Creating Meaningful Funeral Experiences

A Guide for Caregivers

Alan D Wolfelt, Alan Wolfelt

• Publisher: Companion Press
• eBook ISBN:
  9781617220289
• Year: 2003

Written in response to the current trend to deritualize death and funeral ceremonies, this book explores the ways in which caregivers and clergy can create heartfelt ceremonies that help the bereaved begin to heal. Explaining the purposes behind rituals, it reviews the many ways these have changed over the years and argues for a return to authentic, personalized, and meaningful funeral ceremonies. The qualities in caregivers that make them effective funeral planners are examined, and practical ideas for creating authentic, personalized, and meaningful funeral ceremonies are provided. Trends toward the prevalence of cremation are discussed, as are trends away from viewing and spending time with the body of the deceased. This replaces 1879651084.

Table of contents

• Also by Alan D. Wolfelt, Ph.D.:
• Dedication
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Epigraph
• Table of Contents
• Preface
• Introduction
• PART 1 - Influences on the Deritualization of the Funeral
• PART 2 - Exploring the Purposes of Meaningful Funeral Ceremonies
• PART 3 - It’s the Experience that Counts
• PART 4 - The Caregiver’s Role in Creating Meaningful Funeral Ceremonies
• PART 5 - Practical Ideas for Creating Meaningful Funerals
• Meaningful Funeral Experiences: An Outline
• A Final Word
• Ten Freedoms for Creating Meaningful Funerals
• We Hope to Hear from You!
• About the Author