How to Choose Meaningful Funeral Readings

Reciting funeral readings that have significance is a special way to remember your departed loved one. It allows you to celebrate the things he or she loved most in life while providing solace to the grieving. The readings you choose may be religious, secular, or a combination of the two. Scriptures, poetry, quotations, song lyrics, and narrative passages can all be appropriate and beautiful additions to a funeral service.

It can be hard to find the right words to express your feelings of sorrow. Even the greatest wordsmiths have been tackling this problem for centuries. But someone out there has likely found a way to write down precisely what you’re feeling. Consider looking on the internet, visiting the library, perusing your own books, or reviewing your loved one’s favorite books to find just the right words. Perhaps the deceased requested that you read out his or her favorite quote from one of the classics, or maybe you've come across a poem that perfectly sums up his or her unique character and special qualities. Keep in mind that there may be several types of readings in your loved ones funeral, and they can all be equally special and fitting.

Religion plays a central role in many funerals. Scripture offers a rich collection of passages that can be used as funeral readings. The right passages can be quite helpful for mourners and offer hope that the deceased has gone to a better place. Psalms are among the most popular religious readings—Psalm 23, for example, is often read at funerals. Your faith and the faith of the deceased will help guide you in selecting appropriate biblical passages. Your clergyperson and funeral director can also assist you in narrowing down your choices.

Secular readings for a funeral can be garnered from a variety of sources. Songs, movies, poems, books, and television can all offer inspiration. The closer the source is to your loved one’s life, the better it is to bring meaning to the service. Use an excerpt from your loved one’s favorite book or song, find a quote from his or her favorite movie or television show, or share something that your loved one wrote, such as a letter or email.

You might even consider creating a personal tribute. For those who are graced with writing talent, creating an original composition can be an excellent choice. Your composition could be an essay, a poem, or some other narrative that reveals something about your loved one’s character or their lessons for living. Writing something so personal also allows you to outwardly express your feelings about the deceased. 

A reading can be a wonderful way of conveying your love and admiration for the departed and your grief at his or her passing. For additional help choosing readings for your loved one’s funeral, please contact one of our compassionate funeral directors today.

About Vaughn Greene Funeral Services: For more than 20 years, Vaughn Greene Funeral Services has been providing a ministry of care to Baltimore’s African American community. As a leading local, minority- and family-owned provider, we promise to provide our highest level of service and respect to families who entrust us to honor their loved one. For more information, please call us at 410.655.0015 or visit us online at https://vaughncgreene.com/.