Funeral Ministry and Our Cemetery: Ensuring Support for Bereaved Families

Any of us who have lost a loved one knows there are so many details that require attention — from the reading choices to the burial. As family and friends gather to mourn, it means so much for the bereaved to not have to worry. The Funeral Coordinators at Saint Michael Parish stand ready to walk families through the funeral planning process.

Jeannine Granberg, Joan Joanis, and Kathy Steinbrecher are a few of our Funeral Coordinators in the Funeral Ministry. They all appreciate being able to serve families who are going through great loss — it’s a way to offer a listening ear and emotional support.

“The opportunity to be a conduit of God’s compassion and love is always a blessing both to those who give, as well as those who receive,” Kathy says.

The funeral planning process can be quite stressful since a family may feel emotionally overwhelmed. Thus, Funeral Coordinators can help with the decisions.

“Ministering to people in their time of grief is one way that SMP says, ‘We care about you,’” Jeannine says.

“It is important to minister to people in their times of grief because they are often feeling overwhelmed and even lost,” Joan adds.

The gift of this ministry was clear to parishioners Jim and Nancy when they planned a funeral for a close family member. Their Funeral Coordinator was there at every step of the planning process.

“We all felt so much love, comfort, and healing for how beautiful the funeral Mass turned out,” they said. “Thank you for all the details and work you offered our family to ensure it all came together. This truly was a gift to us and other parishioners.”

The Funeral Coordinators consider this ministry to be more than just funeral planning — it’s a ministry of hospitality, too. Often, the Funeral Coordinator doesn’t know the family. This allows them to get to know one another. In addition, the family members may not be practicing Catholics — so being welcoming or loving in this time of need might be one way to bring them to the faith.

“We welcome all to witness the assembly of the faithful, to hear and sing the hymns, to listen to the inspired Word of God, and perhaps pray with our prayers,” Kathy says. “I love knowing that through this experience, a person attending the funeral may feel such a welcome and comfort that may discern a greater place for God in their lives.”

“People of all faiths attend funerals, and through the welcoming spirit at SMP we serve as a conduit for people to see the love of God,” Jeannine adds.

While everyone is welcome to serve as a Funeral Coordinator, there are many additional ways to get involved in this ministry.

A great way to start is by volunteering in a liturgical ministry for funerals. This is one way to witness how funerals are performed. Kathy also invites parishioners to attend funerals as a way to show solidarity with the family. We can also pray for all the SMP parishioners who have died and their families. Volunteers may also step forward to help with funeral lunches when the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic has passed.

Steward for Community Outreach Kellie Patton oversees this ministry at SMP. She appreciates being part of this work and invites others to get involved.

“This is a beautiful ministry, and I cherish working with families as they honor and grieve their loved one,” she says.

Funeral Coordinator Jeannine Granberg lights candles at a recent funeral.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE SAINT MICHAEL PARISH CEMETERY

Established in 1886, Calvary Catholic Cemetery is a quaint cemetery located in Tumwater. It is beautifully landscaped, with manicured lawns and mature shade trees that create a serene setting. It was sold to the parish in 1909 and contains many pioneer headstones registered by the Tumwater Historical Society. Calvary Catholic Cemetery is owned and operated by the parish community and is 3.1 miles south of SMP.