Add A Personal Touch To Your Funeral Reading

A funeral is a lovely way to remember a loved one who has passed away.  Although funerals are sad events, they can be comforting to those who were close to the deceased and provide closure as well.  There are several different parts of a funeral that must be planned.  Many of these things are mundane-type decisions, but other decisions that you are required to make allow you to add a personal touch to the funeral, which is greatly appreciated by the attendees.  One of these decisions is the choice of funeral reading.  The funeral reading is often included in the funeral or memorial service and can bring an entire room to tears.  Usually, there are approximately two to four funeral reading during a funeral service.  The funeral reading can be read by the minister performing the service, or it could be read by various family members of the deceased.

What Can A Funeral Reading Be?

A funeral reading can be almost any type of literature imaginable; you can use scripture from the bible, poetry, inspirational quotes and sayings, prayers, proverbs, toasts, ethnic sayings, famous speeches—the list goes on and on.

More traditional services frequently use scripture or passages from the Bible as a funeral reading.  For example, one common Christian scripture that can be read at a funeral goes as follows: “Jesus said to them, 'I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. Everything that the Father gives me will come to me, and anyone who comes to me I will never drive away; for I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. This is indeed the will of my Father, that all who see the Son and believe in him may have eternal life; and I will raise them up on the last day.'”

Other funeral reading are more expressive of the deceased person.  Perhaps you want to choose a poem, quote, or song that they liked.  Maybe you want to read a letter that they wrote, or a short speech written by a loved one.  This can add a more personal touch than a scripture funeral reading.