No Matter What

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Often considered an ideal non-religious funeral poem for mum, this reading focuses on a sense of gratitude for all that your loved one has left behind. Can be edited to read “He is gone” to create a funeral poem for Dad or a male loved-one. You can shed tears that she is gone This poem was read out at Princess Diana’s funeral and it’s not hard to see why. The narrator tells its listeners not to mourn for too long. It’s better to continue the good work that the person started in life as a source of comfort instead. “If I should die and leave you here a while, be not like others sore undone, who keep long vigils by the silent dust, and weep. For my sake – turn again to life and smile, nerving thy heart and trembling hand to do something to comfort other hearts than thine. Complete those dear unfinished tasks of mine and I, perchance may therein comfort you.” Farewell, Sweet Dust - Elinor Wylie We're covered in feathers,' says Bib. "Yes," says Mummy, "feathers keep us warm, but they can't keep cold words out.” It is a really nice story for EYFS / KS1. It has lovely rhyming language throughout which would help develop children's speech from an early age. It would be great in a Circle time session talking about the importance of love in a family and that they will love you no matter what. Even though Debi Gliori’s picture book was made to comfort children with its message, it certainly extends to anyone who’s experienced loss. It’s a reminder that even when you’ve lost a loved one, you’re still surrounded by their love. Small said, “But what about when we are dead and gone, will you love me then, does love go on?”…Large (replied) “Look at the stars, how they shine and glow, some of the stars died a long time ago. Still they shine in the evening skies, for you see…love like starlight never dies…” Bilbo’s Last Song (At the Grey Havens) - JRR Tolkien

This poem is an excellent choice for the funeral of someone with a sense of humour. It’s the narrator’s light-hearted request for their choice of funeral music because they’d “be happier to see those present have some relief.”“I’ve taken in recent years to thinking about my funeral and have decided to make one paramount request: play jolly music at that ritual. What good does it do to heap on dirges or other mournful melodies? I won’t be there to be gratified by the grieving and if I could tune in I’d be happier to see those present have some relief.” Read the entire poem here. Eulogy from a Physicist - Aaron Freeman Tl;dr - This book is very lauded. I thought it was pretty good, especially the little touches Gliori makes on the illustrations. However, for grief books I'd look elsewhere.People often choose this gentle poem for the funeral of a mother. It was in fact read at the funeral of the Queen Mother. The words can be changed to make it suitable for a father’s funeral too. We think it’s a lovely verse to celebrate the life of anyone, not just a parent. I love this book, it has a great story line and a lovely moral for children! I would definitely use this book in a KS1 classroom linking strongly with PSHE looking into families and acceptance. Discussions in circle time could be used where we throw a football around student to student where each child says something that the love about themselves. Looking at how we all have different qualities. This funeral poem sets out to remind mourners that death does not have to be the end. What though the radiance which was once so bright~

I love this book. I bought as an Easter gift for my 1 year old as he's not a massive fan of chocolate but he loves books. Looking for readings for a non-religious funeral? Whether you’d like to find a reading that reflects the personality of your loved one, or a funny funeral reading that will make friends and family smile, we’ve collected some of our favourite non-religious funeral readings to help you find the right one. Modern non-religious funeral readings No Matter What – Debi Gliori Despite being written fourteen years before his death, this poem is inscribed on the author’s gravestone. Robert Louis Stevenson was a famous atheist, making the poem a popular choice of non-religious funeral reading. Under the wide and starry sky, This is an ideal non-religious funeral reading that brings hope in times of grief. Mead’s poem reminds us that you’ll always have memories of the times you shared together, good and bad. “Remember me in your heart, your thoughts, your memories of the times we loved, the times we cried, the times we fought, the times we laughed. For if you always think of me, I will never be gone.” You can read the entire poem here. Non-religious funny funeral readings Play Jolly Music At My Funeral – Richard GreeneSigh. I didn't see this as a grief/death thing at all, instead I interpreted it as a "someone's moved away" scenario. I guess you could be very liberal with your interpretation and see this as dealing with grief/death, but it's not explicit enough for me and this does NOT count as a "help your child cope with grief" book for me at all. Originally written by Marks when he learned of the death of his girlfriend, this poem is a heartfelt choice which speaks of eternal love, making it a popular funeral reading for the loss of a loved one. The life that I have

This is a lovely book that depicts the importance of a family's love. The little fox referred to as Small in the story wants to know will his mother love him no matter what he was. He uses different animals such as a bear, crocodile, bug etc. And his mother tells him she would love him no matter what he was like. Large and Small are completely genderless. This makes the story fit with any kind of parent/child or grandparent/child or relative/child or grown-up/child pairing you might have upon reading it. Having trouble deciding on a non-religious funeral reading? Don’t forget that there are no strict rules about what you can and cannot use. You could choose a poem. Or your loved one’s favourite song lyrics. Here are a few more ideas to give you some inspiration. We hope it helps you find the right way to say goodbye. Large (replied) "Look at the stars, how they shine and glow, some of the stars died a long time ago. Still they shine in the evening skies, for you see…love like starlight never dies…”She grew up as an only child in Glasgow, and when young began drawing and writing stories. She started writing children's books in 1976, and attended art school in Edinburgh from 1979 to 1984. She then received a travelling scholarship award to go to Milan, and worked as a freelance from 1984 onwards.

A great book to help reassure anxious or insecure children that their parents love is unconditional and no matter what, they will always be loved and cared for. This poem is a popular choice for a non-religious funeral reading for a child or young person. Rather than focussing on the finality of death, it suggests that death merely changes things. The poem can offer comfort during a difficult time and could be a good choice for a humanist funeral. Dear lovely Death You're not a proper dragon', they sneered. 'You can't fly.' 'You can't breathe fire.' 'You're covered in feathers, you big...softy.'I would recommend this book for use within a Reception or KS1 classroom as it would be a great tool to help vulnerable children who may be suffering with anxiety to feel more calm and secure in their environment and within themselves. It may also be great just to remind children of how important they are. This non-religious funeral reading poetically describes the scattering of someone’s ashes, and how this helps you become a part of everything around you. It’s a comforting reminder that you’re never really gone when you pass away. “Now I have lost you, I must scatter All of you on the air henceforth; Not that to me it can ever matter Buy it’s only fair to the rest of the earth. Now especially, when it is winter And the sun’s not half so bright as he was, Who wouldn’t be glad to find a splinter That once was you in the frozen grass? Snowflakes, too, will be softer feathered, Clouds, perhaps, will be whiter plumed; Rain, whose brilliance you caught and gathered, Purer silver have reassumed. Farewell, sweet dust; I never was a miser: Once, for a minute, I made you mine: Now you are gone, I am none the wiser But the leaves of the willow are as bright as wine.” Death is Nothing at All - Henry Scott-Holland