Funeral Songs

Selecting Funeral Songs for Ceremonies

At any event, music sets a mood, encourages emotion and welcomes guests. A funeral is no different. During a funeral, music provides a background that invites mourners to mingle and comfort each other. Ideally, musical selections should:


Buddhist Funeral Service Rituals

Note: Buddhist funeral customs vary between traditions or “schools” and even within schools. They may also vary depending on the country—for example, Zen in Taiwan and Zen in Japan are different. The following information is general and applies to many or most Buddhist traditions. If you have specific questions related to Buddhist funeral customs for […]


Funeral Resources

Looking For More Funeral - Related Information? If you need more information on funeral planning, grief, customs, or other funeral-related issues, you can find more information in books, organizations and on other websites. We are happy to offer various sources of useful information organized in the following categories



A How-to Guide for Making Funeral Arrangements

What To Do When Someone Dies Here you can learn what to do if a friend or loved one has just died or if death is expected sometime soon. The following guides will take you through the steps of arranging a funeral from making the first call when someone dies to the various arrangements to be made following the funeral.


Native American Funeral Customs

Native American Funeral Service Rituals

In 1990, the U.S. census estimated the Native American Indian and Alaskan Native population to be about 1.9 million. Among these people are an enormous variety of beliefs and practices. Although Native American nations do not share a single faith or common practice, some suggestions for proper behavior during sacred ceremonies can be derived from worldviews based on spiritual values. Centuries ahead of current eco-friendly trends, Native American burials are naturally green.


Jewish Funeral Customs

Jewish Funeral Service Rituals

Jewish funeral service rituals and practices have traditionally adhered to a strong set of customs and beliefs rooted in the Torah. Despite the similarity of funeral customs across all sects of Judaism, they can vary depending on the specific sect. The following information is based on general Jewish funeral customs. We explore each sect specifically […]



Episcopal Funeral Service Rituals

As in other Christian faiths, funeral services are held in a church or funeral home. Guests may sit where they choose and are not expected to view the body. A priest leads the service and sometimes includes a Bible lesson as part of the program.


Roman Catholic Funeral Service Rituals

Overview of Beliefs and Practices “Roman Catholic” refers to the Christian church that recognizes the Pope and Vatican as the authority and representation of God’s teachings. Today, there are about 1.2 billion Roman Catholics around the world. Catholics teach that Jesus died to redeem man from sin. They believe in immortality and that in death […]


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