Saturday, February 25, 2012

Better Know Your Clergy

Why is a funeral like a wedding?

You had better get to know - and trust - your minister, priest, imam or rabbi.  At such important life events, we really do not want to trust these life changing words, a wedding homily or a eulogy, to a complete stranger.

In a roundabout way, I might also be encouraging you to join a congregation of your faith community.  Certainly there is great benefit to that.  (Here in the Dallas area, we are fortunate that the affiliation rate is high.)  But for the sake of our discussion, it is far better for a funeral director to meet with your family and know exactly who to call.  If not, he or she will go to a file and start making calls.  A "rent a reverend" or "rent a rebbe" might do a great job but in truth, it's just a job; your life event is not part of the life cycle of his or her congregation.

In other words, it is much better to build a long-term relationship with a clergy-person, one who can assist you and your family before, during and after tragedy strikes.

As a great rabbi once said, "I married your parents, I named you and I married you.  Now I am burying your father."

Can we ask for a deeper relationship than that?

This too is part of our pre-planning.

Remember: Always walk on the bright side of life.

Jordan Parr
Sparkman Hillcrest Funeral Home
Dallas, TX
214.734.0204
jordan.parr@dignitymemorial.com

Sunday, February 19, 2012

Why is a funeral like a wedding?

I'm back!

So why is a funeral like a wedding?  Over the next few postings, we'll go over this comparison but for now, let's just look at one example: A wedding takes place in a Sanctuary or a chapel (or a site like a hotel ballroom that is made to resemble one).  The same occurs with a funeral.  Most funeral and memorial services take place in a Sanctuary or funeral home chapel (and some occur just at graveside).   Here in Dallas, we are fortunate to have literally hundreds of beautiful settings for funeral and memorial services, whether they be in our funeral chapels, houses of worship or even outdoors, weather permitting.

But when we talk about planning a wedding or funeral, we need to make the decision about the location of the service in advance.  So after reading this post, talk with your spouse or partner, children and other important people in your lives about where you want to have your final life event take place - and then talk to me.  I'll help you to make it happen.  After all, the location of the service is a reflection of your life.

Remember: Always walk on the bright side of life.

Jordan Parr

jordan.parr@dignitymemorial.com
Sparkman Hillcrest Funeral Home and Cemetery
Dallas, TX