Funeral and Memorial Service Readings, Poems and Tributes

Rachel R. Baum was a librarian for 30 years, most recently as the assistant dean of the College of Computing and Information at the University at Albany. She was president of the New York Library Association in 2007. She lives in Saratoga Springs, New York.

• Table of ContentsAcknowledgments      Preface      1. Earth is Your Mother      2. He Played the Game      3. Fairwell, Fair Flower      4. This is My Hearth      5. Our Heart’s Friend      6. Those Who Walk With Me      7. Home is the Sailor      8. The Spirit of Lovable Life      9. Because He Lived      10. Woman Much Missed      11. I Cannot Forget You      Appendix A: Selected Resources      Appendix B: Selected Support Organizations      Credits      Film, Novel, and Famous Person Index      Title and First Line Index      Author Index

“a collection of poetry and prose appropriate for reading at a funeral or memorial service. Recommended”—Public Library Quarterly; “Baum’s effort simplifies the task of finding appropriate poems and readings during an unusually stressful time and should be welcomed in any library”—Colorado Libraries; “gathers poetry and some prose from a wide variety of sources.... [The competition’s] material is not presented with the same ease and convenience as in this volume...unique...very readable...nonsectarian and can be used in a variety of circumstances...a helpful addition”—Reference & User Services Quarterly; “the readings are well-chosen and well-presented. I enjoyed browsing this book and found many new poems, or extracts from poems, to treasure”—Reference Reviews; “[a] handy and often illuminating anthology”—Bereavement Care; “a good resource for anyone seeking guidance and help”—Faith and Thought; “a tremendous resource...offers incredibly helpful supporting materials.... Libraries should plan to purchase reference and circulating copies of this manual”—Today’s Librarian.