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Great Gospel Funeral Songs

At Crawfordville, FL funeral homes, music is an important part of funeral services. Not only does the type of music set the tone for the service, but the selections played can bring happiness, hope, and comfort.

There are no boundaries around music, as there are around other parts of traditional funeral services, because music is the stuff of the heart and the soul and whatever we chose to play reflects who are we are and what we love and/or believe.

Gospel music is often chosen for funeral services because it offers both hope and comfort. There are many wonderful gospel songs to choose from, but here are some that are very popular to use for funeral services.

One is “I Was Standing by the Bedside of a Neighbor,” performed by Sweet Honey in the Rock. Originally written by Thomas A. Dorsey and performed by the Famous Blue Jay Singers of Birmingham in 1932, this gospel song reflects an old Southern tradition of communities gathering around to attend to their dying and a deep desire for the dying to remember them to the Savior when they see Him. It’s a wonderful uptempo song about hope and faith.

Another gospel song that is often played in the funeral marches in New Orleans jazz funerals is Louis Armstrong’s “When the Saints Go Marching In.” Recorded in 1938, this gospel classic quickly became a jazz classic as well. It expresses the joy of the saints getting their reward and the hope that the narrator is among them.

“Can the Circle be Unbroken?” has been covered by many recording artists, but there’s a singular poignancy about the original version written and recorded by The Carter Family (1935). It’s a particularly appropriate gospel song for adult children whose parents have just passed away, because it provides comfort that the family will be reunited someday.

Another popular gospel song that is played at funerals is “Amazing Grace.” There are a lot of great recorded versions, but the most powerful and moving rendition of this gospel song is when it’s played on the bagpipes (live or recorded).

“I’ll Fly Away” is a gospel song that was first recorded in 1932. For a contemporary Christian sound, the Jars of Clay version is exceptional. For a country sound, the version done by Alison Krauss and Gillian Welch for the O Brother, Where Art Thou soundtrack is an excellent choice.

A classic gospel song that is quite popular at funeral’s is Mahaiia Jackson’s “Precious Lord, Take My Hand.” It’s a song of acceptance of death, faith in God, and hope for what comes next.

“Oh Happy Day” is a gospel rendition of an hymn written in the 1700’s and is a popular choice for funeral services. The best-known version was record by the Edwin Hawkins Singers in 1969 (it became a global hit and its highest position on the Billboard 100 was number 4).

MercyMe’s “I Can Only Imagine” rounds out the list of most popular gospel songs for funerals. It speaks to the hope of what can only be imagined in this life but will be a reality when this life ends and the new life we’re promised begins.

If you would like more suggestions for funeral music at Crawfordville, FL funeral homes, our compassionate and experienced staff at Lifesong Funerals & Cremations can help. You can come by our funeral home at 20 S. Duval St., Quincy, FL 32351, or you can contact us today at (850) 627-1111.

How to Know When Grief is Complicated

Before and after Tallahassee, FL cremations, those who’ve lost their loved ones will grieve intensely. There is no time limit on grieving when we lose someone. In fact, some sort of grief will always be there to remind us that they’re gone, that we miss them, and that we love them.

However, the intense grieving that immediately follows the death of someone we love eventually should change into an embrace of our memories, punctuated by those out-of-the-blue moments when something triggers grief and tears from which we move on relatively quickly, of our loved ones that surround us like a warm blanket on a cold night when we think of them.

For some people, however, the intensity of grief never seemingly subsides. There is a continual hashing and rehashing of “would have, should have, could have” thoughts about the deceased loved one. This grief is laced with regrets, guilt, and unrequited mourning. Eventually, it can consume people to the point of obsession and debilitation.

This may be complicated grief or the result of delayed grief. Quite often, delayed grief from one loss can create complicated grief in another loss.

For instance, if one parent dies and there is an adult child who’s been asked to and/or assumes the role of taking care of the surviving parent, it is likely that adult child may delay the grieving process – unconsciously – for the loss of the first parent to be strong for and available to the surviving parent.

However, when the surviving parent dies, the delayed grieving gets activated and added to the current grieving, and creates an emotional mess that may take years to recover from. It’s nobody’s fault – not the parents nor the adult child – but it Is simply the way circumstance, personalities, and temperaments come together sometimes.

