Hello, my name is Chaplain Robert L. Jabro. I am privileged to provide chaplain services here at Heritage Memorial Services.

If you are in need of a clergy person to conduct a funeral, memorial, or graveside service, and do not have a pastor to call upon, I am available to prepare a fitting memorial for your loved one.

If you are currently entering into the process of making the necessary funeral arrangements for your loved one, I wish to extend my sincere sympathy to each one of you. At this difficult time, no human words can adequately convey the deep sentiments we feel within our hearts. The grief process is a journey toward a sense of peace and acceptance. This journey can be a long and painful experience. During this time, you will be in my thoughts and prayers.

As the bereavement chaplain on staff here at the mortuary, my task is to assist the families, friends and relatives. It is a ministry of service, compassion and hope. Our faith assures us that death is not the end of life or of love. Death is a gateway to a new and better life in the dwelling place provided for us by God.

A funeral is the occasion when we have a chance to remember our loved one, to reflect, and to rejoice over the many happy memories which are so sacred to the family and friends who will gather together. Funerals ought to be personal, intimate and special ceremonies. We hope to capture the spirit and recall the life-experiences, qualities and virtues of our loved one. The funeral is a particularly sacred time to be together as a family and to welcome all who will want to express their love for you.

Some suggestions for creating a personalized tribute are as follows:

• Provide a large picture or several smaller pictures of your loved one to be displayed in the chapel.
• Create a collage of family photographs to be placed on easels near the front of the chapel or near the entrance to the chapel.
• Music can play an important part of the ceremony. Select music that is special to the family. You may have other recorded music in the CD format or instrumentalists or soloists can play and/or sing. For example, a harpist, guitarist, organist etc. can be invited to render live music.
• Music can be sacred or secular.
• Create a “table of memories.” Place on the table various items that speak of the life and spirit of your loved one, e.g. hobbies, artwork, sporting equipment,, trophies, yearbook etc. You may decorate the table with small candles, flowers and special pictures.
• Have a family member/s compose a eulogy which can be delivered by the officiant or by a family member. A eulogy is simply a short story or summary of the loved one’s life.
• Consider inviting family members to share their thoughts and memories, stories, poems etc.
• Choose readings or reflections from the Bible or other sources to be proclaimed by the officiant or by a special lector.
• Place roses or other flowers upon the casket or on the table of memories at the conclusion of the ceremony. This can be done at the cemetery as well.
• Small children could participate In the release of colored balloons at the graveside service.
• White doves could be released at the graveside. There are different ways of accomplishing this symbolic ceremony.
• Use a bag-piper at the cemetery or have a flag presentation.

I hope to make myself available to you during the next few days as we prepare for the funeral and to assist you in whatever way I can. I stand ready at any hour to help you during this stressful time.

After the funeral, I hope that you will feel free to call on me.

Very sincerely yours,

Robert L. Jabro
Chaplain