Index
A
tribute to the bereaved
Example of a personalised tribute book
Identifying the tribute inserts
Writing the tribute book pages
Completing the tribute book order form
Sending the tribute book order package
The personalized tribute book proof
Free funeral poems
Eulogy writing tips
A TRIBUTE
TO THE BEREAVED
It is a real tribute to those suffering grief and bereavement that during
one of the most sad and distressing times of their lives they are called
upon and succeed in funeral planning, deciding on the funeral service,
determining the funeral verses, poems and songs and in most cases are
expected to write and read their inspirational eulogy speech. As a consequence
of having to make all of these arrangements and meet a short time-frame,
grief counselling and support is usually arranged long after the service,
and many forego therapy altogether, preferring to work through their
period of grief and bereavement.
Sympathy cards have a dual purpose, they not only give the sender the
opportunity to express their grief at the loss of a loved one, but receiving
sympathy cards does offer the bereaved consolation at this time, and
the words or poems from friends and loved ones can not only touch their
hearts at that time, but can offer a great deal of comfort in the days,
months and years ahead, as we never; and should never forget those who
we have loved and lost whether this be the death of a person or family
pet. Floral tributes are the parting gift from the bereaved, and the
floral cards and their poignant messages are something which can be
cherished forever.
Traditionally headstones and grave stones are considered to be the most
appropriate tribute, although it is usually some time before these
can be erected, and the burial ground, garden of remembrance or cemetery
location could be at a distance placing limited visits to pay respect
to loved ones and to tend the grave and headstone of the person or pet.
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EXAMPLE OF A PERSONALISED TRIBUTE BOOK
The life of a partner, grandmother, grandfather, mother, father, child,
friend or family pet should be celebrated in the most precious way possible,
for without them our lives would have been so empty, and it is only
fitting that a tribute be made in loving memory of either that person
or pet, acknowledging all of their qualities, amusing moments, hopes
and achievements.
It is mainly for this reason that True Star designed their personalised
tribute book and because it gives those left behind the opportunity
to say ‘I love you’. This In tribute is truly personalised
and this is evident from the website demonstration tribute which shows
example pages (see tribute example), which
incorporates a free funeral poem (anonymous poet), other inspirational
poems (copyright), a eulogy example, plus example pages of writings
about the loved ones life and times and shared memories plus photographs,
sympathy cards and funeral floral tribute cards and much, much more.
More free funeral poems are included on this web page:- ‘A tribute
to my loved one, ‘A eulogy to my pet’, ‘In remembrance
of a star’, 'A war hero’, and ‘My grief’. (the
author of each being True Star)
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IDENTIFYING THE TRIBUTE INSERTS
We can upon request provide condolence pages in advance of the funeral for completion by the service attendees and these can later be included in the personalised tribute book.
The bereaved person arranging the personalised tribute book for publication needs to ask funeral directors to collect all of the floral tribute condolence cards. following the service. They will then need to decide with all involved, which of the floral tribute condolence cards are to be included in the tribute book.
The standard book includes 30 blank sheets (which can be omitted if requested) and includes the page ‘In loving memory of – includes the full name). There is an option to select from BAND A and BAND B pages (see Tribute Example and Tribute Prices pages) to incorporate a greater degree of personalization.
BAND A includes pages such as ‘In loving memory of’, ‘A tribute to', Photographs, Service Details, ‘I did not die’ (poem), Family Record, Sympathy Cards, Floral Tribute Cards, ‘Within Reach’ (poem), Remembrance Photograph and Special Articles for scanning (e.g. Personal / Religious / Cultural).
BAND B includes pages such as a list of Service attendees (and Pall Bearers if known), Condolence messages, Eulogy, Life & Times, Personal Poems, Shared Memories and Special Articles for typing (e.g. Personal / Religious / Cultural).
A page can accommodate either two floral tribute cards, two condolence messages or two photographs (name of the loved one and a short title is required on the back) but not an assortment of these.
BAND A & BAND B personalised pages are dramatically reduced in price for additional books.
The person responsible for preparing the contents for the tribute book will need to consider whether other papers should also be included i.e.: a copy of the obituary notice, the tribute card from the funeral, the order of service (readings, sermons and hymns etc), and any faith or cultural related papers etc.
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WRITING THE TRIBUTE BOOK PAGES
Page templates are downloaded from the Tribute Order Form page. Additional pages will need to be downloaded as required.
