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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.

What Does a Funeral Director Do?

A funeral director does many things, but their primary role is to provide support and compassion to the deceased's family members, as well as, of course, plan a funeral that aligns with their wishes. A funeral director also provides floral tributes, administrative duties, and cremation or burial requests made from either an office, cemetery or funeral home.

The role of a funeral director is a fundamental one when it comes to planning a funeral service. So it can be hugely beneficial to become family with how they can help with planning the funeral, as well as on the day itself.

Planning the funeral

Along with the deceased's family members, the funeral director determines the location of the funeral, where and when the wakes and memorial services will take place, and establish whether the deceased should be cremated or buried. While you may decide to handle some of the details yourself, the funeral director will be there to offer you any advice and guidance if and when you need it.

On the day of the funeral

The funeral director will lead the procession and walk ahead of the funeral car. This may not be for the whole route, as it depends on how far the service is from the funeral home. The funeral director will also be tasked with ensuring everything goes according to plan. They'll also take charge of transportation for the family members, as well as supervise the cremation or burial. And they'll ensure that any requests from the family members are granted.

What kind of support will they provide?

It isn't easy to plan a funeral while grieving. So being able to turn to a funeral director in your hour of need is priceless. The support continues once the funeral is over. The funeral director will arrange for your loved one's ashes or body to be taken to another location. And they'll forward the floral tributes to either family members, a charity or another organisation, depending on what you request.

What can I expect from a funeral director?

You can expect that a funeral director will provide you with both knowledge and guidance pertaining to payment plans, compassion and sympathy, and more. They'll also be there 24 hours a day if you have any questions that come to mind, whether that's in person at the funeral home or over the phone. Funeral directors regularly arrange a funeral's details in as little as 24 hours, so they have a lot of experience to draw upon when accommodating your needs.

For more information, contact a funeral director near you.