Recommended Reading Selections For Funeral Services

There are a lot of choices to be made when deciding what reading selections to use during a funeral service. Many of us spend a lot of time trying to find the perfect things to say, but we’ve decided to cover some of the most popular and well-known readings to help make that decision a little bit easier. Whatever your choice, we’re sure that it will perfectly suit your funeral service and do understand that it is a very personal choice with a lot of factors to consider. 

Old Testament Verses

The Old Testament can be a little dated at times, but still has a lot of relevance today. Old Testament verses usually center around an honourable and admirable life on earth with eternal and everlasting life going forward. Many people are now shying away from maintaining traditional Old Testament verses throughout most of the funeral service, although we must stress that your ultimate choice will be a personal one meant to reflect directly on your loved one who has passed away and their positive traits. 

New Testament Verses & Psalms

Becoming more prolific these days, New Testament verses and Psalms speak of rebirth and a true heart. These readings are generally a lot lighter and less dense than their Old Testament counterparts. Christian funeral services focus heavily on the New Testament as it includes many apt stories involving Jesus, his miracles, and his charitable spirit. 

Other Religious Traditions & Scripture

If you are not a Christian or Catholic we absolutely recommend readings from your own holy book. Holding onto religious traditions of the past is a powerful way to feel connected to your ancestors, helping to ease the pain of your loss. Knowing that countless generations before you have honoured their loved ones in the same manner is a source of immense comfort and we welcome people of all faiths and cultures to adopt the practices and traditions that they are most comfortable with. While we recognize that Christianity and Catholicism are, for the most part, the most popular religions in Canada, we don’t want to belittle anyone else’s beliefs, which we feel are just as important. 

Popular Readings or Suggestions

In addition to Bible verses and other snippets of scripture, a very popular choice for funeral service readings are favourite quotations from esteemed cultural icons, excerpts from cherished novels or authors, and poems or songs that have special significance or meaning to either the deceased or their family. This allows you to add a personal touch and help conjure memories that are intended to help those gathered to all take a moment to realize just how special those who have passed away were to us. By holding onto these memories we find that we are able to overcome our sorrow and instead experience the joy of an amazing life lived to the fullest. 

Keeping It Personal

If your lost loved ones left any of their own work or writings behind you are more than welcome to add as much personal flair as you like. Many services include these familiar touches and they help set the tone of the service wonderfully. If you’re still at a loss with regard to what to say or what readings to choose, we find that keeping things simple is a solid bet. Bringing up and reminiscing about all the good times you shared together is the perfect way to honour your friends or family, especially when it comes from the heart. It must be said that all of these suggestions are only our guidelines and are by no means set in stone. We understand that deciding what to say and how you plan to say it is an immensely personal decision for all those involved. As such, we encourage you to make your funeral service as touching and individual as those we have gathered to remember. At the end of the day, we know that whatever choice you make will be the right one for you. In the meantime, we’re always here to help. 

If you have any further questions or would like to hear any more of our recommendations, please feel free to touch base with us at Wagg Funeral Home. Our professional and attentive staff are always more than happy to assist or help in any way possible.