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Combining religions in funerals


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Combining religions in funerals

My mother converted to Judaism when she married her second husband. When she died it was a little confusing to work out what kind of ceremony to have for her funeral as she was brought up a Catholic and brought up the children from her first marriage (including me) as Catholic. The funeral home was a great help in this tricky time as they worked with the rabbi to work in some of the aspects of both religions and we ended up with a really beautiful service that everyone enjoyed. This blog has ideas on how to incorporate multiple religions into one funeral service.

Four Ways A Funeral Home Can Help You Honour Culture And Tradition

Culture and traditions are an important part of life. When someone we love dies, it is natural to want to honour their memory. Funeral homes are there to help you do this. They can help you find the right funeral arrangements for your loved one's service and burial or cremation. They can also help you with cultural needs, such as arranging for a traditional wake or burial ceremony and including customs common in Asian funerals. 

Here are four ways a funeral home can help you honour culture and tradition in Asian funerals.

1) Honouring Customs

A funeral home should be able to assist with traditional practices, such as washing or dressing the body, lighting candles or preparing food for after the service. In fact, many people believe that the ritualistic acts performed during a funeral ceremony have great significance and help bring closure to those left behind. For example, some Asian funerals require an honour guard and a traditional parade to carry the body to the burial site. A funeral home can provide these services for you so that your loved one's final wishes are honoured in accordance with traditions specific to your culture.

2) Providing Language Support Service

In some cases, it may not be possible for all family members to communicate effectively with each other due to language barriers or cultural differences. A funeral director can assist with translation services if needed so that everyone is able to participate fully in the ceremony processions and memorial events. Asian funerals are very formal and traditional, often lasting several days. The funeral director's role is to work with the family in order to ensure that the funeral goes smoothly and follows the cultural traditions of your ethnicity. 

3) Assisting With Travel Arrangements

Many cultures have specific burial customs that must be followed when transporting bodies overseas for burial (or cremation). A funeral director will help coordinate these arrangements so that everything goes smoothly and according to your family's wishes. 

4) Helping You To Arrange A Burial Site 

If you wish to be buried in a cemetery, a funeral director will help coordinate the process and make sure that your family has all of the information they need. They will also help you find an appropriate burial plot and assist with ordering headstones or markers for your loved one's grave site. For Asian funerals, this is particularly important because the body must be buried in a respectful manner in a timely manner after death.

Ask your funeral director about how they can help you with your Asian funeral needs. They will be able to tell you about the process, what is involved and how they can assist in making it as smooth as possible for your loved ones. For more information on Asian funerals, contact a funeral director near you.