BAND A - optional
The ‘In Loving Memory’ page is included free of charge in all books, the full name of your loved one or loved ones’ (if a joint tribute) is to be written on the page template (down loaded from the Tribute Order Form page)
A Tribute page for either your loved one or joint loved ones, then their full names, date/s of birth and death are to be written on the appropriate page template. A photograph with the loved one’s name or joint names should be written on the back, and clipped to the appropriate downloaded page template).
To include service details complete the appropriate page template and complete two page templates for a joint tribute.
The Family Record template form simply asks the full names of the loved one and their spouse plus the first names of their children and their offspring (maximum 3 generations).
If required other items (Special Articles) can be scanned and positioned in the tribute book/s.
BAND B - optional
You can list the Service Attendees on the Relatives and Friends downloaded form, also the Pall Bearer’s names if known.
Condolence Message pages can be provided for completion following the funeral, or can be downloaded and completed at a later date. Two messages can be printed per page.
If required there are page templates for writing the
Eulogy – either words spoken at the service or determined at a later time.
Life & Times - where the history of the lost loved one can be included, as could information about their place of birth, position in family, early and latter day events, their talents and hopes, plus any humorous and nostalgic moments as well as their life milestones and achievements etc.
Personal Poems - the personalised tribute book includes poems, however, there is nothing more moving than a poem written by the bereaved as these sad moments seem to bring out the most soulful words, and the page has been included for those who wish to express their feelings in this way.
Shared Memories - so that any special recollection can be documented
If required other items (Special Articles) can be typed and positioned in the tribute book/s.
Once it has been decided which of the floral tribute condolence cards, sympathy cards and photographs are to be included, the next step is to complete the Order Form, and to check that
The package includes all of the page templates and inserts required.
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COMPLETING THE TRIBUTE BOOK ORDER FORM
The next step is to complete the order form which can be downloaded from the Tribute Order Form page. If you are unable to print the forms from this website - email or telephone to arrange for them to be sent to your home address (see tribute contact).
The form requires the name, address and contact telephone number of the person responsible for organising the tribute book. Either the standard book only can be selected (cover embossed with full name of the loved one, the ‘In Loving Memory page and 30 blank sheets), or additional personalised pages can be selected.
The form is simple to complete as all that is required is that each page template type is counted and written in the PAGE QTY. Page BAND A is then totaled and multiplied by the price for BAND A (BOOK 1) the same is performed for BAND B pages. The values are written in to their respective boxes and added together, the sum being placed in Section 2. There is an option to omit the blank sheets from the tribute book, and on this section the book cover type and colour is selected and the full name to be embossed on the cover is included.
ADDITIONAL BOOKS – Discounts can be achieved on personalised pages for additional books. Simply multiply the total quantity of BAND A & BAND B pages and multiply by £2. It is not necessary to write the name to be embossed on additional books as this is taken from the BOOK 1 information. Again the cover material and colour are chosen.
True Star understand that during periods of grief and bereavement form filling can be a confusing task and are quite happy to receive telephone calls or emails so that assistance may be given. (see tribute contact).
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SENDING THE TRIBUTE BOOK ORDER PACKAGE
The person responsible for preparing the information and inserts for the tribute would need to check that they have included all of the papers, floral tribute cards, sympathy cards, photographs, signed condolence page/s, other elected paperwork, tribute template page forms, the order form plus their cheque for 50% of the order total. Consideration should be given to the most appropriate postal service, as their package consists of very precious items.
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THE PERSONALIZED
TRIBUTE BOOK PROOF
A proof is sent to the person responsible for organising the personalised
memorial book to check that all supplied information, documents, photographs,
tribute and sympathy cards etc are included, correct in detail, and
that all spellings are accurate and that the format and use of these
items is acceptable. It is to be noted that copies of coloured inserts
shown on the proof may vary in both colour and size in the published
tribute book. The person responsible for checking the proof will need
to mark clearly on the proof against the respective page all changes
and/or corrections and provide a covering letter explaining the error
and/or omission and the required correction. It is possible at this
stage to request additional page inserts (see tribute
order form page for full Terms & Conditions). If corrections
and/or additional pages have been requested a final proof will be sent.
Once the proof has been checked and confirmed to be correct, the person
responsible would sign the Proof Declaration and send with it the order
balance.
True Star returns all original
photographs, sympathy cards, floral tribute cards and all other inserts
to the address on the order. It is this person’s responsibility
to distribute the published books to the recipients.
True Star Post & Packaging
is charged at £6.00 within the United Kingdom and is sent by Recorded
Delivery. Non UK signed delivery charges will vary, therefore contact
True Star for current prices.
See the tribute order form page for
full Terms & Conditions.
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FREE FUNERAL
POEMS
A tribute
to my loved one
A sympathy card could not
express my grief.
