When meeting with funeral homes in Rockford, IL for your loved one’s arrangements, one thing you will need to decide on is who will be the officiant for the funeral service. But who do you choose? Who can be one? Does it have to be a religious leader? What is the officiant actually going to do during the service? If you have not had to find an officiant before, you will most likely have all these questions and more. Don’t worry, in this article we are going to share what you need to know about officiants.   

What Does the Officiant Do?  

The funeral officiant has many roles and responsibilities when it comes to the funeral service. Many people may think the duties only start at the time of the funeral, but the truth is the officiant’s work starts well before that. This is because before the funeral begins, the officiant will need to perfume duties such as: 

• Meet with the family – This first thing the officiant will do is meet with the family and discuss funeral service plans 
• Discuss religious requirements – The officiant will also be responsible for ensuring any religious requirements are met. This may include preparing prayers or special readings.  
• Create an order/schedule – The officiant will then create a schedule for the funeral service as well as (if applicable) for the visitation and graveside service.  

Once those duties have been completed, the officiant will have new roles to take on during the funeral. These include: 

• Helping before funeral begins – The officiant should arrive early and be available to the family for any help they may need. This may include things such as offering emotional support as well as letting the family know what they can expect. 
• Leading the service – The officiant will lead the service and make sure it flows from one element to the other seamlessly  
• Closing the service – At the end of the service, the officiant will deliver closing remarks as well as share any information about the committal service and/or reception.  
• Additional services – After the funeral services, some officiants may also lead the graveside service afterwards.  

Who Can Serve as Officiant?  

While almost anyone can act as the officiant for the funeral, you can see this role comes with many responsibilities. Because of this, it is best to find an officiant with the experience needed to handle these duties in a professional manner. Typically officiants are religious leaders, funeral directors, or professional celebrants. 

How to Find an Officiant 

Now that you know more about the role of an officiant, you may have someone in mind. Simply reach out to them and inquire about their services as officiant. Once you have decided they are the one, set up a meeting to discuss your wishes and sing a contract. If you do not have someone in mind, you can talk with your family to see if they know of someone, as well as talk with the director of your funeral home in Rockford, IL as they can help as well.