How to Find A Professional Funeral Officiant

In this article, we are going to talk about tips for choosing a perfect funeral officiant at funeral homes Pennsburg, PA, in 2022. Before proceeding, remember that anyone can conduct a non-religious funeral ceremony and that includes your family or friends. But your pun-loving uncle might not be the best choice. 

Here is everything you need to know about a funeral officiant. 

1. What is a Funeral Officiant? 

A funeral officiant, also knowns as a funeral celebrant, is a qualified person who works with families to create a customized funeral or memorial service. 

They are trained to help the family arrange a perfect funeral for the departed soul. Using their knowledge of the industry, they support the bereaved family every step of the way to celebrate the life of the person who has died. 

2. What Does a Funeral Officiant Do?  

Everything that includes in a funeral, from start to the end. They are responsible for organizing the service, including determining the order of service. They come in handy if the family wants to create a customized funeral or memorial service to give one last tribute to the deceased. 

The family can also take their service for additional services like delivering the eulogy, saying prayers, singing hymns, and providing readings. Simply put, the officiant can be as engaged as you’d like them to be. 

That’s why always invite your officiant to the initial meeting with the funeral director to understand each other for better communication. The funeral director and the officiant will keep in touch until the funeral is over. 

3. Who Can Officiate at a Funeral? 

Truth be told, a funeral officiant can be anyone, including your religious leader, a minister, a funeral director, a professional celebrant, or a close friend or family member. 

There are no set standards or restrictions, as anyone is allowed to lead a funeral or memorial service legally. It all depends on the bereaved family’s choice or wishes. But typically, the funeral officiant is a minister, the funeral director, or a professional celebrant. 

4. How to Choose a Good Funeral Officiant 

Below are some guidelines to follow on how to choose a funeral officiant: 

a. Check Their Organizational Skills 

Unsurprisingly, there’s no way to gauge the organization skills of the officiant, but they must be able to manage all the funeral-related tasks prudently. Most often, an experienced officiant is expected to have sound organizational skills.   

b. Public Speaking Skills 

You want your officiant to be able to address a crowd and convey the message clearly. He or she should be someone who can articulate and hold the congregation’s attention. 

c. Calm Demeanor 

If anything goes south or doesn’t go as planned, they shouldn’t panic. Also, speaking in front of crowds 

d. Observance of Faith Tradition 

It’s important to have a clergy member as a funeral officiant if you are planning a religious ceremony. It can be a pastor, priest, rabbi, or anyone that can lead the religious service. 

So, your next step is to start looking for a professional funeral officiant to make the event at funeral homes Pennsburg, PA, more personal and memorable.