Dunno if this is the right place - funeral suggestions pls

[Helenluvsrob]

Dad died at the weekend 92. After a full life. Funeral will be a celebration as much as is possible.

Suggestions music/ hymns/ readings welcome also any tips to make things as good as they can be very welcome .

He liked classical / 1950s music . We have 2 very able soprano singers who will likely sing instead of one hymn.

Sort of feel we used our " favourites " for mum last year - 23 psalm , faure pie Jesu etc.

I'm sorry Helen
For my dad's funeral we had;
Processional - nimrod - Elgar
Recessional - new world symphony - Dvorak
I read Christina Rosettis poem "remember"
We had "guide me oh thou great redeemer" for a hymn
I always think the reading from Ecclesiastes is very appropriate for an elderly person that has died....
I hope you manage to find things you find appropriate X

Do you want religious suggestions or secular?

Because my brother read this, by Brian Cox at my mother's funeral

"Our story is the story of the Universe. Every piece of everyone and everything you love, of everything you hate, of everything you hold precious was assembled in the first few minutes of the life of the Universe, and transformed in the hearts of stars, or created in their fiery deaths. When you die, those pieces will be returned to the Universe in the endless cycle of death and rebirth. What a wonderful thing to be part of that Universe. And what a story. What a majestic story!"

Secular or religious both welcome. That Brian cox is good

Badders ill look up those readings thanks

We had to plan my mother's funeral without even a passing mention of God. She was most insistent about that but left us no other guidance. Which was tricky, considering that she was a pianist, the soundtrack of her life was Bach and she adored Jesu Joy...............

That's a challenge Bertrand !

We are progressing. He liked " the crooners " and jazz so ...

Looks like in to " now is the hour" frank Sinatra
Out to Nina simone " I wish I knew how to be free "

Possibly " I know that my redeemer liveth " if eldest will sing it

Hymn and reading - working on it.

Have a look at www.naturaldeath.org.uk/ - lots of useful info about celebrating life.
"Lord of all Hopefulness" is a nice hymn.
Other than that make sure the eulogy is full of happy/funny memories rather than a list of jobs etc.

We lost my Dad two years ago. He always told me he didn't want any mention of God in his funeral service. We picked (my Mum, myself and my brother) a song that was most important to ourselves and Dad.

I picked 'We dont cry out loud - Elkie Brookes' it is a song that describes so much our relationship, and we both loved it. My Mum picked 'Danny Boy' because they both loved that song and my brother picked 'In my life' by the Beatles.

We had a celebrate do the service and myself, my brother, and my two sons talked about our memories of him.

It was perfect....just perfect.

Given that you have lost your mum and dad so close together I wondered if this might resonate with you?

At the rising of the sun and at its going down
We remember them.
At the blowing of the wind and in the chill of winter
We remember them.
At the opening of the buds and in the rebirth of spring
We remember them.
At the blueness of the skies and in the warmth of summer
We remember them.
At the rustling of the leaves and in the beauty of autumn
We remember them.
At the beginning of the year and when it ends
We remember them.
As long as we live, they too will live;
for they are now a part of us
as we remember them.
When we are weary and in need of strength
We remember them.
When we are lost and sick at heart
We remember them.
When we have joy we crave to share
We remember them.
When we have decisions that are difficult to make
We remember them.
When we have achievements that are based on theirs
We remember them.
As long as we live, they too will live;
for they are now a part of us
as we remember them.

• See more at: hmd.org.uk/resources/poetry/we-remember-them-sylvan-kamens-rabbi-jack-riemer#sthash.62CUE4DA.dpuf