Planning my funeral/Celebration of Life

Public forum for topics that don't fit into the other categories.
User avatar
DarkJedi
Posts: 8191
Joined: 24 Aug 2013, 20:53

Re: Planning my funeral/Celebration of Life

Post by DarkJedi »

I'm curious if part of your planning includes writing your own obituary, or at least the general outline. This is something I have considered so that things I most want to be remembered for are more highlighted. It might be interesting (although a bit morbid) to have someone very close write a version as well to see what they highlight.

I realize obituaries are not what they once were with the demise of newspapers, but they do still exist online and I frequently read them.
In the absence of knowledge or faith there is always hope.

Once there was a gentile...who came before Hillel. He said "Convert me on the condition that you teach me the whole Torah while I stand on one foot." Hillel converted him, saying: That which is despicable to you, do not do to your fellow, this is the whole Torah, and the rest is commentary, go and learn it."

My Introduction
Minyan Man
Posts: 2342
Joined: 15 Sep 2011, 13:40

Re: Planning my funeral/Celebration of Life

Post by Minyan Man »

Even though it's not part of a funeral, you may want to consider recording your life story in your own words
& put it on your personal record in Family Search.

Your ancestors will not only hear your story but hear your own voice for years to come.
User avatar
DarkJedi
Posts: 8191
Joined: 24 Aug 2013, 20:53

Re: Planning my funeral/Celebration of Life

Post by DarkJedi »

Minyan Man wrote: 12 Jan 2025, 09:01 Even though it's not part of a funeral, you may want to consider recording your life story in your own words
& put it on your personal record in Family Search.

Your ancestors will not only hear your story but hear your own voice for years to come.
That is a thought, and I like the idea. Except, I don't particularly want to record my life story. I'm one of those people who doesn't want to be with my family for all eternity (referring to my progenitors, not my own wife and children).
In the absence of knowledge or faith there is always hope.

Once there was a gentile...who came before Hillel. He said "Convert me on the condition that you teach me the whole Torah while I stand on one foot." Hillel converted him, saying: That which is despicable to you, do not do to your fellow, this is the whole Torah, and the rest is commentary, go and learn it."

My Introduction
Minyan Man
Posts: 2342
Joined: 15 Sep 2011, 13:40

Re: Planning my funeral/Celebration of Life

Post by Minyan Man »

The only reason I brought it up was because my Wife recorded a conversation she had with my Mother before her death.
This was before familysearch.org came into existence. After my Mother died I listened to her interview again. I became
active with FS & found that you could load record to an individual's record. So, for me it was an experiment to see how
it was done. Now her voice is out there until FS is gone. I wish I could of had the opportunity to hear my Grandparents
voices. They all died either before I was born or shortly after. Now, all of them are a mystery to me & our posterity.

None of them were in the church. But, they did have life experiences that I wish I understood better. For example,
how did they maneuver through the depression, WWII, what was their life like immigrating to the US?
How did they get through some of their biggest challenges in life? What place did their faith play in getting these
challenges? (They were Catholic & Methodist)

But, to hear from their own voices would of been special to me.
User avatar
DarkJedi
Posts: 8191
Joined: 24 Aug 2013, 20:53

Re: Planning my funeral/Celebration of Life

Post by DarkJedi »

Minyan Man wrote: 13 Jan 2025, 13:26 But, to hear from their own voices would of been special to me.
That's the part that's interesting to me as well. I certainly could record something besides a family history, except perhaps parts of my own not involving much in in the way of immediate ancestors. I can see that putting it on something like Family Search for accessibility, but I might also look at other options. Family Search is likely to stay around as long as the church (barring something like an EM pulse that knocks out everything) so the reliability would be there and that's not necessarily true for other avenues.
In the absence of knowledge or faith there is always hope.

Once there was a gentile...who came before Hillel. He said "Convert me on the condition that you teach me the whole Torah while I stand on one foot." Hillel converted him, saying: That which is despicable to you, do not do to your fellow, this is the whole Torah, and the rest is commentary, go and learn it."

My Introduction
User avatar
SilentDawning
Posts: 7686
Joined: 09 May 2010, 19:55

Re: Planning my funeral/Celebration of Life

Post by SilentDawning »

DarkJedi wrote: 12 Jan 2025, 06:57 I'm curious if part of your planning includes writing your own obituary, or at least the general outline. This is something I have considered so that things I most want to be remembered for are more highlighted. It might be interesting (although a bit morbid) to have someone very close write a version as well to see what they highlight.

I realize obituaries are not what they once were with the demise of newspapers, but they do still exist online and I frequently read them.
Yes, I wrote bullet points that I would like covered in my eulogy to give my sister some idea of what to say. But I didn't make it comprehensive -- just a couple key points so she can inject her own personality and ideas into the eulogy.

A main point was that I have always believed in dedicating part of my life to service in some format, with a list of ways I have done that. The first 20 years was easy because it was all in the church. The subsequent service efforts were in the community, and were a longer list as I moved around and interacted with different non-profits, including one I started myself.

I didn't think about the obit -- these are normally posted on the funeral home's website now. Part of what I'm doing is easing the burden of the people left behind me -- probably my sister and my brother and my wife.
"It doesn't have to be about the Church (church) all the time!" -- SD

"The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. No price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself."

A man asked Jesus "do all roads lead to you?" Jesus responds,”most roads don’t lead anywhere, but I will travel any road to find you.” Adapted from The Shack, William Young

"The wise man has the power" -- adapted from What A Fool Believes -- The Doobie Brothers
Post Reply