Funerals - Common Questions

By Michael Russell

In this article we're going to cover some of the most commonly asked questions people have when it comes to preparing for a funeral and try to give some simple answers to them.

The first question most people ask is, "What's the advantage of advanced planning for a funeral?"

If you've never had to plan for a funeral before then you have no idea how much work is involved. There's the mortician, cemetery, clergy, flowers, limo and hearse service and the list goes on and on. Having to do all this the last minute while at the same time suffering through what could be a traumatic loss is more than any one person should have to go through. But with advanced planning, all of this is already taken care of. All that needs to be done is in the days prior to the funeral, make the necessary calls letting whoever is coordinating all this know that the person is deceased. It really does make life a lot easier for those left behind.




Another commonly asked questions is, "What do I do with the body?"

For each family this is a personal decision but many families aren't even aware of the options that they have open to them. The first thing they have to decide is whether this will be a burial or cremation. Then they have to decide who is going to handle the remains. If the body is living outside the state or country in which burial is to take place then plans have to be made for transportation of the body across state lines. There are usually laws governing such transportation. In the case of cross country transportation then the U.S. Embassy has to get involved.

Then there is the question, "How long do I wait before burial?"

This question is usually answered by the religion of the deceased. For example, in the Jewish faith a person must be buried within three days. In other traditions burial must be made within a day of death. What is becoming very common is to have a quick burial within a few days and then have a more elaborate memorial service in the near future.

Another common question is, "What do I do about viewing and visitation?"

Again, this is a personal matter. Some religions don't even allow viewing of the body after death. Also, the family has to decide if the body is even suitable for viewing. In the case of a terrible accident this may not be a good idea. As for visitation, this is also a matter of personal preference though in some religions there is a designated period for mourning and visitation such as in the Jewish faith where the family sits shivah for seven days during which time family and friends come to visit and pay their respects.

Many of the questions about funerals are really a matter of common sense and what is dictated by the person's religion and the laws of the state where they live. If in doubt about anything simply ask your clergy or people in your faith who have gone through the process of having planned a funeral.

Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Funerals