Funeral words

Our Final Journey — Cara Heafey, UK

As we contemplate our final journey We face our deepest fears And recognise all that we long for. The whole of our lives has been bringing us to this point; The point of departure A threshold. Do not be afraid of the darkness. Let it enfold you like a blanket. Your ancestors have gone ahead […]

A prayer to accompany the image of the deceased — Ana Gobledale, UK

When photos are taken at a funeral or wake and shared, often electronically, with friends and relatives unable to be present, this prayer might be shared with the image of the deceased. It might be offered to the family to be shared before hand, so others can easily forward it with the attached image. Comforting […]

Funerals

What words do we share at a funeral or memorial service? With what words do we celebrate life? Who writes them? Who says them? Who hears them? Resources for funerals & memorial services listed alphabetically:

Remembrance Day / Veterans Day, 11 Nov

With what words do we remember? With what words do we turn from the memories of war to the hope of peace? Newest ‘Remembrance Day’ posts . . . (images link to posts) Remembrance services are held both in churches and at war memorials. For some this is an opportunity to focus on peace. White […]

Death is nothing at All — Canon Henry Scott-Holland, UK, 1847-1918

Death is nothing at all. I have only slipped away to the next room. I am I and you are you. Whatever we were to each other, That, we still are. Call me by my old familiar name. Speak to me in the easy way which you always used. Put no difference into your tone. […]

In your heart — David Romano

When tomorrow starts without me, And I’m not there to see, If the sun should rise and find your eyes all filled with tears for me, I know how much you love me, As much as I love you, and each time that you think of me, I know you’ll miss me too. I hope […]

Tis a Fearful Thing ― Yehuda HaLevi, Spain

‘Tis a fearful thing to love what death can touch. A fearful thing to love, to hope, to dream, to be – to be, And oh, to lose. A thing for fools, this, And a holy thing, a holy thing to love. For your life has lived in me, your laugh once lifted me, your […]

Stardust — Lorraine Steel, USA

Genesis 1 is often included in readings for the Easter vigil, Trinity Sunday and Epiphany. As the stars slid down the beams of the universe in it’s beginning, they burned with love…. so much so that some became vulnerable and exploded. Eons later, in free fall toward our planet many of their parts held us […]

Death’s welcome — Ana Gobledale, UK

Written in Salisbury Cathedral while listening toSt Matthew’s Passion by JS Bach and preparing a funeral service. Death Ceasing to be Becoming what? Breathless Containing all life Life-less Moving from Moving toward Leaving Arriving Shutting down It is finished Dust on the mantle Ash on the hearth Carried on zephyr puffs Lifted Unknowing Fear not […]

Gravestone unveiling — Ana Gobledale, UK

How do we mark the passing of time after a death? What words do we share when we gather to install, place or unveil a gravestone or marker? This service has been used when unveiling a gravestone or placing a plaque at a grave. Complete Service ready to download and print PDF Gravestone unveiling – full […]

What lies beyond death? — Cara Heafey, UK

We wonder what lies beyond death. Perhaps nothingness? May it be a great expanse of freedom. Perhaps sleep? May you rest in peace. Perhaps reunion? May those you have loved, for whom your soul aches, be waiting to greet you. Perhaps belonging? May it bring an end to all loneliness and separation. Perhaps completion? May […]

Giving thanks — a prayer as one approaches death — Cara Heafey, UK

As we look back over the days we have lived May our hearts be filled with gratitude. We give thanks for each person and each moment that shaped our journey. Each brought us gifts; albeit some more welcome than others. We, too, have shaped the lives of others, in ways we may never know We […]

Hopi Prayer — Mary E. Frye

Do not stand at my grave and weep. I am not there, I do not sleep. I am a thousand winds that blow. I am the diamond glints on snow. I am the sunlight on ripened grain. I am the gentle autumn rain. When you awaken in the morning’s hush I am the swift uplifting […]

We give our loved one back to God — Rossiter Worthington Raymond, USA

Appropriate for sharing at a funeral, crematorium service or at a memorial service We give our loved one back to God And just as God first gave them to us And did not lose them in the giving, So we have not lost them in returning them to God. For life is eternal, And love […]

Prayer for approaching an horizon, St Edith Stein

Appropriate for sharing with the dying, at a funeral, crematorium service or at a memorial service O my God, fill our souls with holy joy, courage and strength to serve you. Enkindle your love in us and then walk with us along the next stretch of the road before us. We do […]

Nearing Death

What words do we use to comfort and strengthen those who are nearing death? Resources providing words for sharing with the dying and their loved ones:

We will live in our children’s stories — Jeanne Lohmann, USA

Our stories lie down in the orchard, their time is not now, but something is coming, something is going away. They rise to the stars, and wait to be told. There are listeners who know how little we know, how much we are feeling. We had to go our own way, a little off course, […]

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