Funerals are observances that pay honor to the individual that has died. Throughout the world numerous religions acknowledge funerals as the respectable thing to do when a person passes away. The diceased is often laid in a casket, sometimes to be viewed and sometimes not to be viewed. This is called opened or closed casket.
Before the official funeral service -- which is often held at a church, temple, synagogue, etc. –- there is often what is called a viewing, where people meet to share in their sorrow with other surviving loved ones. Often the viewing is scheduled during specific times at a Funeral Home. People come and go during these times, sharing their sadness with each other.
After the last viewing the body in the casket is taken in a long black Hurst to the religious or faith meeting place and a formal service is conducted, in respect for the deceased person. The pastor, rabbi, or other religious or faith spokesperson often reviews the individual’s life and credits them for the good they had done throughout their lifespan.
Then when the funeral service ends, we follow the Hurst to the graveyard, or what is often named a cemetery. There the spokesperson, usually a person in religious or faith leadership, speaks to the attendees about the end of life and the journey from the end to the beginning. People grieve, cry, wipe each others’ tears, watch the coffin be lowered into the ground. Then they leave.
Sometimes the upset attendees go to a friend or family’s home to share in eating food. They talk about the diceased person and how their lives are going to be different since the person is gone. It’s usually a very sad time. A wife leaves their husband behind, a mother leaves her children behind. Now the survivors will be facing life without that person who fixed their breakfast every morning, tied their shores, was their soulmate. And it’s time to say good-bye to their wonderful lover, their dearest brother, their best friend.
It’s a tremendously difficult time for a lot of people. Some individuals are angry, if the death was due to foul play. Some people are relieved, if their loved one had suffered long before they died. And others are shocked if the death was totally out of the blue -– unexpected. How could this have happened? They wonder over and over again. Many experience deep and painful sorrow for months. Some for years. And some for the rest of their lives.
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