What is the order of a memorial service?

Answer 1

Depends on the religion, if there is one, but essentially it is up to you respectfully. My father's was like this: We had a lot of memorabilgia and pictures set up in the front of the church and played a lot of his favorite music as guests arrived and greeted the family. The pastor opened with prayer and some scripture about death and life. We played his favorite song (cuz no one was able to sing without crying). I read a poem that my sister wanted to read, but was unable to. I gave his eulogy. We played another song and the pastor asked everyone in the congregation to stand and share memories of my father. The pastor closed with a prayer and we played more music as everyone shared condolences with the family and departed. My father was cremated so we did not have a graveside service, but if we had, I think it would have gone something like this. After the funeral we would have had viewing and pall bearers would have carried him to the hearst. A funeral procession, with family following the hearst and others following them would have gone to the cemetary. The pastor would have opened with another prayer, (he was in the military) so we would have had honor guard with a gun salute and presentation of the flag to the family. We would have closed with a prayer and probably would have given everyone a ballon to release at the end of the service or placed a flower on the casket as it is lowered. I have been to a lot of funerals and although this one was my father's, my grandfather was a funeral director and this is just kind of a generic order for a service. Something I tried to remember was that the service is for the living. Celebrate your memories of your loved one.

Answer 2

Apart from the mortuary context- it is essentially a Mass like any other and has the normal Introit, entry hymn, prayers, epistle, Gospel, sermon and Communion and the various rites that bridge these. Hymns are played- appropriately serious ones- and in some cases bells are sounded in time with the hymns, not actually a Carillon.