I’ve had several readers ask me about a Memorial Service script to use in an eldercare setting. For example, I know that many residences provide a once-a-month celebration of life for residents who have passed away.
I’ve finally finished it! Here is a Celebration of Life / Memorial Service script for you to provide a comforting ritual for elders in your care. As always, it’s suitable for older adults with dementia.
For the singing, you can stream the suggested hymns from my YouTube channel.
If you prefer to use a video, I’ve created that as well. Watch my 27-minute Celebration of Life and Memorial Service here.
Who’s your audience?
Because I’m a Christian chaplain, this memorial service is interdenominational for a Christian audience; it isn’t really suited for a Jewish, Muslim, or other religious expression. Each religious tradition has its own beautiful prayers and rituals pertaining to death, so if you need something for another faith tradition, call your local clergy for help.
Peace be with you,
Photo by Eli Solitas on Unsplash
Spiritual Eldercare 
I hope that you know how amazing your resources are and how appreciative I am as a chaplain (still training). I use your hymn videos for our weekly worship as I can have no outside pianists and the room we meet in with small group covid worship in our long term care also has no piano. It has been so easy to use these. My residents comment to me on the variety of songs and how easy they are to sing and to read. They are done so well. I have a number of residents who like to sing. During covid we have such reduced activity available. I will often pop your hymns on the youtube and we just sit in the lounge singing one after another. I will try to limit this time to 30 minutes however my residents beg for more and I just have to stop them after an hour. They enjoy it so much. Thank you for your faithfulness in sharing your work like this. So far, I have kept doing my own services but have to admit that while I am not able to attend church myself I watch your service videos for my own service from time to time. I appreciate you and all you have done.What a ministry! In His service, Paula Classey (Ontario, Canada)
On Mon, 14 Jun 2021 at 11:05, Spiritual Eldercare wrote:
> Elisa Bosley posted: ” I’ve had several readers ask me about a Memorial > Service script to use in an eldercare setting. For example, I know that > many residences provide a once-a-month celebration of life for residents > who have passed away. I’ve finally finished it! Here is a” >
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Wow! Paula, you’ve blessed me today with this wonderful note. I am so thrilled to hear that the hymns have served you and your elders — that’s the whole reason they exist, and why so many people and musicians gave their time and money to create them. I appreciate YOU for making them available to the elders in your care! Blessings in Christ.
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