The funeral ceremony starts with guests entering the church or chapel and taking their seats. It is recommended that guests arrive about 15-20 minutes early. There is then a small procession down the main aisle of the church by the immediate family and the pallbearers who are carrying the casket.
Parts of a Funeral Ceremony
A traditional funeral service typically has four components. They are the visitation, funeral ceremony, committal service, and a funeral reception. The family may decide to have more than one visitation at different times or just one.
For example, you might start out like this: “I would like to welcome you to this celebration of the life of (NAME), who (passed, entered into rest, went to be with his beloved wife Glenda, went to be with his Savior) on (date).
A funeral processional marks the beginning of the funeral service. This is when the casket is brought in. The processional is led by the officiant and is followed by the pallbearers who carry the casket.
On the day of the funeral, your funeral directors will place the coffin containing your loved one in a hearse and slowly drive them to the crematorium or church for the funeral. The hearse will be followed by a procession of other cars going to the funeral, lead by close family of the person who has died.
At the funeral
There's also some funeral service etiquette to follow on the day itself. For the funeral procession, the etiquette for who goes in funeral cars is usually immediate family after the hearse, followed by other family members and friends, then others who were important to your loved one.
Viewings can take place at the funeral home or the family home. They take place before the funeral, sometimes the day before and sometimes the same day. The body or a memorial to the deceased will likely be displayed to allow mourners the opportunity to pay their respects.
Historically, funerals had to take place after just a matter of days, because of decomposition. With today's preservation methods, families have a bit more time to prepare and get affairs in order. This helps families make arrangements, and to pick a day to hold the funeral.
Opening music - hymns (or other music) play as guests enter the venue. Readings - someone reads a particular text, often a poem or a Bible passage. Blessings/Prayers - guests join a specific speaker in prayer. Eulogy - a loved one gives a speech about the person who's died.
Things to say at a funeral service
If you don't know them very well, a simple 'I'm sorry for your loss' is fine, although it is often better if you can say something about the person who has died, for example 'I'm so sorry that you've lost your Dad (his name), he was a lovely man and I know we'll miss him very much.
It's best to wait until the funeral service is over to greet the family, unless they're greeting people before the service. If you aren't close with the family, make sure to introduce yourself and explain your relationship to their deceased loved one.
Some people may choose to host a wake or reception before the funeral instead of after. This can sometimes be combined with a viewing, or other times there might be a viewing held before the main service, at the church or crematorium. In the Catholic faith, a Vigil service might be held on the night before the funeral.
An ancient practice of burying dead people six feet underground may have helped mask the odor of decay from predators. Similarly, random disturbances, such as plowing, would be unable to reach a person buried six feet underneath. Preventing the Spread of Disease was another major reason.
Giving a eulogy means that you are sharing a remembrance speech with the purpose of paying tribute to a loved one. This speech is given at the funeral or memorial service by a family member or close friend. A good eulogy highlights the lasting impact of the person on their family and community.
The eulogy itself is typically given by a close family member, friend or a minister. There's no reason why two people cannot deliver the eulogy, or in some cases, it may be more appropriate to open the eulogies to all attendees.
It is important to remember that, when carrying a coffin or casket, the person inside is always carried feet first – the only exception is a vicar, who is carried head first to face their congregation. Coffins are carried feet first simply because of health and safety, rather than any kind of ceremonial tradition.
We are often asked how long after death is a funeral in Australia? The exact number of days varies depending on a range of circumstances, but typically a funeral in Australia is held between two and five days after a person's passing.
Funeral services are very personal and depend on factors ranging from culture and religion to details specified in the deceased's will. Expect service to last between half an hour to one hour; longer for public figures, or if there are lengthy readings or speeches.
For approximately the first 3 hours after death the body will be flaccid (soft) and warm. After about 3-8 hours is starts to stiffen, and from approximately 8-36 hours it will be stiff and cold. The body becomes stiff because of a range of chemical changes in the muscle fibres after death.
Visitation, Wake or Viewing
Held the night before or immediately prior to the funeral service, the visitation – also called a wake or a viewing – provides a way for friends and acquaintances to pay respects and offer condolences. If a casket is present, you can choose to have an open or closed casket.