It is our hope that this web page will help you in the stewardship of your life and death and, in that stewardship, honor your relationship with God.

About Death and Burial
For Christian people, death is the entry into life everlasting or life fully lived with God. This does not mean that grief is wrong or inappropriate; in fact, the testimony of the strength of one's relationship to the dead is measured in the tears we shed and the hope we have for those we love but see no more. Christians have always given thanks for the lives of those with whom they have a shared history and honored them even in grief

Being one in Christ means sharing in God's creation through stewardship. This means that we take seriously what happens to our bodies and how we care for people even when we do not see them. Good stewards of God's gift of life should have legal wills. Good stewards will declare what limitations they wish to place on their acute care and, of course, how they would like to have their bodies honored.

In the Episcopal Church, cremation is an acceptable alternative to the interment of the body. Grace Church maintains a memorial garden for the remains of those who wish to be placed there. It is prudent to request a niche well in advance if this is your choice.

The requiem liturgy (Liturgy for the Burial of the Dead) is also a place to acknowledge outwardly a sense of thanksgiving for the life we are given. It is wise to let the parish know if you would like particular hymns, prayers, or readings in your requiem liturgy and which friends or family you would like to participate. The clergy are available to assist in planning this.

Other items to be considered are where and when the community gathered at death will do so. Instead of the funeral home, you may wish to have the coffin in the church proper and receive your family and friends there in the days prior to the funeral.

Another issue is when the requiem might take place. In more metropolitan areas, it is becoming common for the body to be in the church for receiving and the requiem to take place at end of the evening receiving hours. The next day the family returns for the interment. Your choice should not only reflect your wishes but consider the lifestyles of the people who will gather for the requiem. If you wish music at the requiem, the church will arrange for an organist at a modest fee.

At the Time of Death
An important way to help is to prepare a call list either for yourself or those who will have to deal with your death when it occurs. Members of your family should be aware of this list and know where you keep it. We suggest that the list include the names and telephone numbers of the following people:

o Family Members
o The Clergy (who will offer last rites and Prayers at the Time of Death)
o Your Undertaker
o Three Close Friends
o Your Attorney

Preparatory Arrangements
You can downlad a form for the preparatory arrangements (PDF or Text) you may make with Grace Church. This form should be returned to the parish office where it will remain in your parish file until needed. We suggest that members of your family keep a copy of the preparatory arrangements and the call list.

Do not include (requiem) service arrangements in your will that will be probated sometime later.

Memorial Garden
If you choose the Memorial Garden as the final resting place for your remains, fees for opening and closing the niche and for placing a bronze plaque on the top of the niche are usually taken care of at the time of the requiem.

Memorials
As an alternative to flowers, you may ask mourners to designate a gift to the memorial fund of Grace Church. The capital of this fund is held as an ongoing memorial: the interest is used to further the mission of the church.

Should you wish to designate Grace Church in your will, the church may assist in your estate planning, if you desire.

Fellowship
One gift that the dead give the living is the opportunity to gather in fellowship. Grace Church invites you to use either Memorial Hall or Patterson Hall as a place to gather after the requiem liturgy. The parish secretary will be happy to help locate a caterer, if desired, or your family and friends may bring repast if they wish. The entire parish community is willing to assist in whatever way we can be most helpful to you and your family.

After the Funeral
Grieving is a long-term process. As each holiday is marked and memories are sorted out, there may be times when clergy staff may be of help. Please do not hesitate to call.

It is our custom to include the names of the departed on our prayer list on the Sunday following death and the Sunday following the requiem, as well as on All Saints' Day.

One copy of the preparatory arrangements should be returned to the parish office at Grace Church. A second copy should remain with your family.

Grace Episcopal Church
130 First Avenue
Nyack, New York 10960

T: (845) 358-1297
F: (845) 358-1443
parishoffice@gracechurchnyack.org