Readings for a Canadian Funeral or Memorial Service
The readings at a funeral give shape to the service's emotional and spiritual content. They're the moments when someone speaks beyond the eulogy — sharing something larger than just the deceased's specific story. Choosing well makes the service feel coherent; choosing poorly can leave the service feeling generic or disconnected.
Three sources of readings
Scripture. For religious services, scripture readings anchor the service in the tradition. Each tradition has standard choices and the officiant can suggest. Common Christian funeral scriptures — Psalms (especially 23, 27, 90, 121), John 14, 1 Corinthians 13, 1 Corinthians 15, Romans 8, Revelation 21. Jewish funerals draw on Psalms (especially 23, 91, 121) and other Tanakh passages. Islamic funerals include Qur'anic recitation, typically by an imam. Sikh funerals include readings from the Guru Granth Sahib. Hindu funerals include Vedic and Bhagavad Gita passages.
Poetry and literature. For both religious and secular services, poetry can express what direct statements cannot. Common choices include:
- Mary Oliver — "The Summer Day," "When Death Comes," "In Blackwater Woods"
- Henry Scott Holland — "Death is Nothing at All"
- Mary Frye — "Do Not Stand at My Grave and Weep"
- W. H. Auden — "Funeral Blues" ("Stop all the clocks")
- Wendell Berry — "The Peace of Wild Things"
- Christina Rossetti — "Remember"
- Dylan Thomas — "Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night"
- Rumi — various passages on love and impermanence
- Walt Whitman — selections from "Song of Myself"
For deceased with specific literary tastes, their own favourite poets or authors may provide the most personal readings.
Secular meaningful texts. Passages from books the deceased loved, written tributes from family, personal letters, song lyrics that speak meaningfully. Anything that conveys something true about the deceased or about loss.
How to choose
Reflect the deceased. Readings should fit what they cared about, what they believed, how they thought about life. A reading the deceased wouldn't have liked feels off, even if it's beautiful.
Fit the reader. Some readings demand confident delivery; others can be read more quietly. Match the reading to the person reading it.
Fit the moment. Opening readings set tone; middle readings deepen reflection; closing readings provide some sense of resolution or peace. Different readings work at different moments.
Avoid repetition. If you're including 3 readings, choose ones that complement rather than duplicate each other (one scriptural, one poetic, one personal, for example).
Practical preparation
- Print readings in large, clear font for the readers
- Confirm the order of readings with the officiant
- Brief readers about timing and any specific intros they should give
- Have backup readers identified
- Place water and tissues near the lectern
Reading from the deceased's own work
For deceased who were writers, journal-keepers, or significant correspondents, reading from their own words can be the most powerful moment of a service. Selected carefully, it lets the deceased speak at their own funeral — sharing something they wrote about life, loss, family, faith, or whatever they thought about deeply.
What we focus on at It's Simple Will
The Funeral Pre-Planner captures reading preferences — specific scriptures, poems, or types of text — alongside other funeral wishes.
Related guides
Citations & sources
- [1]Funeral Service Association of Canada — Funeral Service Association of Canada
Frequently asked questions
How many readings should a service include?
2-4 is typical. One reading at opening can set the tone; one in the middle anchors the reflection time; one near the end can be a meditative or hopeful closing. Longer services may include more; shorter services fewer. Quality matters more than quantity — one beautifully chosen and well-delivered reading can carry more weight than four mediocre ones.
Who should read?
Family members often read — adult children, siblings, close friends. Some readers are confident speakers; others struggle with grief. Match the reading to the reader's comfort. The officiant can read if no family member feels able. Some families have a designated friend or family member who is comfortable speaking publicly handle all readings.
What if the reader gets overwhelmed?
Common and understandable. Prepare a backup reader. Pre-print the readings in large font for easier reading. Place tissue nearby. Allow pauses. Some families arrange for the officiant to step in if the family reader can't continue.
What are common scripture choices?
Many. Christian funerals often include — Psalm 23 ('The Lord is my shepherd'), Ecclesiastes 3 ('A time to be born, a time to die'), 1 Corinthians 13 ('Love is patient'), Revelation 21 ('A new heaven and a new earth'). Each tradition has its standards. The officiant can suggest readings appropriate to your tradition.
What are common poems?
Among the most-read at Canadian funerals — Mary Oliver's 'The Summer Day' and 'When Death Comes,' Henry Scott Holland's 'Death is Nothing at All,' Mary Frye's 'Do Not Stand at My Grave and Weep,' Wendell Berry's 'The Peace of Wild Things,' Christina Rossetti's 'Remember,' Christopher Reid's various, plus contemporary Canadian poets (Margaret Atwood, Mary di Michele, others) for those with literary interests.
Can I include readings from the deceased's own writing?
Yes — increasingly common and often deeply meaningful. Personal letters, journal entries, published writing, even social media posts can be read at a memorial. Some families share the deceased's own words as part of the eulogy or as a separate reading.