Tips for planning a non-religious funeral service

When the death of a loved one occurs, thoughts tend to turn to religion, but this doesn't apply to everyone. Here's how to plan a non-religious funeral service.

When the death of a loved one occurs, thoughts tend to turn to religion. Even those who don't generally practice any type of religious beliefs sometimes seek a higher power during these times for solace and for insight into what happens next. This doesn't, however, apply to everyone.

Those interested in a completely non-religious funeral service should consider working closely with a funeral director. While funeral directors can provide valuable assistance for any type of funeral, they are especially helpful for those who do not hold any religious beliefs, and they can assume the duties often performed by a person's or family's religious leader.

A major problem many people face in the wake of a death is the number of decisions that need to be made quickly. Since most funerals take place just a few days after the death occurs, much of the planning must be done in the midst of the grieving process, making every detail of such an important event even more difficult to deal with.

A funeral director can help lessen the stress of a non-religious funeral by handling many aspects of the preparations. Although the family will still have to notify people and inform them of the time and place of the funeral, a funeral director can take care of almost all other details, including the small elements that can easily slip the mind of someone who is grieving a recent loss.

A non-religious funeral is known as a Humanist ceremony. The funeral director will take care of practical details such as:

• Placing sincere focus on the deceased
• Permitting relatives, friends and acquaintances the opportunity to express their personal feelings and share with others memories they have of the person who died
• Providing warmth and comfort
• Preparing a ceremony for the bereaved that expresses the personality of the deceased
• Paying tribute to the life of the person who has died, the unique way this individual touched those left behind
• Ensuring the ceremony is nondescript and does not mention anything that may add a religious undertone in order to remain consistent with the beliefs and principles of the deceased and all of those in attendance

Most funerals put the focus on religion. Non-religious funerals put all of the focus on the person who has died, how this person lived and how the loving family and friends will carry on without this beloved person in their lives. Funerals are never easy, but with the help of a funeral director, the process can be much smoother.