3 Tips for Planning a Funeral Which Incorporates Multiple Faiths
by Sophie Barnes
If you need to plan a funeral for someone who had no strong faith, but whose family members and loved ones come from many different faiths, you may feel that you face a dilemma. While some family members may be upset if you have a non-religious funeral, others may be upset if you hold a funeral which celebrates one faith but not another. Below is a guide which will help you to plan a funeral which honours the deceased while also meeting the wishes of those left behind.
Speak with close family and friends of the deceased
The worst thing you can do is to make decisions about which faiths will or will not be included in the service. The shock that mourners may experience when they realise that the funeral is not going to proceed as they imagined could be enough to cause serious problems. You can overcome this by speaking to them in advance. You should arrange a time to meet when you can take your time to discuss the issues in detail.
You then need to remain calm and explain the position you are in. Namely, that the deceased did not have a strong faith and that there will be close relatives and friends of different faiths at the service. The people you speak with in this way may not agree with your decision to organise a funeral which contains multiple faith traditions, at least they will not be taken by surprise when they turn up on the day of the funeral.
Integrate the different traditions
While it will be impossible to please everyone, you should do your best to integrate the different religious traditions which will be in attendance. For example, you may choose a Christian hymn which can be sung as the coffin is brought into the memorial service. If members of the Jewish faith will be present, you could arrange for the Mourner's Kaddish to be read during the service.
Speak with your funeral director
The funeral director is the key person who can help you to organise a funeral service which incorporates different religious traditions. The funeral director will have a lot of experience in dealing with people from different faiths and so will be able to offer you lots of great advice. I
If you would like further advice about how to plan a funeral, you should contact local funeral planning services today for more information.
Share
About Me
Losing a child is the hardest thing anyone could ever go through – I know because it happened to me. Through the grief, I had to find new ways to breathe, to function and to live. Of course, I also had to plan a funeral and memorial service for my child. If you have lost a child or a baby or had a stillborn, you have probably shared many of these feelings. If this has just happened to you, you may be wondering what to do next. First, I extend my sympathy, and secondly, I offer you this blog to help you grieve and help you understand the basics of funeral planning. Take care.