Why Funerals

 Traditionally somber affairs, funerals provide an excellent opportunity for families and loved ones to gather. If comfort or assistance is needed, a funeral can provide the assurance of people coming together for one another. With a community funeral, friends and neighbors can offer their loving support in times of trouble.

 When the funeral includes a visitation or gathering, mourners have an opportunity to gather together and offer a listening ear and caring embrace. A funeral also allows for the expression of mourning together, reasserting the importance of family connections during difficult times.

 Time and distance sometimes cause people to feel distant, but gathering together for a funeral allows those attending to feel connected to and invested in one another’s lives. Funerals act as central gathering places where family and friends give emotional support to each other. The funeral is the place where you can say a final goodbye, giving you space to say to your loved ones how much they meant to you.

 Funerals are a storytelling practice that keeps our family’s identities alive, even after one of our members has passed away. When we call a funeral home, schedule time for a service, plan a ceremony, see a body, or maybe even pick out clothes and jewelry for the corpse, we cannot help but recognize someone we loved has died. By a funeral, we are referring to a post-death event, which may involve any kind of meaningful ceremony in honor of the life of the deceased.

For significant family members, a funeral reception is usually held, featuring songs and dances, in commemoration of the life of the deceased. The funeral is held at the time the family chooses, which can be days after death, to allow time for family members to attend. In Eastern Orthodox funerals, the casket is opened right before burial, to allow mourners the last chance to see the deceased person and say a final goodbye.

 Rich with history and rich in symbolism, funeral ceremonies help us recognize the reality of someone we loved dying, provide a witness to the deceased’s life, encourage the expression of mourning in ways that are consistent with cultural values, offer support for the mourner, enable an embrace of life-and-death beliefs, and provide continuity and hope to the living. Even if the family does not follow a particular religion or culture, a funeral nonetheless presents a chance for family members and loved ones of a person who has died to begin healing. While some might view a coming funeral with fear or uncertainty, these ceremonies actually provide opportunities for people grieving to reflect, celebrate, or even find peace.No matter which type of funeral service makes the most sense for you or your loved one, you might find yourself wanting to strike a balance between respecting the past while also honoring the future.