A eulogy speech could not encapsulate your spirit.
A word of condolence could not mend my aching heart.
A headstone could not bring you closer.
A memory of our precious times shared,
is a tribute which relieves my grief,
represents your spirit, heals my heart
and brings you ever so near.
Author True Star
A
eulogy to my pet
When I awoke you were always
there,
with a warm greeting and a little nudge,
as you started the day without a care
Your happy disposition lifted
my soul.
Your loyalty and trust were boundless.
Your unconditional love was whole.
I grieve for you my darling
and yet,
although this world is empty without you
and I have lost a devoted friend and pet,
when I awake you are always
there,
with a warm greeting and a little nudge,
in my heart.
Author True Star
In
remembrance of a star
I wrote you a letter expressing
love and despair,
slipped it under my pillow and said a prayer,
hoping it would reach you wherever you are,
I gazed at the night sky and viewed a bright star.
Warmth flooded my heart like a swollen stream,
then I saw you so clearly in a perfect dream.
In the morning my letter was still there to see,
but I knew that its message had been set free
Author True Star
A war hero
You donned your uniform with
great pride,
and joined your comrades on fields that sighed,
in anguish for lives lost or damaged there.
Armed with conviction you
fought to protect,
the peace which earlier conflict had wrecked.
Becoming the victim of man’s cruelty to man.
Your body, mind and spirit taking the toll,
wounding your heart and your placid soul.
You lay in a hospital far away from home.
You drifted to remembrances
of a past day,
then without regret you slipped away.
Your fighting days are gone my brave hero.
Author True Star
My Grief
Our days were long, our future designed.
Our list of chores and goals assigned.
Being happy together in our safe zone,
we gave no thought to being alone.
But life is fragile and oh so brief,
now my only companion is weary grief.
As poems for comfort, make me cry,
I look to the heavens and ask aloud, why ?
Is this the reward for loving so much,
the loss of my loved one’s voice and touch ?
Or will my journey of grief lead me to ground,
where my understanding will be more profound ?
You said our souls were inexplicably entwined,
and that in eternity they would be combined.
I hope that one day my grief will subside,
and life moves on, until I’m again by your side.
Author
True Star
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EULOGY WRITING TIPS
It is difficult during times
of grief and bereavement to contemplate writing and / or delivering
a eulogy speech. However, it should be viewed as an opportunity to contribute
to the funeral service a moving and memorable speech expressing the
feelings and experiences of the person giving the eulogy about their
loved one. It is more important that the speech comes from the heart,
than shows the person has a flair for writing speeches.
When writing a eulogy consider the following:-
• Decide on your eulogy theme (are you going to focus say on their
humour, sensitivity, generosity or some other important characteristics)
• Find out some facts about the loved one’s history, and
allow others to contribute.
• Speak with others to learn of moments which demonstrate the
theme (‘for example Uncle Fred told me one story which depicted
Patricia’s good sense of humour, where she attended a party wearing
a Nun’s habit knowing it was not fancy dress and told her hosts
that she had only just left work and hadn’t had time to change’.)
• Tell stories which demonstrate your loved one’s character
so well that those attending can imagine them there at the time.
• Always write about the deceased in an honest and positive way.
• Include any achievements or important events in their life.
• Write your eulogy speech with your loved one in mind and ask
yourself would they agree, approve and appreciate what you are saying
about them.
• If you know their favourite poem, quote or reading, include
this in your eulogy speech.
• Finish in an uplifting way and sum up the theme of your loved
ones life (e.g.: Patricia lived her life to the full, brought laughter
to brighten our days, enriched and inspired our lives and for this and
for many wonderful memories she will always be loved and kept alive
in our hearts and minds).
• If you have a computer, type the text in a large font with a
sufficient space between lines.
• Read the eulogy through and make changes where necessary.
• Time your memorial speech so that it does not last more than
10 minutes.
• Practise your eulogy speech.
• Ask someone to support you and ask that they be prepared to
step in and complete the eulogy reading should it become necessary,
making sure that they have a copy of the eulogy speech to read in advance.
• When reading the eulogy, speak slowly and although it is very
difficult, try to keep your emotions in check.
• Remember that those attending the funeral or memorial service
also knew and loved the deceased and will appreciate that your words
are honest, loving and designed to depict the character of that person
well.
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True Star own the Intellectual Property rights to the personalised memorial
books which includes True Star Copyright Material, therefore reproduction
of part or all of those contents in any form is strictly prohibited.
The tribute book artwork & layout is Copyright © 2006 True
Star
Tribute Books – Tribute Examples
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