayers, poems, and meditations, obituary wording, plus tips and advice for family and caretakers, related resources.

Uplifting Sensitive Funeral Music & Memorial Songs - A complete Web directory offering suggested pop songs, hymns, classical arrangements and country songs appropriate for funerals and memorial services.

Funeral and Memorial Poems - An extensive collection of poems for honoring deceased parents, grandparents, spouses, babies and children, plus related collections of funeral prayers, readings and quotes.

Readings for a Funeral - Selections from Shakespeare, Emily Dickinson, Dylan Thomas and more with related resources and more on readings for a funeral from the bible.

Eulogy, Funeral & Death Quotes - Dozens of appropriate quotes for eulogies and memorials services, from the profound to the humorous, in an easily browseable A-Z list.

also see -> Coping with Grief