Death is nothing at all.

It does not count.

I have only slipped away into the next room.

Everything remains as it was.

The old life that we lived so fondly together is untouched, unchanged.

Whatever we were to each other, that we are still.

Call me by the old familiar name.

Speak of me in the easy way which you always used.

Put no sorrow in your tone.

Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes that we enjoyed together.

Play, smile, think of me, pray for me.

Let my name be ever the household word that it always was.

Let it be spoken without effort

Life means all that it ever meant. It is the same as it ever was.

There is unbroken continuity.

Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight?

I am but waiting for you, for an interval, somewhere very near, just around the corner.

All is well. Nothing is hurt; nothing is lost.

One brief moment and all will be as it was before.

How we shall laugh at the trouble of parting, when we meet again.

IRISH FUNERAL PRAYER #2

[Loved one’s name]Longing for one more day. When we lose someone we love it seems that time stands still. What moves through us is a silence... a quiet sadness... A longing for one more day... one more word... one more touch... We may not understand why you left this earth so soon, or why you left before we were ready to say good-bye, but little by little, we begin to remember not just that you died, but that you lived. And that your life gave us memories too beautiful to forget. We will see you again some day, in a heavenly place where there is no parting. A place where there are no words that mean good-bye.

FUNERAL PRAYER OF PRAISE

Holy God, we praise your name

for all who have finished this life loving and trusting you,

for the example of their lives,

the life and grace you gave them,

and the peace in which they rest.

We praise you today for your servant (name)

and for all that you did through him/her.

Meet us in our sadness

and fill our hearts with praise and thanksgiving,

for the sake of the One who loves us all.

PRAYER FOR THE FAMILY & FRIENDS

O God, who brought us to birth,

and in whose arms we die,

in our grief and shock

contain and comfort us;

embrace us with your love,

give us hope in our confusion

and grace to let go into new life;

through Jesus Christ.

Amen.

PRAYER FOR THE LOSS OF SOMEONE YOUNG

Lord God,

source and destiny of our lives,

in your loving providence

you gave us N.

to grow in wisdom, age, and grace.

Now you have called him/her to yourself.

We grieve over the loss of one so young

and struggle to understand your purpose.

Draw him/her to yourself

and give him/her full stature in Christ.

may he/she stand with all the angels and saints,

who know your love and praise your saving will.

We ask this through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Amen.