We are each individual, each diverse, each unique. And funerals can now reflect that originality.
Traditional funerals in years gone by all pretty much followed the same format. Mourners wearing black attended a church service where hymns were sung, tributes paid and prayers read before the coffin was taken for cremation or burial. Flowers adorned the coffin which was carried in a smart black hearse.
Traditional funerals are still favoured by many as a meaningful and poignant farewell to their loved one but they can now be tailored to reflect more closely the character and life of the deceased.
That diversity is reflected across the funeral industry. Funerals can be religious or non-religious, they can be a celebration of life or a direct cremation according to the wishes of the person who has died and the loved ones who remain.
In more traditional funerals, a coffin will still be carried into a crematorium or a church but often by family members rather than pallbearers.
Mourners are often invited to wear a favourite colour of clothing to the service, rather than the traditional black, and donations to charity might be requested in preference to spending money on floral tributes.
Music with a special relevance to the deceased may be played in preference to hymns and the means of transport for carrying the coffin can vary from a horse and carriage to a motorbike.
All these adaptations recognise the individuality of the deceased, their life and loves, making the funeral more personalised and idiosyncratic.
There are also funeral services which have no attendees. Direct burials or cremations are a simpler alternative to a full funeral. No mourners attend and instead the deceased is accompanied for burial or cremation by a funeral director. There is no service, no hymns, no music nor flowers. There can, however, be a celebration of life or a wake at a later date to remember the life of the person who has died.
Non-religious ceremonies can also be highly personalised with music, tributes and the dress code chosen by the loved ones of the person who has died. The service might be led by a celebrant who specialises in conducting funeral services with no ties to religion.
A change in attitudes has also seen a shift in approach to funerals. Rather than mourning the dead, they are a celebration of life with a positive focus of achievement during life rather than marking the end.
There are also those who favour eco-friendly burials in which a body is committed to the ground in a biodegradable coffin to reduce the impact on the environment. Green burial sites have been created in woodland and meadows with trees often planted to make the last resting place of the deceased.
Whichever sort of funeral is chosen, one rule remains consistent…funeral directors ensure the utmost care is taken to support the loved ones and respect the wishes of the deceased. Every funeral will be carried out with compassion and dignity.
To discuss a funeral service, please contact our caring team here or call us on 01206 760049.