If grieving over the loss of a love one is just as intense six months after death as it was in the early days after death, there is good possibility that complicated grief is involved. If a person is finding it impossible to return to a normal life, in some shape or form, after this period of time, then they most likely have complicated grief (most of the time, the person who’s experiencing complicated grief won’t recognize it, but friends and family should be aware and step in to help if there is a need).

For many people who develop complicated grief, the relationship that they had with the deceased was extremely close and extremely positive. Because the bonds of their relationship were so deep and so strong, the feelings of sorrow, sadness, and loss get exponentially intensified. It’s rare that complicated grief occurs in people who had troubled, tense, or estranged relationships with loved ones (although it does happen from time to time).

Complicated grief can also occur if people go out of their way to not think about or be reminded of their loved one or how they died. While this is self-protective initially, it creates problems if it is sustained for an extended period of time.

While anyone can have complicated grief, people who struggle with anxiety and depression are more prone to developing it.

For grief resources before or after Tallahassee, FL cremations, our caring and knowledgeable staff at Lifesong Funerals & Cremations is here to assist you. You can visit our funeral home at 20 S. Duval St., Quincy, FL 32351, or you can call us today at (850) 627-1111.

A Guide to Funeral Attire

When attending funerals at Bristol, FL funeral homes, it’s important to know what is appropriate to wear and what is not appropriate to wear. Funerals are more somber and follow funeral traditions and customs than celebrations of life or, sometimes, memorial services. There are certain guidelines for dressing for a funeral service that should be adhered to, unless otherwise specified.

In the last couple of decades, as many churches and workplaces have gradually relaxed their standards of dress from “all dressed up” to “come as you are,” that way of dressing has spilled over into funeral homes where mourners gather to honor and remember their dead. However, for many people, casual dressing for funerals can be seen as offensive and disrespectful to both the deceased and their family.

The first rule of dressing for a funeral is to dress in a neat, clean, and low-key manner. Flashing a lot of bling or wearing a dress that is form-fitting with a plunging neckline and very short hemline will draw the attention away from the deceased and their family to someone else, and that’s very bad form.

Black is traditionally the color worn to funerals. Loud, brightly-colored clothes can not only seem flippant toward the somberness of the occasion, but it also draws attention to someone other than the deceased and their family. Navy and dark gray are also appropriate colors to wear to a funeral service.

For woman, a tailored pantsuit or plain dress (with sleeves or with a sweater, jacket, or shawl covering exposed arms) is an excellent choice of funeral attire. A wedding ring and a small watch are okay as far as jewelry goes, but avoid wearing any other jewelry that would draw attention to you. High heels are not appropriate nor are sandals or flip-flops, so pick simple dress flat shoes. Choose a small clutch if you decide to bring a purse, and leave the big “I’ve got everything but the kitchen sink in here” purse and/or bag at home.

For men, jeans, shorts, t-shirts, baseball caps, and tennis shoes are not appropriate funeral attire (unless specified by the deceased or the deceased’s family). Instead, choose a black, gray, or navy suit, a white dress shirt, and a simple tie (this is not the time to wear the Mickey Mouse or the wildly-colorful paisley ties), with matching dress shoes. Hats of any kind should not be worn inside the funeral home or during the service, so if you wear a hat or cap, remove it before walking inside the funeral home.

Appropriate funeral attire for men can also include a sports coat, an open-collared white dress shirt, and dress slacks with dress shoes.

For children old enough to attend a funeral, attire should be dress clothes. Avoid frilly or tight-fitting dresses for girls, as well as high-heeled or open-toed shoes. Boys should wear at least an open-collared dress shirt, dress pants, and dress shoes. Children need to learn and practice the traditions of respect and honor that are embedded in funeral rituals, and it’s never too early to begin that process.

Although perfumes and colognes are not technically attire, people often add them when they dress more formally. Many people now have chemical sensitivities – which can trigger coughing, sneezing, and very bad headaches – to the ingredients that go into these scents, so it’s best to avoid wearing them at all.

