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Combining religions in funerals


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Combining religions in funerals

My mother converted to Judaism when she married her second husband. When she died it was a little confusing to work out what kind of ceremony to have for her funeral as she was brought up a Catholic and brought up the children from her first marriage (including me) as Catholic. The funeral home was a great help in this tricky time as they worked with the rabbi to work in some of the aspects of both religions and we ended up with a really beautiful service that everyone enjoyed. This blog has ideas on how to incorporate multiple religions into one funeral service.

A Guide On How To Plan A Funeral

Planning a funeral can be a nerve-wracking experience. Unlike a wedding where the bride and groom have the final say, many friends and family would want to take part in the funeral planning process to give their respects to the deceased. Below are some funeral planning solutions that can guide you as you plan a funeral for a loved one. 

Choosing A Funeral Home

Several factors will influence your choice of a funeral home. They include: 

  • Where will you hold the funeral? Consider funeral homes within the locality. Remember, you may need to visit the funeral home severally before the burial date.
  • Does the funeral home accommodate your preferred burial method? For example, you may want to cremate your loved one or perform religious rites.
  • How clean is the funeral home? Obviously, you want the body treated with dignity. State of the art facilities, experienced staff and availability of services such as embalming and transport are a must-have.
  • Examine the pricing of funeral homes that meet the above criteria to establish which facility offers value for your money. 

Source Funding

In some cases, the deceased will have secured some funds for their funeral. For example, they may have taken life insurance or left funeral funds in a bank account. They might also have a pre-paid funeral plan. If this is the case, examine the terms of the policy to determine the expenses it caters to. You could also hold fundraising with close friends and family to raise funds for the event. 

Consider Hiring A Funeral Director

One of the challenges you might experience when planning a funeral is that you will also deal with your grief and host guests visiting your home. In most cases, you will become overwhelmed. The easiest way to handle this challenge is hiring a funeral director. The professional will take charge of the funeral planning process, thus allowing you to mourn with friends and family. Do not hire the director on impulse. Instead, conduct background checks to establish their experience, services, accreditation, reputation and licencing. 

Set A Funeral Program

The funeral program begins after the death of your loved one. Your director will determine your needs and expectations and create a program detailing the events to be conducted from when your loved one died to when you bury them. This program creates organisation and prevents mix-ups. 

When planning a funeral, choose a funeral home, source funding, hire a funeral director and create a funeral program.