0
Funerals
A funeral is a ceremony that takes place, marking the death of a person. Questions in this category can include things about the ceremony, traditions, and cultural aspects.
1,593 Questions
What is the meaning of giving a single spur to the survivor at a funeral of a biker?
Giving a spur to a survivor is a biker's tradition of honoring a fallen friend or loss of a loved one.
Here is a presentation given at a friend's funeral (copied from a placard given to the family at the service) - the name has been removed to respect the privacy of the family.
Spur Presentation"Today, I have worn this single spur in honor of [deceased's name].
This tradition dates back to medieval days and the knighthood, when medieval horsemen returning from battle would wear one spur instead of a pair, symbolizing the loss of their brother knight.
This was significant because it was their spurs that symbolized a man was a knight; not his sword, horse or armor. And no matter what kind of hardship a knight faced, he would part with everything else before he would part with his spurs.
This tradition has been handed down and adopted by many groups throughout the centuries. Most notably, perhaps, is the United States Cavalry, where spurs are only awarded to a deserving few. These chosen few represented the best of the best and embodied all that has been, is, and ever will be great within the organization.
The tradition has also been adopted by many of today's "Iron Horsemen" to honor a fallen brother or sister rider.
With this tradition in mind, it is an honor and a privilege to present you with this spur as a keepsake to remember your loved one's last ride. Please accept our deepest condolences."
When the verbal presentation is complete, motorcyclist kneels down, removes his spur, and presents it to the loved one. He then stands back up, turns and walks away.
What goes on behind funeral homes doors?
Arrangements are made with families in a conference room. Bodies are embalmed. Bodies are cosmetized, dressed, and casketed and placed in the chapel for visitation or funeral service. Some bodies that are going for cremation are brought in and transferred to a cot and placed in a cooler for when the director or transporter is able to remove the body to a crematory. If there are no viewings, services, or memorial services going on and there's no bodies, or the bodies are ready for whatever will be happening, there's a ton of paperwork to do such as notifying social security, getting death certificates done and back, getting cremation authorizations, any necessary permits etc. After that, it's pretty much just sitting and looking at one another until a death call comes in, lol.
I cant see why not. Saying that though, if I pass away before my ex wife I would not like her to turn up at my funeral as we had a bad divorce, not long after we separated she started taking drugs and she is now an alcoholic. If I were you I would get hold of one of his family members and talk to them, preferably one you got on best with. Hope it goes ok.
Can you plant small plants on a grave?
If it is not against the protocol of the cemetery the grave is in, then yes.
What is the proper way to display a military flight helmet at funeral?
Customs often vary by country regarding display of military memorabilia during a funeral. When there is a military funeral within a military cemetery, such as America's renown Arlington Cemetery, a strict protocol is followed, including a pall over the coffin, consisting of the US flag. In this setting nothing may be placed atop the US flag, out of respect.
However, if the funeral is being held in a country such as the United Kingdom, whether it's a burial or cremation, a memorial, such as a flight helmet, framed photo, etc., may be placed centre-point atop the coffin. Coffins are sealed at the Funeral Director's prior to being taken to a crematory or cemetery.
As it's often the custom in the US to have either an open coffin/casket service, or a wake, where the deceased is present, it is acceptable to place the helmet, either at the bottom part of the unopened half of the casket. Or if it's a single lid, then it's appropriate either to place the helmet to the left of the deceased, approximately at hand level, or alternatively, (if space permits), at the top of the left shoulder of the deceased.
There have been instances when a single lid coffin/casket is used where a military hat, or other appropriate memorialisations are placed at the foot of the deceased.
Provided it's not obstructing the flag, there is a degree of flexibility.
During these considerations, it is essential to determine from the family whether the helmet is to be committed with the coffin, either in burial or cremation. Some local and/or national laws prohibit metallic items from going into the cremator.
This is due to the risk of environmental contamination, or in some cases, due to the possibility of the cremator being damaged by the foreign item.
this would be proper, however, when people are grieving it may take some time before Thank-you notes are sent. If it is at all possible, a friend or neighbour may be able to write these for the family.
What does warm regards at the end of a funeral thank you note mean?
It is a kind expression at the end of the note.
Yes.
Getting the organs out, and preserving the body properly is a skill which takes a lot of practise to learn.
Do all morticians own a funeral home?