For additional guidance on what to wear to funerals at Bristol, FL funeral homes, our compassionate and experienced staff at Lifesong Funerals & Cremations can help. You can come by our funeral home at 20 S. Duval St., Quincy, FL 32351, or you can contact us today at (850) 627-1111.

Facts About Cremation

In the past few years, cremation has been selected by nearly half of the families involved in planning funerals and continues to grow each year. Cremation, over traditional burial has started to surge in popularity, so listed below are three items that may shed new light on some aspects of the cremation process:

Cremation Beginnings

It wasn’t until 1876 that the first official crematory was built in the United States, in Washington, Pennsylvania. Just three years earlier, the first chamber had been created in Italy, although Romans had long before stored remains during the days of their Empire. It would be another eight years before the next crematory would open, this one also being built in Pennsylvania at Lancaster.

Heat, Not Flames

Many people assume that the cremation process focuses on flames engulfing the casket or container. However, modern cremation focuses on the intense heat within the chamber, which reaches up to 2,000 degrees. This results in the ashes or cremains, though any remaining bone fragments are pressed into a fine powder.

Not Everything Burns

During this process, the body will be converted into ashes, but many items inside a body may not. These include gold teeth fillings, metal plates, screws or prostheses, and in some cases, surgical scissors. Before the ashes are removed, these items are collected by using an electromagnet, and are later disposed in the proper manner.

Lifesong has the experience to make sure that each cremation we handle is performed with the utmost sensitivity and respect for the deceased. If the need arises in the future, we are ready to assist.

Innovative Things to Do with Cremains

After Quincy cremations, many people want meaningful ways to use the cremains of their loved ones, instead of having them sit in an urn on a mantel in the house. There many new and different ways to use cremains.

One way to use cremains is to have them made into memorial jewelry. Whether it’s a bracelet, a necklace, or a ring, a small amount of your loved one’s cremains are set inside the jewelry so that you can literally have them with you all the time.

Another creative way to use cremains is to have them infused into fireworks. There are specialty fireworks companies that will use the cremains and create a spectacular fireworks show that will let your loved one light the night skies.

A very nice way to help the planet and memorialize your loved one is by incorporating their cremains, using pyramid-shaped Solace Stones, into artificial reefs that are placed on the bottom of the ocean. These help create vibrant environments where sea life can grow and thrive.

Some people get tattoos to remember their loved ones after they die. Some tattooing studios now will create custom inks using the loved ones’ cremains. Then they use the inks to create the tattoo that commemorates the loved ones.

Biodegradable urns are becoming a popular option for using cremains. These urns contain nutrient-rich soil which is mixed with the cremains. A plant or tree seed is planted in the urn, and then you just plant it in the ground. Not only is new life being brought into the world, but the plant or tree is a lasting memorial to your loved one and a place where family can gather to remember them.

Another way to use cremains is to turn them into a diamond. While this may not be an affordable option for everyone, it is certainly a unique way to remember your loved one.

For music lovers, an incredible way to use their cremains is by having them pressed into a vinyl record filled with the music they loved, the music you shared together, or the music they played. Customized artwork to fit the album is created to make this one of the most unique ways to use cremains.

If your loved one’s wishes were for their cremains to be at one with water, a Viking sendoff might be the perfect way to accomplish that. There are companies that make wicker Viking ships with sails that will float on the water. The cremains can be placed inside and the ship can be set off to sail away.

Another interesting way to use a loved one’s cremains is to create cremation portraits using them. There are artists who are skilled in making these portraits, which become permanent keepsakes that you can see daily when they’re done.

You can also bury cremains. Many cemeteries allow the burial of urns in cemetery plots or have a special section, called an urn garden, where urns can be buried. This is often what happens when spouses die years apart. The spouse who died first had a tradition burial, while the spouse who died later was cremated. But they wanted to be together in death as they were in life, so burying the urn in a plot beside the other spouse makes this wish come true.

For more ideas about what to do with cremains after Quincy cremations, our caring and knowledgeable staff at Lifesong Funerals & Cremations is here to assist you. You can visit our funeral home at 20 S. Duval St., Quincy, FL 32351, or you can call us today at (850) 627-1111.