By Miah Ayaan
Anyone who has ever experienced the loss of a loved one knows and understands how difficult it is. It can be exceedingly difficult if the loss is sudden, but it’s no less difficult if it was expected or brought about by a long illness. For the deceased’s family and close friends, the day of the funeral is even more difficult – it is, after all, the day when we say our final goodbyes to our loved one, and most of us are not ready to do that yet as we are still in the process of grieving. But there are different ways to get through the day, as a funeral director knows all too well. The day of the funeral will have its schedule and procedure, as we all know, and as long as we stick to this procedure, we will be fine. So what is this procedure, and how do we cope on the day of the funeral?
The events of the day, according to a funeral director
On the day itself, the first thing that will happen is that the funeral procession or cortege should arrive at the address at the appropriate time. The funeral director will greet everyone and escort the family and other mourners to the vehicle or limousine. After everyone is settled in, the mourners will all travel to the site along with the hearse. Upon arrival, the casket or coffin will proceed to the crematorium, church, or another venue, carried by the bearers, followed closely by the family. The service can then proceed, and once it is finished, the coffin will be taken to the graveyard or cremated or taken to the cemetery. If you have chosen to have a burial, the friends and family of the deceased will go to the grave for the committal. You may choose to scatter soil on the coffin or place a flower on a stem, such as a rose. The funeral flowers will be brought along for viewing, and you can then read the condolence messages of each. Afterwards, it is time to proceed to the venue of the wake or other gathering, where everyone is invited.
The service will take about an hour or less, although it’s worth noting that it can last for days with some particular customs. So it can be that the service is longer or shorter, depending on your or the deceased’s wishes.
The service for the funeral can be comprised of hymns, music, readings, eulogies, poetry, or even videos that celebrate the life of the person who passed away. It is conducted either by a minister or celebrant. If you are unsure, you can seek advice from your funeral director, such as funeral directors in Leeds from Carroll & Carroll Funeral Services, as to the kind of celebrant you want.
After the service, there should be time allotted for the burial – approximately 30 minutes to an hour – followed by a reception or wake, which lasts for several hours or more, depending on the deceased’s wants. Through all this, your funeral director can advise you on what to do and the procedure to follow, with their service proving priceless during this difficult time.
Image attributed to Pixabay.com
