The Funeral Dinners Ministry: Providing Essential Comfort With Great Love

It is wonderful to know that members of our parish family who are grieving never have to go through it alone. Thanks to the generous members of the Funeral Dinners Ministry, the love of Christ remains at their side during some of their most difficult moments.

“I believe this is such an important ministry, and I hope that it shows those who are grieving that their parish family loves and cares for them,” says Tawny Benz, who serves as a Funeral Dinners Ministry team leader, alongside Lou Ann Weills. “I am glad I can help the family of the deceased by providing this opportunity for them to just visit with one another and grieve.”

Currently, the Funeral Dinners Ministry has approximately 50 men and women, serving on two different teams, who provide a luncheon after our parish funerals and burials for families who would like to receive one. The two funeral teams work together to provide larger funeral luncheons.

“We work together because many hands make light work,” Tawny says. “We provide the meat, potatoes, and vegetables, while the team members bring in salads, desserts, etcetera, to finish out the food. We have men and women that work and provide food, but we also have people that cannot work at the funeral luncheon bring food in for us. And we have some very good cooks in our parish.”

Those who give their time and talent to this ministry find it to be greatly rewarding in the end.

“I first got involved with this ministry because there was only one Funeral Dinner team and the same people had to do all the work,” Tawny says. “Now I continue to do it because I feel it not only assists the family of the deceased, but it also gives me a good way to spend time with the other people on my team. They are a great bunch and I feel blessed to work with them.”

Ultimately, this ministry is a true reflection of what it means to care for others in the name of Christ and carry out the stewardship vision.

“The families respond with so much appreciation for us making a meal for them, and I am so thankful I can help them in a small way to get through this rough time,” Tawny says. “It really touches my heart to see the grieving family and friends being able to sit down and eat together, and enjoy each other’s company.”

Those who would like to comfort the grieving by volunteering with this beautiful ministry of compassion, or receive its services, may contact Tawny Benz at 217-257-0847. Members of this ministry do not have to attend any meetings.