My Father’s First Anniversary Memorial Service

🕙 The Start of the First Anniversary Memorial Service and Morning Preparations

We held my father’s first anniversary memorial service at Sunray Chuo Shionkaku in Urasoe City, Maeda, starting at 10:00 AM. I woke up at 7:00 AM, woke my mother, had breakfast, got dressed, and despite the flurry of activity inside the house, we managed to finish preparations by 8:30 AM. We left home at 9:00 a.m. and arrived at the funeral hall by 9:30 a.m. The venue on the third floor was prepared for us. At 10:00 a.m., we welcomed the priest and held a meeting with the staff in charge.

🙏 Meeting with the Priest and Discussion about the Old 16th Day

This time, the priest was a woman, very approachable and easy to talk to. She explained the arrangements carefully, weaving in Buddhist teachings, and suggested, “Since the old 16th day of the lunar calendar is just a few days away, let’s hold the advance memorial service together.” She told us the old 16th day is also called “the New Year of the afterlife,” and that even Lord Enma takes a break on that day, which made perfect sense.

👪 Reuniting with Relatives and Mother’s Condition

I guided Mother to the waiting room as relatives began arriving one after another. She seemed delighted to catch up with many people she hadn’t seen in a long time. While I was running around handling arrangements, the relatives kindly kept Mother company, which was a huge help. Every time someone came over to speak with her, it felt like happy memories were being revived within Mother.

🕯 The Ceremony Flow and Memorial Service

Before the ceremony began, I took my mother to the restroom and said, “It’ll take about an hour, so you should go ahead.” Once the ceremony started, the priest gave a greeting and a talk, sharing many heartfelt words about Buddhist teachings and how the family should spend time after the funeral. He was also very considerate of my mother, which I deeply appreciated.

The sutra chanting began, followed by the incense offering. With just under 40 attendees, everything proceeded smoothly. Afterwards, we continued with the memorial service for the 16th day. Including the closing remarks, the entire ceremony lasted about an hour and a half.

🗣 My Address and Words of Gratitude

Finally, I addressed everyone. “Over this past year, the sadness has gradually faded, and the memories have grown. I spend time with my mother, reminiscing about things like, ‘Remember when this happened?’ I believe my father would be happy if you all also keep him in your hearts as a cherished memory.”

🎁 Gifts and Cleaning Up the Venue

We handed out gifts to those who attended and saw them off while chatting near the elevator. The entire event concluded in about two hours. Afterwards, preparations for the next funeral service were underway, so the venue was being hurriedly cleaned up.

The gifts were almost exactly the right amount with no leftovers, and the flowers were wrapped in small bundles so everyone could take them home. We were very grateful.

🏠 Mom After Returning Home and Future Procedures

After getting home, Mom said, “I’m going to take a little nap,” tired from all the talking, and is now resting. After that, once we receive the invoice and make the payment later, the entire process will be complete. There are still a few things left to do, but for now, it’s a huge relief.