When you lose someone you love, writing and giving their eulogy is a huge honour, but it’s also a huge responsibility. If you have been asked to write a eulogy but you aren’t sure where to start, don’t worry because we’ve got you covered. In this blog post, we will talk you through how to write a moving eulogy, pitfalls to watch out for, and we will arm you with tips for getting through giving the eulogy you write on the day of your loved one’s funeral. Let’s start with the basics. What is a eulogy? Simply put, a eulogy is a spoken tribute to someone who has passed away, given at their funeral or memorial service. There are no hard and fast rules as to who should give the eulogy at a funeral. The eulogy can be given by a spouse, son or daughter, grandchild, sibling or even a friend. It may fall to you by default, you may be asked to give the eulogy, or you might even volunteer to step up. What makes a good eulogy? There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to how to write a moving eulogy, but all eulogies have one thing in common; they are a final farewell and celebration of the life of the person who has passed away. A good eulogy will capture the essence of the deceased and bring them back to life in the minds of the audience, almost like they are in the room with you all. It is heartfelt, meaningful and honest. The average eulogy is 3 – 5 minutes long, and written with both the deceased person and the audience in mind. Keep the tone conversational – you are celebrating your loved one’s life and conversing with a room full of friends. There is no need for big words or grand statements. How do I start writing a eulogy? Getting started can be difficult, but it’s important not to leave writing the eulogy to the last minute. Start by considering the person you are writing about and brainstorming. Note down what kind of person they were, who their family is (spouse, sons, daughters, grandchildren, siblings etc) and who they are survived by. What was your loved one known for? Think of specific examples that characterise this. For example, if your loved one was known for their kindness, share a specific example of a time they demonstrated this. If they were known for their wicked sense of humour, think of something funny they did such as a particularly good April Fool’s prank! Decide on the tone of the eulogy you want to deliver. Remember, a eulogy doesn’t have to be sad and mournful. Depending on the person it is celebrating, it could have elements of humour or be uplifting and inspiring as well as being sad. Now it’s time to start writing. If the officiant does not introduce you, ensure you start by introducing yourself and explain your link to the deceased person. … Read More
Pre-planning your own funeral
Pre-planning your own funeral has become increasingly popular in recent years. In this article, we will explore why you may choose to pre plan your own funeral and what is involved. Why should you plan your own funeral? There are many advantages to planning your own funeral. Perhaps the biggest advantage of pre planning your own funeral is that doing so allows you to ensure that your wishes around the way your life is celebrated are respected. You are able to choose whether you are buried or cremated, whether or not your ceremony is religious and the type of coffin you will be laid to rest in, along with a host of other important details of your final farewell. You can design your service to be exactly as you wish, setting the tone for the celebration of your life with your own choice of music, songs, readings and even the dress code. By preplanning your funeral, you get to be remembered the way you wish to be. Another important advantage of having a pre-arranged funeral is that if you pre-pay for your own funeral, your loved ones are spared the stress of making arrangements in what is usually a matter of days, and paying what can add up to a large sum of money. The people you love the most will be freed of the burden of financial stress and able to grieve their loss without added worry. Finally, having a pre arranged funeral means that at any time you can change your mind about what you want. Perhaps you plan to be buried, you pre-arrange your funeral and then a few years later you decide you’d rather be cremated; that’s okay! It’s as simple as contacting us to let us know of your change of preferences. Is it weird to plan your own funeral? In short, absolutely not! In fact, planning your funeral is a final and loving gift you leave behind, easing the burden on your family of planning and paying for a funeral. In fact, more and more people are choosing to pre-pay and pre-arrange their own funeral because they don’t want their family to have additional worry and stress when they pass away. How do you pre plan your own funeral? The first step to pre-arranging your own funeral is establishing what your wishes are around the end of your life. There can be a lot to consider that you may not have thought of, so if you haven’t already, click here to read our blog post about final wishes, and download our free Final Wishes Planner to help you. Once you have established what your end of life wishes are, the next step is to get in touch with us. Childers-Woodgate Funeral Services offers pre-arranged pre-paid funerals in conjunction with Bundaberg based company Flexible Funeral Benefits Pty Ltd. To read their brochure, click here. Our friendly team will be happy to answer any questions you may have, and will walk you through the process of … Read More
How do I talk to my family about my final wishes?
