What is a Funeral?

What is a Funeral?


All we need to do is say the word "funeral" and within microseconds, you have an image in your mind of what a funeral looks like. This mental image comes from many sources: the geographical place, culture and society in which we live; our faith; our life experience. Obviously then, a funeral service in Borneo would look very different from one held in Tanzania; there are even significant differences between the funerals held in ethnically and/or geographically diverse regions of North America.

Yet, despite the differences, these funeral services have much in common. We invite you to read further to learn the really simple answer to the question "what is a funeral?" Should you have questions about what you read here, we encourage you to call us. One of our funeral professionals will be delighted to explore the commonalities behind the wide spectrum of funeral ceremonies seen around the world. If you are looking to plan a funeral service for a veteran, check out this page on our website. 

Why Are Funerals Important?

Funerals are important because they represent the closing of one chapter of your life and opening another. Whether this funeral be represented as a traditional arrangement, memorial service, celebration of life, or ash scattering service, a funeral is key to providing the closure that many, if not all, friends and family members need when mourning the loss of a loved one. These events are physical markers or events that ceremonially acknowledge the change that is happened in structure of everyone's lives and symbolically sewing back together the tear in the fabric left behind from the departed.


Funeral arrangements also provide a way for mourners to have a collective grieving experience and celebrate a life well lived. It's a socially acceptable way for members of a community, family, or friendship group to re-affirm and express their social attachments. It is incredibly easy to feel lonely and isolated, a funeral arrangement allows people to feel more connected to others who are grieving.


Certainly, there is nothing more difficult than losing a loved one. We often find it hard to accept that our loved one is gone forever. The purpose of a funeral is to begin the healing process after the loss of a loved one. It gives us a chance to accept the reality of death and begin grieving. Below, we have provided you with a list of some of the purposes of a funeral: 


  • Reality – The main purpose of a funeral is to acknowledge the death of a loved one. 
  • Recall – Funerals give attendees a chance to reflect on the life of the honoured individual. This includes sharing stories and experiences about the individual who has passed. 
  • Support – Funerals are designed to bring family and friends together in a caring atmosphere. 
  • Expression – Funerals are an opportunity for attendees to express their inner thoughts about the life and death of the deceased. 
  • Meaning – Funerals identify purpose in life to those who attend the funeral and give purpose to life going forward. 
  • Transcendence – The ultimate objective of a funeral is to pay tribute to the deceased and to embrace the wonder and beauty of life and death. 


For more information about why funerals are important or how to make the most out of attending a funeral, feel free to reach out to us.

Funeral Services in Our Area

For families and individuals living in this region (as elsewhere in the nation), a funeral service can mean many things. Some fall back on what is commonly called a "traditional funeral"; others see that same traditional service as an emotionally unfulfilling event. Fortunately, thanks to a number of unique social forces, there are alternatives. Today, end-of-life commemorative services range from the traditional funeral, to a memorial service and the increasingly popular celebrations-of-life. If you have yet to realize the immense value of such a collective acknowledgement of loss, reach out to us. Call to speak with one of our experienced funeral service professionals.
Source:
Huntington, Richard and Peter Metcalf, Celebrations of Death: The Anthropology of Mortuary Ritual, Cambridge University Press, 1979
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