Eulogies, or remembrances, have been an integral part of funeral services for centuries. They are more commonly performed as speeches praising the deceased but can also be a written memoriam. Eulogies are usually presented by a family member or close family friend.

For many people, music is one of the most important parts of a memorial. The songs chosen to play at a funeral set a certain tone, touch mourners on an emotional level, and give many a sense of peace and hope. Music can be uplifting, solemn, or comforting and can have deep personal meaning for family and friends. Musical selections can help loved-ones through the process of saying goodbye.

When death occurs to a child or youth it is devastating to the parents. No one expects to outlive their children. Friends and family will be a support network for the adults involved and many will seek out support groups dedicated to helping parents cope with their loss. If there are young siblings within the family unit they are often overlooked when it comes to getting and receiving grief counseling. 

Funeral preplanning is becoming more and more popular in the 21^st century. It can include simple instructions or minute details left for loved ones to follow after death. When deciding whether to be buried or cremated you might also want to consider what type of grave marker to be used. Do you want a simple plaque with your name and dates or something a bit more ornate depicting something important in your life?   

Funerals serve many purposes. They help validate the reality of death, provide an atmosphere for mourning and grief and allow people to remember and honor their loved one in a special way. 

Most of us wouldn’t think that preplanning a funeral is a way of telling your family how much you love and appreciate them. If you’re like most people, the discussion of death and dying it’s a topic that is usually avoided. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Think of it as another way of saying “I love you”.

The modern day burial casket can trace its roots back to ancient Egypt where nobles were wrapped in cloth and entombed in an ornately decorated box called a sarcophagus. Since that time there have been many incarnations of the burial coffin depending upon the region and societal customs. 

The Victorian era of the 19^th century brought about a number of funeral rituals and customs in the Western world that many still follow today. The body of the deceased was watched over every minute until burial giving the custom of ‘waking’. The wake also served as a safeguard from buying someone who was not dead but in a coma. These wakes lasted 3-4 days to allow relatives to arrive from distant locations. The use of flowers and candles was not done to honor the deceased but to help mask the unpleasant odors in the room before embalming became a common occurrence.