Emily Dickinson: Morbid Poet or Canny Pre-Planner?

aging, clergy, conscious dying, eulogy, flowers, funeral readings, grief, healing from loss, livingamyacunninghamSeptember 18, 2020 Comments

What Did They Play at Beethoven's Funeral?

conscious dying, eulogy, funeral music, funeral readings, grief, livingamyacunninghamJune 26, 2020 Comments

British Urns of Endearment

aging, celebrants, cremation, green burial, grief, healing from loss, living, natural cemetery, urnsamyacunninghamJanuary 9, 2020 Comments

What Franz Schubert Requested as He Lay Dying

aging, celebrants, conscious dying, funeral music, grief, living, meditationamyacunninghamSeptember 9, 2019 Comment

From Perfunctory Transfer to Transformative Experience

celebrants, clergy, conscious dying, eulogy, flowers, funeral music, grief, healing from loss, livingamyacunninghamAugust 28, 2019 Comments

When the Weather is a Guest at the Outdoor Funeral

People often attribute significance or meaning to the weather on the day of a funeral. But a dramatic weather switch in the presence of a casket can become the momentary star of the show. Heavy, pelting, sorrowful rain commenced the moment the military honor guard walked Senator John McCain's casket up the tall stairs of the U.S. Capitol. More than one commentator heralded how remarkable this was, as it was still sunny in other spots of Washington.

caskets, celebrants, clergy, grief, healing from lossAmy CunninghamJune 28, 2019

Funeral Nostalgia: The Farewell to Winston Churchill

caskets, flowers, funeral music, grief, livingamyacunninghamJune 11, 2019 Comment

Making "Danny Boy" New Again

aging, celebrants, clergy, eulogy, funeral music, funeral readings, grief, living, meditationamyacunninghamFebruary 11, 2019 Comment

Great Funeral Music: Tchaikovsky's "Andante Cantabile"

conscious dying, funeral music, grief, healing from lossamyacunninghamDecember 3, 2018 Comments

Good Funeral Music: "I'll Be Seeing You"

aging, funeral music, griefamyacunninghamJune 25, 2018the great generationComment

Good Irish Funeral Music: "Be Thou My Vision"

celebrants, clergy, eulogy, funeral music, funeral readings, grief, healing from loss, livingamyacunninghamNovember 17, 2017Comment

Funeral Nostalgia: Meghan McCain Bids Farewell to Her Father

celebrants, clergy, eulogy, griefAmy CunninghamNovember 1, 2017

The Case for Hiring a Professional Funeral Photographer

eulogy, flowers, funeral readings, grief, healing from loss, living, meditationamyacunninghamNovember 1, 2017 Comments

Maintaining Social Distance While Concluding an Outdoor Ceremony

grief, healing from lossamyacunninghamOctober 25, 2017Comment

Baby Boomers Want Handmade Caskets

caskets, green burial, grief, healing from loss, living, natural cemeteryamyacunninghamApril 17, 2017 Comments

Here's One Stunning 'Amazing Grace'

When we meet with musicians in the process of helping a family put a funeral together, we tell them "Don't worry about performing. It's not about being perfect. Your music is an offering in honor of the deceased and in support of the family." Jennifer Hudson hits the right balance and the high notes here at the service for the immortal Aretha Franklin.

clergy, eulogy, funeral music, griefAmy CunninghamFebruary 28, 2017

Good Funeral Music: Gabriel Faure’s "Pie Jesu"

funeral music, griefamyacunninghamOctober 17, 2016Comment

Song of Inspiration: "Smile, Though Your Heart Is Aching"

funeral music, griefamyacunninghamOctober 9, 2016 Comments

Deaths of Prince and David Bowie Demonstrate Two Approaches to Cremation

celebrants, cremation, eulogy, grief, healing from loss, livingamyacunninghamApril 25, 2016 Comments

Great Funeral Music: "I Vow to Thee, My Country"

I was especially happy to hear the strains of "I Vow to Thee My Country" at the conclusion of Senator John McCain's service at the Washington National Cathedral. The original poem was set to music in the 1920s by Gustav Holst and is employed at every (no kidding) British Royal wedding or funeral (it was Lady Diana's favorite). Its lyrics are so patriotic that progressive members of the British clergy find them offensively nationalistic, but it was a great choice for the heroic senator and I confess to gasping with glee and relief when I recognized it, watching the televised service intently as the casket and family walked sadly but victoriously down the aisle.