A funeral ceremony is a gathering of people for a religious or non-religious service, usually at a crematorium or place of burial but people often ask ‘What is a funeral ceremony’?

In simple terms, a funeral ceremony is a celebration of life so that a deceased person can be buried or cremated with attendees present. 

When people ask what is a funeral ceremony, whilst each and every funeral ceremony is very personal and different in each case, one of the things that is the same is that the reason for what is a funeral ceremony is to dedicate that time to the deceased person that people are there to pay their respect to.

Depending on the religious, cultural and individual beliefs of the deceased and their next of kin, what is a funeral ceremony can take many forms but is generally described as a structured way of commemorating the deceased. 

There may be more traditional ways to conduct a funeral ceremony due to the deceased’s and their family’s religious and cultural beliefs so what is a funeral ceremony can be determined by this significantly.

A less traditional funeral ceremony might be designed and crafted to be more personal, unique and it may differ greatly to those more traditional funeral ceremonies that people have attended before.

When answering the question of what is a funeral ceremony, a funeral ceremony can be religious or non-religious and can be as unique as the deceased, however, a funeral ceremony often follows the general notion that family members and close friends and associates that knew the deceased come together to celebrate the person’s life and pay their respects to them, whilst honouring their memory.

During the discussion of what is a funeral ceremony, it is often cited that it is a chance for people to come together to reflect, not only on the person who has passed away but also of themselves, their own life and how they are living it.  Funeral ceremonies often have a particular  effect on people that attend them and they present themselves as opportunities for each individual to take stock of their own life and how to change things, should they wish.

There might be a more formal approach when considering what is a funeral ceremony and it may include bible readings and hymns in a church with or without a choir, whilst a less formal funeral ceremony might have songs sung, poems read, photos or slideshows presented and laughter might be heard. 

Regardless of where and how, what is a funeral ceremony will differ from family to family because each person who has passed away is as unique as the funeral ceremony itself.

It should not be forgotten that when someone asks what is a funeral ceremony it includes the deceased’s committal, whether or not that is by way of a cremation or burial.  The funeral ceremony could be in a church or a crematorium, however, when considering what is a funeral ceremony, it is not complete until the committal, in whichever way that is completed, takes place.

It is often felt by people when asking what is a funeral ceremony that a funeral ceremony allows those mourning for a loved one to mark the event as the time to begin or end their mourning, whilst honouring and celebrating the deceased’s life.  It is an opportune time for people to reflect on the person that has passed away as well as how they might change how they lead their lives and consider what they have achieved in their life to date.

A funeral ceremony allows the wider community of those around the bereaved to support and comfort them in their time of grief and express their condolences.  It is a physical way to come together, support each other and openly show they care and have respect for the person that has died.

If a funeral ceremony cannot be attended by someone in person, there are now many ways in which they are able to attend, either in real time by live webcast or via a recording at a later date. 

There has been an increase in making funeral ceremonies more accessible for people that are unable to attend in person and whilst this might not fit in with more traditional beliefs of the past, it is a certain way of ensuring that anybody who wishes to feel part of the funeral ceremony of their friend or loved one can in a virtual way.

Whatever form a funeral ceremony takes, the deceased’s loved ones aim to achieve a fitting send off for their loved one and what is a funeral ceremony can help them to cope with the loss they feel and heal the pain that grief brings them.  What is a funeral ceremony can act as closure for what is likely to have been a difficult and challenging time for them and when the funeral ceremony has taken place, people often state they are glad it’s over and that they ‘can move on’.

An understanding of life and death, the meaning behind both and the reality that both are inevitable is often sought by people before, during and after a funeral ceremony so their period of mourning is satisfied and they can accept the death of the person they have known and loved.

As death is an inevitable life event, a funeral ceremony often helps people to reach closure.

The next article will be published next week, and the title will be How long after death is a funeral?