This week marks the first year anniversary of the death of my mother. For this reason and for this week only, I will do a series of posts In Memory of Mom as my way of getting through this week.
I hope you will join me on this journey . . .
Funeral Flowers for Funeral and Memorial Services
One popular way to express your sympathy when someone dies is to send flowers to the surviving family or the deceased funeral. It is sometimes hard to express sympathetic feelings in words. When you give flowers for a funeral, the meaning is understood. When people give flowers, they are giving an expression of love, respect, and sympathy. Funeral flowers are just a symbol of these feelings. Funeral flowers create a feeling of warmth and beauty at the funeral or memorial gathering.
Selecting funeral flowers needs to encompass a message of sorrow, sympathy, and love.
The flowers you choose can express feelings and emotions and can send a meaningful message. Below are several popular flowers and what they symbolize to help you decide which ones you might want to use.
• Lilies are often interpreted as a symbol of the innocence that has been restored to the soul of the departed. A white stargazer lily symbolizes sympathy and a white lily expresses majesty and purity.
• Carnations have lasting fragrance. It was believed that the flower first appeared on earth as a result of the tears of the Virgin Mary. They are a symbol of undying love. A red carnation evokes admiration, while a pink carnation stands for remembrance. White carnations stand for pure love and innocence
• Iris – Based on Goddess Iris was the links heaven and earth. Purple Iris have for hundreds of years been planted over the graves of women so that they could summon the Goddess Iris to lead their souls to heaven. The bright color of the leaves and the flowers make it popular with florists.
• Tulips represent elegance and grace. The color of tulips also has meaning. Yellow tulips represent cheerfulness, white represents forgiveness, and purple represents royalty. The red tulip is said to represent perfect love
• Stock flower would be your choice if you want to use a flower that symbolizes a happy and a contented existence.
• Chrysanthemums (Mums) -frequently used in arrangements. White chrysanthemums are often understood to symbolize truth.
• Gladiolus embodies strength of character, sincerity, and moral integrity,
• Roses can be a beautiful part of an arrangement. A white rose evokes reverence, humility, innocence, and youthfulness. Red roses convey respect, love, and courage, love, grace, and gentility are the message that pink roses convey.
• Marjoram conveys comfort and consolation.
• Nasturtium celebrates patriotism.
Many species of flowers come in a variety of colors, so understanding the meaning behind the colors can also help one in picking just the right flower to express exactly what they want to convey.
• Blue – peace, calm and serenity
• Pink – grace, happiness, youth, innocence, joy
• Purple – royalty, dignity, pride, success, accomplishment, admiration
• Red – desire, strength, love
• White – innocence, humility, simple beauty, modesty, elegance
• Orange – pride, energy, enthusiasm, warmth, confidence, satisfaction, passion
• Lavender – refinement, grace, elegance, feminine beauty
Flowers can be arranged in different ways according to how you are going to display them.
• Wreaths – Gladiolus. Snap Dragons, lilies, and even roses can be used to create a wreath that can be placed on the side of the funeral casket.
• Sprays can be large or small. Small flowers can be shaped like hearts, nosegays and can be placed inside the casket. Quarter and half casket sprays are placed on the lowered lid of an open casket. Full casket sprays cover the length of an open or closed casket. This is usually sent by the immediate family and the undertaker normally arranges for this on behalf of the family.
• Baskets serves as a keepsake and is a lovely alternative to more traditional pieces. The basket is a long lasting gift of natural beauty. A basket arrangement may also be sent to a private home.
• Sympathy plants provide a lasting tribute to the loved one lost, as well as a constant reminder of the friendship and affection you wish to support through the grieving process.
Remember, funeral flowers honour the dead and console the living.
ONE YEAR DOWN THE ROAD LESS TRAVELLED . . .
