A Funeral Service for someone under 40

I have recently had a number of funeral services to write & deliver for people who have died under the age of 40. This is very unusual.

The tone & content of the funeral service is often, although not always, different from a service for someone who has died after a long life in their 70s, 80s or 90s.

Like with all funeral services, it totally depends on the personality & wishes of the person who has died & the family & friends organising the funeral. It may depend upon the circumstances of the death.

A younger person with a terminal illness for example, may very well have planned their own funeral in detail. Our task therefore is to honour their wishes.

Whereas a sudden death, in contrast, is likely to have friends & family still in deep shock. They may need a lot more guidance from me as an experienced funeral celebrant to create a service which will pay tribute to the person who has died as well as supporting others in their shock & grief.

When I arrive at a crematorium chapel whilst a previous service is still on-going it is a sad fact that you can often guess the age of the person who has died by the music being played.

Rat-pack era music? Someone in their eighties perhaps. I am always sadden when I hear music from the eighties or nineties or noughties. The chances are it is service for a person who has died long before their time.