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Some inspirational readings to help you say farewell ...

There are usually one or two main readings throughout a funeral ceremony, plus perhaps an additional one if there is a graveside interment or separate committal.  These are usually chosen according to the character and beliefs of the individual to whom we're saying farewell.   Some readings are funny, some very poignant, and some religious or spiritual and these are arranged in sections which you can go to directly by clicking on the link below:

General readings and poems

Babies and children

Spiritual poems and readings

Religious readings

Hobbies and interests

Humorous poems

Even if you feel you have no personal beliefs, please don't forget to have a look at the spiritual and religious texts as some of those readings might strike a real chord with you and they're very beautiful.  If you don't see quite what you're looking for, please speak to me and I will suggest readings for you.

I will usually read these on your behalf within the ceremony but you might also like a close family friend or relative who's a confident speaker to read one of these for you, but don't feel that you have to have someone do that.    

Just click on the name of the text to see the whole reading which will open up on the page in pdf format..

General readings and poems 

You may recognise some of these readings - many are particularly well known, but there are lots that you probably have never heard before.  Most of the poems with pronouns such as He is Gone can be changed to suit the person.

He is Gone

by David Harkins

A Good Man Never Dies

by James Riley

To my Father

by Georgia Harkness

Clock of Life

by Robert H Smith

Cry Not for Me

by Ruth van Bramberg

Goodbye for Now

by David Whyte

Imagine

by Yvonne Goddard

I Sat With You Today

by Paula O'Brien

Remember Me

by Margaret Mead

Farewell

by Rabindranath Tagore

For Grief

by John O'Donohue

Intimations of Immortality

by William Wordsworth

When Life Comes to an End

by Ruth Van Gramberg

Last Fight

by Lorna Ferguson

No Matter What

by Debbie Giorni

Remember Me When I Am Gone Away

by Christina Rosetti

The Scot Within Me 

by S Moltazavi

Life Goes On

by Joyce Grenfell

Leisure 

by W H Davies

Instructions

by Arnold Crompton

and if your loved one had dementia ...

These three little poems are partic ularly poignant if your loved one was in this situation and these would usually be read out in the introduction of a ceremony.

For babies and children

Each Day

by Graham Allaway

Gone Too Soon

by Stephen Meara-Blount

Never

by K Fugleberg

Too Soon

by Mary Yarnall

Spiritual readings and poems

Do Not Stand at my Grave and Weep

by Mary Elizabeth Frye

I Am Not Gone

by Injete Chesoni

Death is Nothing At All

by Henry Scott Holland

Belief

by Ann Thorp

On Death

by Kahlil Gibran

I am There

by Iris Hesselden

Beannacht

by John O'Donohue

Fear

by Kahlil Gibran

Religious readings and poems

A Song of Living

by Anelia Josephine Barr

Prayer

by John Donne

Poems relating to hobbies and interests

Gone Fishin'

by Delmar Pepper

Trout Fishing

by Eunice Lamberton

The Ship

by Henry Van Dyke

Crossing the Bar

by Alfred, Lord Tennyson

The Unknown Shore

by Elizabeth Clark Hardy

Winter Seascape

by Sir John Betjamin

Descent

by Robert Gwalchmai

Suilven

by Melanie Challenger

A Legacy of Stitches

by Sandra Andersen

Life is Like a Round of Golf

by Criswell Freeman

High Flight

by John Magee

Lighthearted and humorous poems

These few little poems certainly aren't for everyone, so perhaps just skip on past this section if you think you may be offended ...

My Funeral

by Wendy Cope

Warning

by Jenny Joseph

General readins and poems
Babies and chidren
Hobbies and Interests
Humorous poems
Spiritual readings
Religous readings
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