In a simple word, No. A mortician may be a contractor who travels between funeral homes to do embalming and prep work. In the United Kingdom it is very rare for someone to be embalmed. Therefore, when it is specifically requested, an embalmer or mortician will be booked to complete the service. This saves the funeral home from the cost of maintaining expensive equipment and chemicals, thus providing less costly services to families.
The word mortician can also represent a catch-all term for an undertaker, funeral director, or anyone directly involved in the funeral industry, such as embalmers.
In these modern times the title mortician would most probably represent an individual who works within the industry. It is far easier to say that to someone in the public that other phrases or terminologies.
Additionally, wherever the mortician may be, they may either be a student or an employee of a funeral home, a medical centre, a medical examiner's office, etc. In each case a mortician would be assigned specific tasks to complete under the heading of mortuary sciences.
Why cant people living outside of North Carolina be buried in winston-salem?
Because you are not allowed to bury living people.
Can you send a mass card after the funeral is over?
One should distinguish between Mass Cards and Prayer cards. a mass card is specifically an offer for a Mass ( Roman Catholic service in church) to be performed in honor of the deceased. This is not necessarily the actual requiem mass which there would be only one surch service. If someone only found out about the death after the funeral was over- which can happen-look at communications breakdowns following Hurricanes, or other combinations of accidents and communications failures- the proper course of action. One should not confuse- but many do, actual Mass cards with the smaller prayer cards which have usually, the basic facts of the deceased ( life dates, usually sometimes a picture- and usually the 23Rd Psalm or some other prayer, hence the term prayer card. these are mass-produced ( no pun intended) by the Funeral homes ( actually by affiliated printers) and are distributed gratis at the funeral parlors. They usually have religious themes. ( for example a portrait of a historical Nun) or Praying hands, etc, but are not necessarily actual Mass Cards. these things are in no way admission tickets or passes to funeral events, by the way, souvenirs, yes. so get it straight. Mass Cards and Prayer cards are two different entities
What if your uncle died and you cant make the funeral can you still get your bereavment time?
I'm not precisely certain in what context you're asking this question. If a loved one has passed away and you're unable to attend the funeral, many people still celebrate their loved one's life at a similar time. If you're a person of faith, you may wish to celebrate through reflection and prayer at your local parish church.
If you are not a person of faith, but possibly a spiritual person, you can set aside time from your day where you turn off the mobile phone, not answer the door and light a candle - candles reaffirm life, and read a selection of either your or your loved one's favourite passages or poems.
If you're Anglo/Catholic, you may request a private Mass from your local priest. Sharing the Eucharist affirms life and the faith one holds in the new life to come.
Alternatively, if you're referring only to 'visitation,' where you come to a funeral home or facility to view your uncle, the laws and customs vary from country to country. In the United Kingdom, the right of visitation on viewing remains with the next of kin - that being the one who has signed the contract for the funeral. However, in many circumstances, provided your family is close, it may take as little as a phone call for the funeral service to arrange a private time for viewing. It can be challenging for the funeral director as there may be numerous other funerals and services taking place, where all the chapels or viewing rooms are occupied. Additionally, a number of funeral directors do not do 'casketing' (placing the loved one into the coffin), until just before the scheduled wake or funeral. This is to ensure preservation and protection to the often very expensive coffins. Therefore, it may not be possible for those reasons.
If in doubt, first ask. Go directly to the head of household and ask whether they mind. With their permission, then either they may contact or you may contact the funeral director, explaining the challenge you're facing over not being able to attend the funeral, and ask whether they could arrange fifteen minutes for you to be with your Uncle. Do not be upset if they agree but state that they must remain in the room with you. This is for legal reasons and should not be thought of as being disrespectful to you.
Finally, it may be that the head of family either decided to, or were advised to not provide an open coffin for any wake or funeral. There are many reasons why this is best for families, ranging from physiological changes to the body, trauma, or certain illnesses which required radioactive therapies.
Who has says where a person is buried?
Usually the next of kin makes the decision. In some cases the deceased has already made arrangements for a burial plot or where they want their ashes interred. They may also specify in their will where they are to be buried and how the funeral is to be handled.
How long can a body be kept before it has to be buried?
the body can be kept for a least 6 days before it starts to rott and the body turns purple and blue.
What does a funeral director do?
A funeral director basically takes care of the funeral in regard to the family's wishes. The tasks include preparing the body for viewing and burial, scheduling the funeral and viewing and communicating with other parties, such as the cemetery, flower companies, honor guards, life insurance companies, death certificate providers, etc. and mourners who need information about the funeral. We strive to take the burden of dealing with the details off of the bereaving family.
