Humanist Funeral

[nailit]

Have you ever been to a non-religious / Humanist funeral?
Its my mums funeral this Wednesday morning and she's having a Humanist funeral.
Never attended a non-religious funeral before. Dont expect it'll be much different from a regular one, just minus the hymns?

[murraymints]

I have been to a few..some nice music..maybe a piece of poetry.. a wee biopic from a lay preacher usually

[murraymints]

sometimes folk are invited to stand and say a few words.... hope it all goes well xx

[Atheist]

Nailit: I imagine that people will express memories and thoughts about the deceased, and everyone will take comfort from the communal emotions of sadness and loss. Much like any funeral. Humans have had these ceremonies for hundreds of thousands of years - well before christianity or the other religions came along. We're all human, with the same instincts and emotions.

[Mamyalynne]

Sounds a simple and fitting send off, you won't notice much difference just as you say no religious references.

[ubasses]

Yes, I had one for my Mum, we had 3 of her favourite songs, I read 2 poems and Mr U did the Eulogy for me. I wanted to do it myself but found I couldn't and he stepped in.
I think you will find your Mum's very moving.

[Tilly2]

A humanist celebrant will conduct the ceremony. It will be quite different from a religious funeral. The funerals of my friends and colleagues have all been humanist. These funerals are much more about the person, rather than the ritual.

[Tilly2]

Have you not been involved in discussions about the funeral, Nails?

[nailit]

My sister's organized it, as per my mum's wishes, and I have a rough idea how it will go. 3 songs of mum's choosing, (not that we could sing hymns anyway atm) and a talk about her life etc.

Just curious as Ive never attended a non-religious send off.

[Tilly2]

You are not contributing then?

[davebro]

Hymns at funerals are an embarassment - most people these days don't know the words & can't sing.

[Tilly2]

can't or won't!

[nailit]

//You are not contributing then?//
Myself and both sisters all agreed on what should be said about my mums life but apart from that she left instructions on her last wishes Tills.
Or did you mean am I going to say anything at the service?

[gness]

It can be very different, Nailit...and so much better. A humanist celebrant friend and I organised MrG's funeral. It was the send off he deserved. Family and friends reliving their memories and the grandchildren playing his favourite music on instruments he had encouraged them to play.

I received so many letters from folk commenting on it. Some apologised for saying they actually "enjoyed" it because it reminded them of what his life had been like and that was what they wanted to celebrate but they couldn't think of another word other than enjoyed.

The only problem I had was the number of requests I had from some wanting me to arrange their funerals when the time came. I've done one so far with another insisting he be put on ice should he die before travel to the UK is allowed.... :-)

[pastafreak]

I've always thought that a humanist funeral would be a rather nice, low key goodbye...without the necessity to involve religion or god(s). I've not been to one, but think I'd find it quite tolerable. I suspect you will also Nailit.

[nailit]

//I've not been to one, but think I'd find it quite tolerable. I suspect you will also Nailit//
As an atheist, I expect I will ;-)

[Theland]

Captain Tom Moore's funeral was humanist.

[nailit]

Gness,
My sister (who is organising mums funeral) lost her husband the same week, a year ago, as my mum. And he had a Humanist service. It was the start of lockdown then and I couldnt attend. But mum did and was so impressed by the service that she changed her previous plans to have the same as her son in law.

[gness]

Would it not be a shame to find it just tolerable? For me the final goodbye needs to be more than that.
Mind you....I'm Irish and we do great final goodbyes... :-)

[Tilly2]

Yes, nails. I meant are you going to say anything.

[pastafreak]

I suppose tolerable was a conservative answer, based on never having attended one. And not in a rush to be doing so either ;)