A few kind words in parting

[LadyBrooke]

I guess I'm lucky then. Every funeral I've been to focused more on the person than anything else. I can't imagine a funeral that wasn't focused on the person.

[Dimturiel]

Hmm, I've given some thought to this topic...I see that one of the first examples given here was Aragorn's parting speech too Arwen. Indeed, that would have been my first choice too. I also think Bilbo's poem from Many Partings would do quite nicely, especially this bit:

Now far ahead the road has gone,/ Let others follow it who can/ Let them a journey new begin/ But I at last with weary feet/ Shall turn towards the lighted inn/ My evening rest and sleep to meet

. Also, the entire I sit beside the fire and think poem would be very appropriate for the occasion. Another choice would be Sam's song in the tower of Cirith Ungol.

[Mithalwen]

Unsuprisingly many of my favourites - Bilbo's last song and the grey havens, O Lorien have been mentioned already and I read once of the funeral of a 13year old boy killed in an accident and his father read the last few pages of the LOTR which he had left unfinished at the time of his death . The poignancy of that has me in floods at the mere idea even several years on. But though I love the sea I hate sailing so I am not sure I wouldn't rather have the end of "The house at Pooh Corner" and be played out to "Always look on the bright side of life" . Birthday and Christmas gifts prove that my alleged nearest and dearest have no idea what I like so if I weren't of the "put me out with the rubbish" school of funerals I would have to specify which is a bit egotistical.... but if egotism is the order of the day (and if at your funeral why not? ) How about "mourn not overmuch..mighty was the fallen.. meet was her ending."

Unless I die overseas I should like my bones to lie in the Woodland Burial ground where my mother is(and we made her funeral a good mix with the comfort of the BCP funeral sentences and favourite hymns and the personal - "Good night Sweetheart was played before the postlude"). I should like an elvish beech to mark my grave and this on it's plaque.

"Namárië! Nai hiruvalyë Valimar!
Nai elyë hiruva! Namárië!"

[Inziladun]

I've always been moved by Théoden's words to Merry on the Pelannor.

"My body is broken. I go to my fathers. And even in their mighty company I shall not now be ashamed."

That's what I'd prefer should I go out 'in action'.

On a lighter note, I could throw them for a loop and have played a recording of myself in a Gollum-voice howling "Preciousssss!.

[Estelyn Telcontar]

Sam's song "In western lands" has appropriate lines that I love dearly:

Though here at journey's end I lie
in darkness buried deep,
beyond all towers strong and high,
beyond all mountains steep,
above all shadows rides the Sun
and Stars for ever dwell:
I will not say the Day is done,
nor bid the Stars farewell.

[Thinlómien]

Originally Posted by Dimturiel

Also, the entire I sit beside the fire and think poem would be very appropriate for the occasion. Another choice would be Sam's song in the tower of Cirith Ungol.

Actually, when my great grandfather died a bit more than ten years ago, my aunt sang the song in his memorial party. I don't think he knew Tolkien, but she loves LotR and she thought the lyrics very appropriate (my great grandfather was quite old when he died, I think he made it to 94 or something like that). And as for the melody, a Finnish theatre performed a piece of LotR in 1989 (?) and they composed several of the songs, so that's where she got it from. I was quite young then but I remember the occasion.