Looking for ideas for my dad's memorial service. A little help please?

[yewberry]

My dad passed away on Thursday and we're having a service. There's apparently a thing that they do at these events that involves some kind a prayer card... we're Uni-Uni and not terribly religious so I'm looking for something instead of an actual prayer.

My brother is leaning toward something from Desiderata but Dad was really more of a BB King guy. Loved books and blues and bridge, and gone far too soon. I'm drawing a blank. Anyone have any ideas? Thanks for any suggestions.

[marym625]

1. I'm so sorry for your loss

Truly.

Here's a link to some great, non religious poetry. I love Dylan Thomas but there are many others.

I'm sure whatever you pick, it will be perfect.

http://www.funeralhelper.org/funeral-poetry/non-religious-funeral-poetry.html

[yewberry]

2. Thank you marym.

I appreciate your kind words. Funny thing, I did think of Death Will Have No Dominion.

[marym625]

3. Then there you go

[irisblue]

4. I am so sorry about your Father

I so wish your family only the best on the grief journey.
I googled BB King & Funerals.... the intertubes gave me back Luther Vandross... Dancing with my Father....what I would give to see my Dad 40 years on....and dance with him.

[yewberry]

5. Thank you. I'm not really sure it's actually sunk in.

It's quite a loss for us.

[KMOD]

6. I'm sorry for the loss of your father.

I'm sure whatever you choose will be fine, whether it's a lyrics, a quote, a poem.

[yewberry]

11. Thank you.

I appreciate your kindness. It's a very sad time for us.

[riderinthestorm]

7. I don't have any ideas but I do have a hug for you

I am so sorry about your dad...

[yewberry]

12. I'll take it.

And thanks.

[msanthrope]

8. Prayer cards are great because they are laminated, and you can stick them, for years and years into

mirrors, wallets, car visors, etc....

So make it count.

You have a back and a front. You and your brother can have both.


I wish you well, I wish your family peace....and I am sorry for your loss.

[yewberry]

13. Eek, you're right.

But then, I think that what people remember about my dad won't be what we write on a card. Thank you for the encouragement and for reminding me we have more than one option.

[handmade34]

9. "Something beautiful remains"

We're living in world, stars and dust
Between heaven 'n all that surrounds us
We're travellers here, spirits passing through
And the love we give, is all that will endure
Just like a rose after the rain
Something beautiful remains
Tears will leave no stains
Time will ease the pain
For every life that fades
Something beautiful remains

?list=RD47FzTNBeliY

[MrMickeysMom]

10. BB's lyrics to this tune might be good to include in his prayer card...

from, "Peace to the World" lyrics

There's a train of love
Beginning right here
So jump on to it
And have no fear
It's yours, it's mine
We got the call
Let's all get together
And bring peace to the world

Best to you and yours,

MMM

[LiberalElite]

14. First, I'm sorry for your loss

- I always liked this poem but it may not be what you're looking for:


http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/do-not-stand-at-my-grave-and-weep/

[Kali]

15. heh, we had a quote from Charles Darwin on my Father's cards...

and his picture and a line drawing of a saguaro.


Sorry for your loss. Lyrics of a favorite song would work very well. I hope you find something perfect.

[shenmue]

16. {{{Yewberry}}}

[lastlib]

17. This song makes me cry every time I hear it--but it's so uplifting...

[orleans]

18. i think a song by b.b. king would be wonderful to hear at the service

the thrill is gone evokes a lot of emotion

or even the song "into the night" would be powerful and bring a combination of emotions -- it has a kick-ass quality and a winsome quality (in my opinion). hearing it at a memorial would make me smile & cry

for prayer card ideas maybe check out this link:
http://www.memorialprayercards.com/pages/prayercollection.html

you can always alter/change words to personalize them

or you can edit lyrics such as:

"i wish you bluebirds in the spring
to give your heart a song to sing
and then a kiss, but more than this, i wish you love.

and in july, a lemonade,
to cool you in some leafy glade,
i wish you health, and more than wealth, i wish you love.

i wish you shelter from the storm,
a cozy fire to keep you warm,
but most of all, when snowflakes fall, i wish you love."

--lyrical excerpt from I Wish You Love by Albert A. Beach
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Que_reste-t-il_de_nos_amours_%3F

if you use something like the lyrics above the voice in the message could be either your father's voice sending the message to the reader, or the reader's voice sending the message to your father.

and, in case you're not familiar with the song (it was recorded by nat king cole--there's an into to the song)

and later, his daughter:

i'm so sorry to hear about your dad.

[HappyMe]

19. I'm sorry for the loss of your dad.

Look through some BB King or other blues songs for an appropriate lyric that reminds you of your dad.

[kwassa]

20. My dad had a UU service.

One thing that I found important is that people get up and talk about him, which is what I did. Many funerals are very impersonal, with eulogies delivered by clergy who didn't know the deceased well, or at all. I was the one to speak, as most of my family is too reserved to do it. It is good to have an open time for friends to get up and speak, too.

Did he belong to a specific UU church for a long time? There should be lots of people that know him, then. We also did a big photo display of him from family photos of him at various stages of his life. The people who came really appreciated that.

My dad also happened to belong to the choir, and the choir performed at the funeral. He got a good send-off for a weekday funeral. He had requested to be cremated, and his ashes were scattered in a garden behind the church. That was done a couple of weeks later in a small ceremony.

I think a good B.B. King song would be "The Thrill is Gone", a beautifully sad song, with the right feeling for the occasion.

[Sherman A1]

21. Sorry for Your Loss

Just did a memorial for my Mom who passed away last year. I used a passage written by a Civil War Soldier that seemed to go over pretty well. If you would like I will PM it to you.

As far at the "prayer" cards go. They are very handy for anyone doing family genealogy.

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

22. Make a music tape

of blues and rock that calls to mind spirituality like 'Into the Mystic", "Spirit in the Sky", "Let the Mystery Be' and so on...........