The Benefits of Having a Memorial Book at a Funeral Service
As you go through the process of organising a memorial service, your funeral director will talk to you about how you want the service to run and what you want to include in it. You may think that this simply involves choosing a date, location and order of service; however, you do have other options that you can add to the service if you want.
For example, your funeral director may be able to organise a memorial book for you. How does this work, and do you need one?
What Is a Memorial Book?
A memorial book is made available at a memorial service and sometimes at the wake that follows. This specially designed book is used to create a lasting remembrance of the service and the person who has died.
In some cases, the book simply collects the names of guests at the service. Other books have spaces for people to write a message or to leave an anecdote or memory of the deceased.
You can sometimes also have the order of service incorporated into the front of the book if you want. This gives you a more permanent reminder of the memorial service as a whole.
Why Use a Memorial Book?
From your perspective, a memorial book gives you a tangible keepsake from the service. This could become a treasured family heirloom. You'll have a record of the people who attended the service. If you choose a book that people can write messages in, then you get a book full of happy memories and kind words.
This may be a comfort to you. When you grieve, it may help to read what people have written about the person you lost. This could also benefit future generations of your family. For example, if you've lost a parent and your kids are quite young, then they'll grow up without a lot of memories of their grandparent. A memorial book paints a picture for them when they get older.
Memorial books also often help other guests who attend the service. People are there to give support and to pay their respects. They may appreciate being able to note down their attendance or to add a few lines to the book.
To see examples of memorial books and to learn more about how they work, talk to your funeral director. They can help you choose the right book to hold your memories.