Funerals

End-of-Life Planning

Planning for end-of-life events is a thoughtful and positive way to approach the later part of your life journey. There are several things to consider during this planning process:

Information That May Be Needed at Time of Death

  • List of people who should be notified at the time of your death, along with their phone numbers and addresses
  • Copy of your Estate Trust or last will and testament
  • Veterans Records
  • Social Security Number
  • Pension benefits from employer and person to be notified
  • Financial information (banks, retirement accounts, etc.)
  • Insurance Policies
  • Safety Deposit Box
  • Digital Information: locations of important websites and passwords
  • Other important documents
  • The name and contact information of your attorney
  • In case you and your spouse die at the same time, name the person who has consented to care for your minor children.

Obituary Notes

  • Publications to which you want your Obituary sent
  • Full Name
  • Birth date
  • Birthplace
  • Name of relatives to be noted
  • Other important dates such as marriage or graduation
  • Information about your work
  • Information about special interests
  • Organizations and Churches
  • Where memorial gifts should be sent

Planning the Funeral Mass

The Funeral Mass, which is also called Requiem Mass, is central to the Catholic Funeral. When planning the Funeral Mass, the following elements should be considered:

Date and Time of the Funeral- This can be arranged with the Parish office or with the funeral home.
Choosing a Celebrant- This can be arranged with the Parish office or with the funeral home.
Choosing Readers- A family member or friend may serve as a lector for the Mass or service.
Selecting Music- See more information in our Funeral Music List below.
Choosing Scriptural Readings- See more information in our Scripture Readings section below.
Location of Mass- The Marian Chapel.
Disposition of the Body- Burial or Cremation. View our FAQ About Cremation for more info.

Funeral Music List

Listed here are music suggestions and recommendations for proper placement in the Liturgy. It is not necessary to choose four hymns. If you have a preference for only two songs, for example, the musician will fill in appropriate music as needed. To hear a sample of the music before you choose, click on the song title. Please note that recordings may not reflect the tempo or performance style of the Church. These music samples serve only to give you the essence of the songs, the text, and the tune. Requests for songs not listed here are subject to approval by the music director and on music availability, therefore, these special requests should be made known as soon as possible. Psalm texts are shown below:

Hymns

Spanish Hymns

Pslams

Psalm 16: The Path of Life
You will show me the path of life,
The delights that await me in your presence.
Without you there is nothing, no joy can be complete
Until at last I sit by your side.

Psalm 23: The Lord Is My Shepherd/ El Señor Es Mi Pastor
El Senor es mi pastor, nada me falta.
The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

Psalm 23: The Lord Is My Shepherd
The Lord is my shepherd; nothing shall I want;
In verdant pastures he gives me repose.

Psalm 25: To You, O Lord, I Lift My Soul
To you, O Lord, I lift my soul.

Psalm 27: The Goodness of the Lord
I believe I shall see the goodness of the Lord
In the land of the living.

Psalm 27: The Lord Is My Light and My Salvation
The Lord is my light and my salvation.

Psalm 116: I Will Walk Before the Lord
I will walk before the Lord, in the land of the living.

Music is integral to the funeral rites. It allows the community to express convictions and feelings that words only may fail to convey. Music has the power to console and uplift the mourners and to strengthen the unity of the assembly in Faith and Love. The texts of the songs chosen for a particular celebration should express the paschal mystery of the Lord’s suffering, death, and triumph over death and should be related to the readings from Scripture.

Order of Christian Funerals, 30.

Scripture Readings for the Funeral Mass

The Funeral Mass should include one scriptural reading from the Old Testament.

An optional reading may be selected from the New Testament. The family may request a specific Gospel reading, and on most occasions, the celebrant will use the family’s choice, but the choice is up to the celebrant. The Funeral Mass readings can be selected from the scripture readings suggested below: