Funerals are a sacred ritual for many people. The funeral rites and traditions vary from culture to culture, but they all have one thing in common: the desire to honor the dead person’s life by showing respect and compassion for those who remain alive. In this article, we will explore how funerals came about as well as their function today. We’ll also cover some of the more modern trends shaping what funeral ceremonies look like in countries across the world.
In cultures around the world, funerals serve different purposes: to mourn and remember loved ones; to restore balance and order after death; or to celebrate a person’s life with joyous festivities including dancing, singing, feasting, drinking alcohol (in places where it is permitted) and wearing beautiful clothes.
Although they are an ancient practice, funerals are now more popular than ever as people become more interested in “alternative” funerals. These alternative funerals speak to modern society’s desire for personalization and reflect the increasing willingness for ceremonies that celebrate life rather than mourn death. A growing trend is to hold a party after the service. People want to be able to celebrate their loved one’s life with friends and family in a beautiful setting, rather than a stuffy, formal room.
- Determine The Type Of Funeral You Want
The first step you must take to plan a funeral for your loved one is to determine what type of funeral you want. From the selection of music and clothing worn by those in attendance, it’s up to you as the grievers decide how much they want to personalize the ceremony from beginning to end.
Here are some tips on how to choose different types of funerals:
Philip Dentith explains that American society has adopted a simple burial program mainly because it can be carried out at an affordable cost and because the idea of a home visitation from the funeral director is appealing to many people. The modern funeral aims to calm down those around us, both during and after the service itself.
In some cases, however, this type of burial may not be appropriate. For example, if you have a family member who has been an exceptionally religious person, then a more traditional funeral with hymns and prayers may be preferred by your family.
- Choose A Cemetery Or Crematorium
When you’re planning a funeral for a loved one, it’s essential that you determine where they will rest in peace before signing any paperwork or making final arrangements with their next of kin (family members If your loved one was an organ donor, it’s important to know that the only place you can withdraw their organs is from a medical facility. In simple terms, if your loved one will be cremated, then they cannot be an organ donor because the whole body must be present for any type of transplant. You’d also have to consider the cost of cremation and you can find memorials for sale in Milford as well.
- Arrange For Transportation
In order to plan a funeral for your loved one, transportation should also be arranged, especially if they lived far away from where you intend to hold their service and burial. This may seem like a no-brainer, but many people often forget this part while planning funerals in advance. There are various options when it comes to transporting bodies:
Vehicle – Often used by families who have a specific location in mind for the deceased.
Helicopter – Used when transporting the body of a VIP or celebrity.
Funeral home hearse – Allows friends and family members to gather around the deceased for one last time before they are driven away. This may also be used as a place to have some photographs taken.
- How To Plan A Memorial Service
If you’re planning on holding a memorial service, then it’s important that you decide how it will look beforehand so that everything can go smoothly once you’re there. A few tips include:
Have an open casket: This is especially popular in Asia-Pacific, where many people believe this is necessary so relatives can say their final goodbyes during the service itself instead of having to say goodbye in a separate location.
Have a photo collage: This is common in Western countries, especially when local newspapers help by printing pictures of the deceased from their childhood through to adulthood within one week of their death being announced publicly.
- Write An Obituary Notice To Share With Family And Friends
In order to plan a funeral for your loved one, it’s important that an obituary notice or “death notice” be written and sent out to friends and family members via email, fax, or to local newspapers around the world. This is especially important if you have a large family who lives far away from each other because it’s a way for everyone to quickly find out about their loved one passing away.
- Make Arrangements For Food After The Ceremony Is Over
If your company needs food after the funeral, then it’s important that you make sure this will be provided before the actual service itself begins. Usually, everyone will offer to contribute toward food and drinks after they hear about someone dying, but everyone has different opinions on what should be served at funerals, so again, make sure everything is set in stone beforehand.
- Tips For Grieving After Your Loved One Has Passed Away
Having just lost a loved one, grief can be very difficult for anyone to deal with. The following are some tips that may help you get through it:
Write in a journal: Some people find this helpful because it helps them express their emotions while also helping them remember their loved ones better.
Get back to normal life as soon as possible: Going out every night or staying home all day is never the answer when trying to recover from losses of any kind – especially deaths. Try your best to balance this by participating in activities again, seeing friends, and taking up new hobbies, which will hopefully take your mind off things, at least temporarily. You might even feel guilty about enjoying yourself after everything has happened but try not to think about it too much.
Life can be cruel, and unfortunately, anytime someone we love passes away, it’s never easy for us or anyone close to them. The steps provided above give you a good starting point on how to plan a funeral for a loved one, but at the end of the day; these are only guidelines, and if there is something specific that your family needs help with, then always ask your local funeral planner for help.