It will never not be difficult to lose a parent. Whether your mother or father passes away because of an accident, a disease, or natural causes, it's never something you can truly prepare for - even if you see it coming. We all know logically that we're likely to outlive our parents, but when it comes to being confronted with the fact? Well, that's a different matter entirely - regardless of what type of relationship you might have had with your mother or father, it's important to seek closure.
Laying a parent to rest takes lots of financial resources and more than a little work, as there's a seemingly endless list of things to do before you can even go about the business of dealing with your own grief, let alone anything else. But one method that can help during the process is choosing an appropriate funeral quote for your mom or dad. It can help put things in perspective and help find a way to encapsulate a life.
This is easier said than done, of course. That's why we've put together this short guide to help you select the best remembrance quote for your parent.
Meant to Be Shared
Funeral quotes for parents are, in essence, meant to be shared. They're most often incorporated into the memorial services of those who have passed, and they're designed to be read aloud to those who have gathered. They're intended to embody the personality of the person and what they were like in life, to represent their beliefs or their faith, to act as a final message, or any combination of those three and even more.Sometimes, if your mom or dad had some foresight or had a funeral plan in mind for themselves, they might have selected a few funeral quotes they'd like read at their memorial services. This makes it easy, or at least easier, as you've got clear guidance on what your parent wanted. However, if there were no pre-arranged quotes, then it's up to you to choose the ones you'd like to sharduring the memorial service.
Help in Choosing Quotes
When you've been tasked with choosing funeral quotes for your mother or father, it's always a good idea to start with their best personal qualities. This can be anything, ranging from things like a quirky sense of humor that everyone enjoyed (or perhaps loved to hate), or maybe they loved doing the crosswords every Sunday with a nice cup of tea, doting on their pet parakeet, or building model ships in their basement. This means that a quote about whatever made them unique is a great way to start.
Of course, you don't have to stop there. If your mom or dad had a favorite song, a favorite book, or a favorite movie, pulling a quote from one of those can also be a wonderful way to remember them. If the quote relates to how your mom or dad lived their life, what they believed in, or anything else related to their personality, these quotes are often the best. This can be helpful if your mom or dad died from illness, as a quote that calls attention back to how they were in the prime of their life is always welcome.
Direct Quotes
Can't think of something that fits any of the above? That's okay - you've still got plenty of opportunities when it comes to choosing funeral quotes for your dad or mom. In this case, it might be best to choose something that your parent always used to say themselves. A personal quote that they used to live by from someone famous is almost always appropriate, especially if your parent loved the quote and repeated it in situations that mattered. If anyone who knew your mom or dad thinks of them the minute they hear the quote, then you know you've got a winner.
Meanwhile, don't discount your mom or dad's actual words themselves. Not everyone is a poet or a writer, but if your parent was keen to pick up a pen and enjoyed turning a phrase, this is a great opportunity to share their very words with friends and family after they're gone. It can be funny, whimsical, serious, or anything else - as long as it captures your parent's personality, it will be perfect.
The Comfort of Faith
Finally, we'd be remiss if we didn't talk about recognizing the faith of your mom or dad. Not everyone is religious, but if your parent was, it's quite appropriate (and even respectful) to include some religious verses from their spirituality of choice. This is often done in conjunction with the type of funeral services your parent is receiving, but if you're having a non-denominational service you can still include their favorite passages from their chosen holy book to memorialize them.
This dovetails nicely with our last point when it comes to choosing remembrance quotes for your mother or father. If your parent was deeply religious or spiritual, selecting a much-beloved quote for your parent's funeral doesn't necessarily have to be something that simply remembers your parent. It can also act as a message from your parent to those gathered around to mourn their loss and celebrate your parent's life. Nothing comforts so much as faith in times like these, and it's often a balm for everyone, including yourself as a child who has to say goodbye to a parent.
It's All About Healing
The last word when it comes to choosing funeral quotes for your mother or father is that doing so is part of the healing process. Grief is sharp, hot, and heavy, and what words being spoken at a funeral or memorial service might not seem like much solace, but it can be if you let it. A good funeral quote makes you think, look back at the life the deceased has led, and remember it with gratitude and grace.
