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Funeral planning
Jan. 21st, 2021 11:51 pmI have spent this evening planning my funeral.
Not, I hasten to add, because there is anything wrong with me! As far as I know, this is an event which is not imminent. But we were talking about it on Christmas Day (cheery family that we are), and although my mother has provided us all with a detailed description of what she wants (a conversation which began with 'You'll need to book a double slot at the crematorium'), none of the rest of us really have a clue what the others would like. My father has been exempted on the basis that he doesn't much care, and my mother is very likely to outlive him and will actually enjoy planning his funeral.
I still have some admin to do on a list of who should be notified, where it should be announced online, and other information that would be useful for my executors and family to have. But the funeral planning was surprisingly fun. You will not be surprised to learn that I have strong views on what I do and do not want. In bold capitals I have written: NO EULOGY AND NO PHOTOS. They can have them at the wake if they want, but not in the church. I have specified bright colours for the flowers, but that no one is to be told what to wear. I have chosen proper hymns and they are not to be played in modernised versions with bits added and terrible tunes.
The readings will be: Song of Songs 8:6-7, Isaiah 25:6-9 and Revelation 21:1-27
The hymns are: For all the saints who from their labours rest; Love divine, all loves excelling; O the deep, deep love of Jesus; and From the Squalor of a Borrowed Stable.
The overall theme is the love that is stronger than death.
I am very pleased with this. Obviously I shall have to revisit it every so often, especially the notes on who could be asked to do what. But I think it is a service that conveys the things I most want people to be thinking about at my funeral, in a way that is particular and special to me.
Not, I hasten to add, because there is anything wrong with me! As far as I know, this is an event which is not imminent. But we were talking about it on Christmas Day (cheery family that we are), and although my mother has provided us all with a detailed description of what she wants (a conversation which began with 'You'll need to book a double slot at the crematorium'), none of the rest of us really have a clue what the others would like. My father has been exempted on the basis that he doesn't much care, and my mother is very likely to outlive him and will actually enjoy planning his funeral.
I still have some admin to do on a list of who should be notified, where it should be announced online, and other information that would be useful for my executors and family to have. But the funeral planning was surprisingly fun. You will not be surprised to learn that I have strong views on what I do and do not want. In bold capitals I have written: NO EULOGY AND NO PHOTOS. They can have them at the wake if they want, but not in the church. I have specified bright colours for the flowers, but that no one is to be told what to wear. I have chosen proper hymns and they are not to be played in modernised versions with bits added and terrible tunes.
The readings will be: Song of Songs 8:6-7, Isaiah 25:6-9 and Revelation 21:1-27
The hymns are: For all the saints who from their labours rest; Love divine, all loves excelling; O the deep, deep love of Jesus; and From the Squalor of a Borrowed Stable.
The overall theme is the love that is stronger than death.
I am very pleased with this. Obviously I shall have to revisit it every so often, especially the notes on who could be asked to do what. But I think it is a service that conveys the things I most want people to be thinking about at my funeral, in a way that is particular and special to me.