Memorial Services

Following the death of a loved one, University Unitarian Church is here to provide care and support to family and friends, and to lessen their burdens by assisting with the details of services in memory.  Memorial services are for church members and their families only.

Where To Start

The first step is to call the church office at (206) 525-8400 to inform the church of the death of a loved one.  You will be connected with a minister who will contact you to offer emotional support through this difficult time and begin the process of planning the service.  A member of our staff can check to see if the deceased has any memorial directions on file.

Planning A Memorial Service

The planning for a memorial service usually begins with the family letting the minister know their preferred dates for the service.  The service may be soon after the death of a loved one or at a later time.  The minister will work with administrative staff to schedule the best day and time.  The minister will also contact the UUC Care Team.  A member of this team will be in touch with you to explore any necessary supports for the family.

Elements of the Service

The minister will help you plan the content of the service. The service usually consists of opening words, favorite music, hymns and readings, a prayer, tributes by family or friends and a eulogy by the minister. Unitarian memorials allow for flexibility, so discuss your preferences with the minister so that the service is as meaningful as possible.

Family or friends are responsible for appointing ushers for the service. The church will create, post online and print the order of service, which usually includes a photo of the deceased. The family is responsible for obtaining and delivering any floral arrangements for the sanctuary or social hall. Please contact the church office for florist recommendations.

The minister will contact the pianist on your behalf; if you would like to talk to the pianist directly, let the minister know.  If recorded music will be an element of the service, CDs or MP3 players can be used with the sound system in the sanctuary.  If a soloist is needed, please contact the church office for further details about these additional arrangements and expenses.

The church can also live-stream the service so friends and family that cannot attend in person may still participate.  A church staff member will provide the family with the link to the stream, which they can then pass on to friends and family.

The Memorial Reception

The Nathan Johnson Social Hall and kitchen are available for a reception following the memorial service. The Minister will contact the chair of the UUC’s Memorial Reception Committee who will then contact you to arrange details.  The Committee members will help you plan the reception. Receptions are usually informal rather than seated events, but chairs are placed for use around the hall.  Families typically set up displays of photographs or mementos of their loved ones. The church provides tables and table easels for this purpose.

The members of the Committee provide and serve coffee and cookies. If other finger food or catering is desired, the family or friends must provide it (as well as the clean-up), in coordination with the Memorial Committee.  Please contact the church office at (206) 525-8400 to arrange a time for caterers to view the facility before the reception.

Fees

The fee for a memorial service at UUC is $1,000.  The resources that are available to you for this fee include the following:

• the use of the sanctuary, social hall and kitchen
• the services of a UUC minister or community minister
• the services of the church pianist for music and hymns
• a printed order of service
• expenses of the Memorial Reception Committee

Memorial Contributions

Please let the minister know if you would like the memorial contributions given by family or friends to go to a specific organization or to University Unitarian Church.  This information will be included in the printed order of service.  If gifts are given to UUC without restriction, they will be directed towards the church's Sharing Fund.

The Peter S. Raible Memorial Garden

The beautiful Peter S. Raible Memorial Garden, which was constructed in 2005, is a place for contemplation and remembering. The use of the interment services in the Memorial Garden is limited to congregation members of UUC or their immediate family members.  If you would like to honor your loved one in the Memorial Garden, you may like to have a 4” x 9” bronze plaque made and mounted permanently on the wall. In addition, you may inter her or his cremated ashes in the Garden’s communal receptacle. The cost for the plaque and interment is $500.

Be sure to discuss the use of the Memorial Garden with the Minister when planning the service, as the interment may take place directly after the service or at a different time, either privately or publicly, and the plaque will require at least one month to be completed.