Funeral Ideas For Those Suffering Bereavement

A funeral, though often difficult to arrange and painful to attend, is an important chance to say a final goodbye to your loved one. It should be a celebration of the loved one you have lost and a chance to share your memories of them with other mourners.

Arrangements

While you are grieving it is not easy to arrange a funeral appropriate for everyone else's grief. However, remember it is the only opportunity to create a fitting goodbye to look back on. Ideally the deceased's will contain details of the funeral they wanted. However, if no information was left it can be beneficial to talk to people who were close to the person who passed in order to organise an appropriate funeral. Whilst talking to these people ask a few of them for their input on choosing hymns, readings or music for the funeral; Keep in mind that the more people you ask the more likely you are to disagree, or be unable to include their ideas, and this may create unnecessary tension. If you do not wish to do so yourself, do not hesitate to ask someone to talk about the person at the funeral, or ask the leader of the funeral to talk for you. Other ways to individualise the funeral is to consider using personal items to reflect the person who has died. For example a collag! e of photographs depicting the deceased and mourners together at happier occasions. If you would like people to join you after the funeral you will need to decide what refreshments will be served, who will be invited and where you will gather. At this point it may be worth considering what you can afford spend on the funeral. Make sure you have the legal death certificate and contact someone to help you with the funeral arrangements. You will probably wish to talk to a religious leader and a funeral director.

The Funeral

At the funeral it is important to allow yourself to grieve. If you need to cry then do not be ashamed to do it and if you need a moment to compose yourself then take it. Sharing in your grief together can help everyone. If your family relationships are strained inform your religious leader or other professional of this as they will be better equipped to deal with this than you. Some people will wish to be included in the funeral, this can be achieved by giving them small responsibilities such as standing up to share a memory of the deceased; but be careful not to overlap on jobs as this will create unnecessary tension.

After the Funeral

While the funeral may be a turning point in your grief you should not expect it to stop immediately afterwards. Your grieving can last for months and is both natural and conducive to healing; each person's mourning is different.