October 2014:
https://africandream01.wordpress.com/2014/10/05/tapestry/
https://africandream01.wordpress.com/2014/10/31/to-each-life-there-is-a-season/
November 2014:
https://africandream01.wordpress.com/2014/11/19/warning-emotional-volcano-about-to-erupt/
https://africandream01.wordpress.com/2014/11/27/dear-mom/
December 2014:
https://africandream01.wordpress.com/2014/12/14/why-the-obsession-with-loneliness/
https://africandream01.wordpress.com/2014/12/24/christmas-and-new-year-blessings/
January 2015:
https://africandream01.wordpress.com/2015/01/21/grief-mourning-and-bereavement-what-is-the-difference/
February 2015:
https://africandream01.wordpress.com/2015/02/03/woman-heal-thyself/
https://africandream01.wordpress.com/2015/02/08/self-care-sunday-hard-questions-weightless/
https://africandream01.wordpress.com/2015/02/13/re-investing-in-life-moving-on/
March 2015:
https://africandream01.wordpress.com/2015/03/02/how-to-help-a-grieving-friend/
https://africandream01.wordpress.com/2015/03/19/how-to-find-the-balance-between-work-and-home-life/
https://africandream01.wordpress.com/2015/03/30/what-life-has-taught-me/
April 2015:
https://africandream01.wordpress.com/2015/04/09/i-am-a-sensitive-child/
https://africandream01.wordpress.com/2015/04/14/me-the-budding-entrepreneur/
https://africandream01.wordpress.com/2015/04/26/green-is-the-colour-of-my-life/
June 2015:
https://africandream01.wordpress.com/2015/06/07/i-am-capable/
https://africandream01.wordpress.com/2015/06/22/the-pain-of-watching-a-parent-age/
https://africandream01.wordpress.com/2015/06/25/stop-the-bus-i-want-to-get-off/
https://africandream01.wordpress.com/2015/06/25/what-happens-during-a-colonoscopy/
July 2015:
https://africandream01.wordpress.com/2015/07/11/me-the-budding-voice-over-artiste/
https://africandream01.wordpress.com/2015/07/22/what-im-learning-on-my-journey-to-wealth-creation/
Mother’s Day 2014 Rhebokskloof
August 2015:
https://africandream01.wordpress.com/2015/08/02/how-to-increase-your-financial-iq/
https://africandream01.wordpress.com/2015/08/11/river-of-life-a-time-for-reflection/
https://africandream01.wordpress.com/2015/08/18/finding-your-why/
https://africandream01.wordpress.com/2015/08/23/wild-geese/
September 2015:
https://africandream01.wordpress.com/2015/09/01/im-not-extraordinary-enough-the-power-of-vulnerability/
https://africandream01.wordpress.com/2015/09/12/how-do-i-start-a-blog/
https://africandream01.wordpress.com/2015/09/21/my-life-as-an-introvert/
October 2015 (One year down the road less travelled):
https://africandream01.wordpress.com/2015/10/13/dear-trauma-counsellor-i-have-ongoing-flashbacks-and-voices-in-my-head-that-just-wont-shut-up/
africandream01 
Hi Natalie,
As you know, I had the privilege of conducting the service…
Here is how we started…
The LORD Jesus Christ said…I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies, and whoever lives and believes in me will never die
The Apostle Paul wrote…I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels or demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord
God’s servant Job said…I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth. And that after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh will I see God; I myself will see him with my own eyes – I and not another
PRAY
Thank you Heavenly Father for these great truths from your Word. Thank you that Jesus is indeed the way, the truth and the life…
Thank you for this day you have made and given for our benefit
LORD even though the circumstances for meeting LIKE THIS are not what we would have liked…we ask that you will be pleased to bless every aspect of this Funeral service.
Thank you for Juanita
Thank you for her life and witness…and what she meant to her family and her friends…thank you that although we mourn, it is not like those mourning without any hope
Thank you that at times like these the Gospel of Christ which brings real and certain hope matters
Pray especially for those here who are hurting…that they will indeed know a very real sense of your presence and comfort as they gather amongst family and dear friends
Please LORD will you richly bless our time together AMEN
Song 1 “Higher Ground”
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Thank you for sending this to me Denzil. Most of what happened during the service is still a blur so I appreciate you sending this. The words I used on the card (a different version of the Psalm) was written in a birthday card given to mom on her birthday by Aunty Elaine a few years before she died not knowing that would be the same text you would read to her when you visited at home and that you would use the same text for the actual funeral service 😭 definitely God trying to say something to us I think 😱 Thank you for being there for us through it all. We really do appreciate your support 💞
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