I’ve been wondering this for 11 years: Every time someone dies, the funeral home gives me a “Clergy Record,” with the deceased’s name, address, and basic details like when they were born, when they died, when the funeral is/was, and so forth. Guilt and a sense of respect for the dead keeps me from throwing it immediately in the trash. So it sits on my desk for a few months, and then I throw it away. And every time, I say to myself: What am I supposed to do with the thing? Why do they give it to me?
Waiting for the Parousia
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{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Most of the information on that clergy record will be what is needed to properly enter the death into the parish record. This way, you don't have to figure out the precise age of the deceased; the exact place of interment is noted, especially if unusual; etc.
I guess that some parishes might not keep a register, so these clergy records may how they keep a "paper trail" of deaths.
LTZ
I guess that makes sense. It just seems so redundant. I've never not known the information that's there.
Oh, I have done funerals for people who were relatives of member sin our church, and I did not know this information. In those cases, I have been thankful for the clergy record.