Take some time to think about your funeral or memorial music and let your family know.
Have you got a favourite song or piece of music you’d like to be played at your funeral or memorial service?
Have you shared it with your family and friends?
Not something you want to think about?
Wouldn’t you rather know that your music will be one less thing your loved ones will have to worry about when organising your funeral or memorial service?
So many questions, and why think about such things, I hear you saying.
Well, my experience when dealing with grieving families is they sometimes struggle with choosing music that will create just the right tone for the service of their loved one.
Part of my job as a funeral celebrant is to help source prayers, poems, and readings and write a eulogy that captures the character and true essence of those who have passed. The music is an important part of the service and remains a constant memory for us all. Generally, three pieces are chosen – upon entry, during the reflection, and after the committal as everyone leaves.
When choosing your music, think about perhaps a sentimental song for the entry, a peaceful, gentle piece for the reflection, and upbeat music at the end of the service to lift the mood and let your family and friends leave with a smile, giving them a song to remember you by with love and fond memories whenever they hear it.
Music is emotive and even if it takes a while for your loved ones to be able to listen to your songs without feeling sad or getting upset, taking time to think about your favourite pieces and letting your family know will help take some pressure off when they’re grieving and, in time, give them comfort.
My entrance music will be, Greatest Love of All by Whitney Houston. My exit music will be, I Can See Clearly Now by Jonny Nash. I’m still deliberating on the reflection piece.
I believe music is good for the soul and I love to sing. Not always with the right words, not in tune, and often using anything that resembles a mic!
Hopefully, the following will make you smile/laugh (yes, I’m learning to put myself out there on social media…) Rest assured I will never feel the need to sing at any service I deliver, this is for entertainment purposes only 🙂
Music does a lot of things for a lot of people. It’s transporting, for sure.
It can take you right back, years back, to the very moment certain things happened in your life.
It’s uplifting
It’s encouraging
It’s strengthening
– The late, great Aretha Franklin