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Knowing ABC's Of Funeral Service And Planning
The loss of a loved one is very difficult on many levels. Unless the deceased has made burial arrangements before their passing, it becomes the family's responsibility. Before getting started with funeral service plans, remember that this is a chance to gather with others to share memories that celebrate the individual's life.
The first step is choosing through which funerary establishment the arrangements will be made. They usually assign an event coordinator to walk the family through the process. Their purpose is to advise on things such as making sure all the legal documents are completed, creating the obituary, picking a casket or urn, and all the little details that go into the memorial and interment services.
It is also necessary to decide who will be conducting the proceedings. Traditionally, it would be the deceased's minister or spiritual leader. If they were not associated with any particular group of that type, the position may be given to another cleric or perhaps to someone who was close to the individual and knew them quite well.
A place to hold the services is the next step. Not only can the coordinator assist in setting this up, they can also take care of casket presentation, floral deliveries, video, sound and all necessary details of the reception. They can guide the family through creating the memorial program right down to selecting appropriate photos, verses, poems and songs.
Others may request the opportunity to speak a few words. Giving the eulogy can be one of the more emotional tasks. This heartfelt summary of a life should list their accomplishments and special attributes but should remain only 5-10 minutes long.
There are many details in planning a funeral service. The family may wish to provide a guest book for mourners to sign and leave a message if desired, a special table for the display of photographs and memorabilia, as well as a handout which not only guides the proceedings but acts as a memento of the occasion. Because this is a difficult time for all involved, the event is usually designed to last no more than an hour.
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