Sample Funeral Service for Christian Firefighter Comments from Fire Chief

Chaplain Jim Burns

Message and Closing Remarks---------------------------Chaplain
Prayer: Holy Father, please direct this Memorial service, that it As you each shared your memories, I was thinking of one
will honor the memory of our brother/sister, bring a degree of characteristic which I think most adequately describes ________:
comfort to his/her family and friends, and bring honor to Your Holy (Insert a special memory of your own about the person or
Name, we pray in Jesus name. Amen. what you have learned from a friend or family member).
At our brother/sister’s last alarm, he/she moved from time into
Greeting eternity--to that place Jesus went to prepare just for him/her-- You
Friends, it is our unique relationship with ___________and will miss him/her. It will certainly take some getting used to. You
his/her family, that brings us here today to pay tribute to his/her life, will each struggle to re-define yourselves. Because ______was a
to honor his/her memory and to support his/her family in their time unique person who brought a certain meaning to each of your lives--
of loss. On behalf of the family, I want to thank you for coming; your as you face the future without him/her, you will recognize that your
presence is important to them, and your being here is testimony of have been forever changed by his/her death--------
your love for ____________and his/her family You, (Names of Children) have been cut off from your past---
your root ---Your connection with your ancestors has been severed.
Eulogy (Names of brothers and sisters) you have lost your brother/sister,
________ responded to his/her “last alarm.” at (time, on date), breaking a unique link in your family chain. Members of (Name
(Here you fill in with personal information about the life and the Fire Department) you have lost a comrade, team member and
many relationships of the person eulogized.) brother/sister ---And, husband/wife you are suffering the greatest
loss a human can suffer---part of yourself, because (years of
As you remember ____________you all have some fond marriage) years ago you became One in holy matrimony. That
memories. connection has been severed--------You have lost your best friend,
Memory is the priceless heritage of the ages. It is the echoing voice the one who walked along beside you---the one who kept you on
of happy days, experiences, sad emotions, fond recollections, your toes and challenged you most in life...
beautiful traditions, friendships and comradeship of those we love. But, even in the midst of your great loss--- there is some
Now we want to give you an opportunity to share a memory, an “encouraging news.” In the 23rd Psalm, David tells us that we have
experience, a fond recollection----- You may just stand where you One on whom we can lean------who walks with us in this life-------
are, tell us who you are and share (for the sake of time, I request who prepares a place for us beyond this life: [read Psalm 23]
that you try to limit your comments to a couple of minutes..... The first bit of encouraging news I have for you today is that you
don’t have to walk this “dark lonesome valley” alone. God will walk
[Sharing of Memories]
it with you. He, like no other can do, will come to you in the dead of
Song: (may be added here if desirable or requested by family) the night and fill the emptiness you now feel--- He will wipe the
tears from your eyes. He will give you the strength to go on, even
Comments from supervisor, mayor, other official when you do not feel like going on, he will help you, and in time,
He will heal your wounds--- And He has given you a multitude
of friends, lean on them. That’s what friends are for-------to be there on to my death, remember my life, and I’ll be waiting for
for you when you need them. you just inside the gate.
The second bit of “encouraging news” is that this experience can In bringing this service to a close, we are symbolically
be a growing experience for those of us left behind. We all know acknowledging the close of _______’s life here on this earth--but
that our greater strength comes MORE out of the bad times than in not the close of ________’s life, but only the beginning----------
the good times. It was because of the challenges ________ faced in
life that he/she became such a strong person, such a solid rock in the A Poem or song may be added here
face of difficulty---that he/she was able to smile no matter what....In Let us pray.
his/her weakness he/she found the strength of Christ...He/she Holy Father, as the solemn tones that betoken the dissolution of
learned to rely completely on Him... To rest in Him...It was in this earthly tabernacle have once again alarmed our stations and the
his/her weakness that he/she found that peace that passes all human soul of our departed brother/sister, _________, is on wings of
understanding. Sorrow, pain, suffering, abandonment, the death of a angels, in that distant shore of eternal bliss---where You, Eternal
close friend or family member can be used of God to strengthen us. Father, have handed him/her that priceless gift of eternal life----
In times like this, we often have the down-time needed to reflect, to We, O God, are made aware anew today that life is short and time is
evaluate, and to make needed adjustments to the course of our own fleeting. Help us to hold fast to YOUR unchanging hand, to make
lives. When we think of _______ and the impact he/she has had on adjustments in our own lives that will assure us perfect passage into
our lives, we may be prompted to ask: What difference will my life Your eternal Presence, and help us to use the precious memories we
make??? Often in times of grief, after we have hurt, and wrestled have of our own unique relationships with _______ to heal our hurts.
through the process of grief, we find new growth and new strength in And now we pray, dear Lord, that you will keep this family in
our own lives. the hollow of your loving hands---- In tender love and compassion,
The third bit of “encouraging news” is that there is something embrace them; keep them close to your Great heart. Be their refuge
valuable you can take away from here today --the Memories that and strength, an ever present help in their grief. Show them again
have been shared here today-- the memories you have shared with the love of Christ that surpasses all human understanding; sustain
friends these past few days, the memories of your unique relationship them in their loss and their loneliness in the days ahead; give them
with _________. Memories that will keep him/her alive in your peace, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
heart and mind----You can recall these memories; re-live experiences
over and over in the privacy of your mind any time you desire to do
so. No one can take these memories away from you. Although this
service will close in a few minutes, your relationship with _______
need not end here----as you recall the memories he/she will live on in
your minds and hearts....
These memories can help you to heal. I quote Katie Brown
McGowin at just about every funeral I do: “Little by little, step by
step, I learned I didn’t need to hold on to the death to remember
the life. What a joyous discovery.” I believe if there was one
thought _______ would have me leave with you it’s this: Don’t hold
 (Possible Program that could be printed)
Processional and Reception Instructions
(Give some basic directions about the processional to the cemetery
Pointing out to the public that the fire engines and other fire
MEMORIAL SERVICE department vehicles will follow the vehicles carrying family
For members, then general public falls in after fire apparatus).
Firefigthter John Q. Doe
Thanks to all who have extended such love and kindness to the
family during these difficult times. Thanks to all who have visited,
prayed, sent cards, brought food and in so many other ways been
Posting of Honor Guard angels of love and support to the family - the men and women of the
Posting of Colors (name of your department) Fire Department, (other employer and
fellow employees), to our customers, to those of the church who
Prayer & Opening Remarks------------------------- Chaplain prepared the meal for the reception, and many, many friends. We
Senior Department Chaplain
can’t seem to find adequate words to fully express to all of you our
Sharing of Memories---------------------------------- Friends most heart-felt thanks.
Reading on Behalf of
The family requests that Memorial Contributions be made to
Song: ( example: the Water Response Team and Cadet Program at _____
Fire Department, or to the CaringBridge Nonprofit Organization, etc.
Remarks on Behalf of Employer: Thanks again for all your love and support.
- names of family members
Remarks from Fire Chief: Chief

Chief, ___________ Fire Department

Message----------------------------------------------- Chaplain
Poem: (if appropriate or requested by family)

Song: (if desired or requested by family)

Closing Prayer
 Memorial Service

Name of Firefighter
JULY 13, 1951 - NOVEMBER 28, 2003

Fire Department Logo

Or Patch here

Name of CHURCH
STREET
Town, State

Date of Service

1100 HOURS