The Steps to Creating a Memorable Service in Tennessee Funeral Homes

A Tennessee funeral home spokesperson says that planning a funeral is a task not many wish to undertake, but at times, you don’t have much choice in the matter. In the event this is the case, Tennessee funeral homes recommend having some kind of outline in mind to make arranging the funeral easier than it otherwise would be. A representative from one of the Tennessee area funeral homes says that creating a task-list ahead of time, no matter how painful it is, can help create a beautiful and memorable funeral service.

According to the Tennessee funeral homes, your task-list will contain a few general tasks as well as more specific ones. To begin with, according to funeral homes, it’s important to look at the specific requirements and steps of a well planned funeral service.

Date and time: A Tennessee funeral home rep strongly suggests you assign a date and time which the burial or cremation will take place, as well as one for the memorial service or visitation. Most often, funerals are held in the Tennessee funeral home you have booked. The staff within the funeral homes will be able to help you find an available time and date. You could also hold the funeral outside of the elected funeral home, and once again, the staff should be able to assist you with organizing this. Keep in mind that funeral attendance is usually higher during weekends and in the late afternoon or evenings.

The memorial ceremony: Most traditional ceremonies in Tennessee area funeral homes begin with a hymn or chant, followed by a prayer or a short sermon by the preacher, the eulogy and perhaps a concluding prayer. Your funeral home representative should be able to help you with the format depending on your religious beliefs and spiritual needs. Speak to the staff- most funeral homes found in Tennessee will also be able to guide you in the selection of appropriate hymns and prayers, or refer you to someone who can guide you in this matter. Remember that if you are electing to move away from a traditional ceremony and create something more tailor made to suit the deceased’s last wishes, you may need to get special permission depending on what you plan. Once again, the funeral director from the funeral home should be able to help you arrange this.

A eulogy: A eulogy is a tribute speech which someone close to the deceased elects to undertake. If you are going to be doing the eulogy and are unsure, ask the Tennessee funeral home you are working with for some guidelines. A typical eulogy will include sharing special happy memories, personal achievements and even trials and tribulations through which the person emerged victorious. According to one Tennessee funeral home, they often recommend everyone in the room participates in the eulogy or memorial ceremony, even if it’s a line or two of personal memories that they wish to share. Of course if someone is uncomfortable talking or sharing their memories, the funeral home rep adds, it should be okay if they sit out, without being made to feel uncomfortable.

The same Tennessee funeral home representative says that there are other ways to make the ceremony as personalized as possible. And this is the key point to making a funeral memorable for those who attend. Some of the things which can be done include:

Creating a hardcopy or email keepsake: One suggestion which comes from one of the funeral homes is to ask friends and family members to send you emails or photographs which are of special memories of your loved one. Paste them into a document, which you can read at the service, or even distribute to all who attend at the end of the ceremony. Another related idea according to the funeral home representative in Tennessee is to organize a slideshow based on photographs and quotes collected and show it at the memorial ceremony, wake, or visitation. If you can’t do either of the above, a collage, according to another funeral home in Tennessee also works well in remembering the life and times of your loved one.

Reading a poem or paragraph or short story at the service: A popular choice according to one of the Tennessee funeral homes is to select something that your loved one enjoyed, penned or even sung, and read it out at the service in memory of him. This is one of the most meaningful ways, according to a spokesperson at a funeral home found in Tennessee, to celebrate the life and likes of the recently deceased. If you can’t think of any poems or books to include, you can also make up a CD or DVD of their favorite music to play at the ceremony.

According to funeral home staff, funeral services are created to celebrate the life of a person gone. But they are also a way to keep their memory alive long after they’re bodies have been interred into the ground. You can create a service that you know your loved one would have been proud of, and that you and your family can be satisfied creating, together with a funeral home in Tennessee.

Remember, we are here to help you all day, every day with your funeral and cremation needs. We're open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To contact us, simply call 1-877-989-9090. At any time of day or night, you will be able to speak with one of our trained, sympathetic and understanding representatives.