Funeral

A funeral is a ceremony or gathering held to commemorate a deceased person shortly after their death.

Funerals are typically guided by cultural and religious traditions, but generally involve rituals and speeches intended to remember the deceased and provide comfort to a Bereaved community.

Funerals typically take place at a Funeral Home, religious institution, or Cemetery, but can take place anywhere the deceased or the Surviving Family wish, so long as it complies with state law.

They usually takes place before the deceased is Buried or Cremated, and as such, occur with the deceased's body present.

In some cases, a funeral may include a Viewing or Visitation, a ceremony that allows friends and family to pay respects while the deceased's body is visible in an open Casket.

Funerals may include religious or spiritual elements, such as prayers, hymns, or readings from scripture, or be guided by secular traditions like commemorative speeches, music, or poetry.

The person who leads a funeral may vary depending on the cultural or religious traditions of the deceased and their family. In some cases, it may be a religious leader, such as a minister, priest, rabbi, or imam, while in other cases, a Funeral Director or family member.

Speeches given during a funeral, known as Eulogies, are meant to share personal stories or memories of the deceased and offer words of comfort or encouragement to the bereaved.

Speakers may vary widely depending on the family's wishes and cultural or religious traditions, but are most often people closest to the deceased, such as family members, friends, or colleagues.

The term "funeral" is often used interchangeably with Memorial, but there are a few key differences: a memorial typically occurs after the body has been buried or cremated, tend to be more secular than religious, takes place outside a funeral home or religious institution, and are held at a later date after the death.

Also known as a Funeral Service.