Pros And Cons Of Leading A Loved One's Funeral Service Yourself

When you're planning how you'll honor a deceased family member at his or her funeral, there are lots of details to go over. One important thing to think about is who will lead the funeral service. There are many options for you to consider. It's common to have a religious official lead the service, but this isn't always applicable. You may also think about having the funeral home director perform this honor. Another option is for you to do it yourself. If you're leaning this way, here are some pros and cons to evaluate before you make your final decision.

Pro: You Can Shape The Service

While you can still organize how you want the service to be and then hand the role of leading it to someone else, there's definitely a feeling of control that you get when you take this job yourself. Not only can you decide how the service will proceed, but you'll get to say what you want and lead the service in a manner that you see fit. It's not a good feeling for someone else to potentially lead the service in a direction that you don't like, so you'll avoid this by doing the job yourself.

Con: You May Not Absorb Everything

A funeral service is an important part of the healing process. When you listen to the person who gives the eulogy, for example, you'll often gain a new perspective about the life of your loved one and find comfort in the speaker's message. Arguably, the best way to experience a eulogy is by sitting in the audience and listening. If you're leading the service, you may be tempted to review your notes while the eulogist is speaking, which could result in you not absorbing everything being said.

Pro: It's A Comfort To Honor The Person

You may find a particular degree of comfort in leading the service because you feel as though you're honoring the person's life. It's easy to feel a special connection with the departed when you're taking charge of the service, and this might be a priority to you. In a sense, you could feel as though you're telling this person, "You're so important to me that I'm definitely going to be the one who leads the service."

Con: You May Have To Stifle Your Emotions

Being able to cry at a funeral service can be cathartic, but this can be an issue if you're leading the service. Not only might you be afraid of crying in front of others, but you may also try to hold back your tears so that you can effectively do your job. You may regret afterward that you had to stifle your emotions, rather than sob and perhaps feel a little better.

For more information, talk to companies like Brinsfield-Echols Funeral Home.