There is no doubt that talking to your friends and family about your final wishes can be a difficult and emotional conversation for all involved – many people find talking about death uncomfortable, particularly talking to your children about what to do when you die. However, one of the few certainties of life is death. Whether you have a terminal illness or are fit and healthy, we never know when our time will come, so regardless of how difficult it may be, discussing your final wishes is an important conversation that you shouldn’t ignore. In fact, documenting your final wishes and ensuring your loved ones are aware of those wishes is a loving gift you can leave behind when you pass away. What are your final wishes? Before you discuss your final wishes with your friends and family, it is important that you decide what your wishes are. It is important to make decisions around whether you would like a religious funeral in a church, or a more casual memorial. Would you like to be buried or cremated? There are many questions to take into consideration, and our free printable final wishes template can help you to map out your wishes in an easy to complete and read format. Use the completed worksheets during your discussion with your family and ensure your next of kin and at least one other person has a copy and knows where the original is stored. One of the most challenging parts of having this conversation is getting started. In this blog post, we will give you some tips for initiating the conversation around death, end of life wishes and ensuring that your wishes are respected when you pass away. How do I start? How you open the conversation around your final wishes may feel awkward, but it is important. We would suggest making your intentions of opening the door to this discussion clear to your friends and family – it’s best not to blindside them. Decide who you would like to be involved in the conversation, and set a time and place for this to take place. Where would those involved in the discussion feel most at ease? For some, this might mean arranging for your discussion to take place on neutral ground. For others, a meeting around the kitchen table might be the most comfortable. Ensuring everyone feels as comfortable as possible – including yourself – is important. Express to those you wish to include how important it is to you to have this conversation, as this makes it more likely for them to willingly participate. At first, you may find it easier to limit the number of people involved in the conversation and then include others later. It is important that everyone who will be involved in making arrangements after you pass away is included in the conversation at some point, as this can help to avoid conflict when the time comes. You might even like to practice the conversation around your … Read More
What is a direct cremation?
While traditional funeral services often involve a church or civil service and a graveside service, a direct cremation is a cremation that takes place with no attended service. Also known as unattended cremations or no service cremations, direct cremations have become increasingly popular over the past year due to the restrictions in place due to Covid-19. They offer an affordable option for cremating a loved one who has passed away, while still allowing for a memorial service to be planned for a later date if you so wish. How much does a direct cremation cost? The good news is that direct cremations offer an affordable alternative to traditional funerals. While the cost of a traditional funeral can quickly add up, the cost of a direct cremation is limited to fees incurred by the transportation of the deceased person, crematorium fees, registration of death and other paperwork and the return of the ashes to the next of kin. In contrast to this, the cost of a traditional funeral includes the funeral director’s time in arranging the funeral, mortuary care fees, transport, church fees, catering and multiple transportations of the body of the deceased person. Benefits of a direct cremation While many people prefer a traditional funeral and cremation, there are some benefits to having a direct cremation. Direct cremations are a more budget friendly option, and they ease the stress of planning a service during a time of grief and distress. Planning a memorial after a direct cremation allows you to show love and respect for your loved one who has passed away, and add personalised touches such as an ashes scattering ceremony to your memorial event. Planning a memorial after a direct cremation A direct cremation can ease the pressure on family of planning a funeral service in a matter of days, allowing for a memorial service to be held at a later date. Memorial services often allow for greater creativity and flexibility than a traditional funeral service. You may choose to hold the memorial service after cremation at a place that was special to your loved one, or to include activities or tributes that a highly personalised. We will discuss how to go about planning a memorial on our blog in the coming weeks. Final thoughts… We hope this article about direct cremations has answered some of the questions you may have around what direct cremations are, how much they cost and what some of the benefits are. Please contact us for help in arranging a direct cremation in Childers, Woodgate, Gin Gin, Apple Tree Creek or the surrounding areas. My Final Wishes Planner Please Enter Your Details Below to Download our FREE My Final Wishes Printable Workbook. Your Story Booklet Please Enter Your Details Below to Download the Australian Funeral Directors Association “Your Story” booklet. Honouring Life Booklet Please Enter Your Details Below to Download the Australian Funeral Directors Association “Honouring Life” booklet.