What is a Traditional Funeral?

Things you should know before you go:

What is a Traditional Funeral?
By Andrew Hodges
August 2005

If you walk into any funeral home in Ontario and ask for a price list, you will receive a booklet that contains a variety of services along with a selection of caskets, urns and casket vaults. The three main types of services offered are the traditional service, the memorial service and direct disposition - which act as blueprints for creating the desired funeral.

Most of us are familiar with the traditional service, which involves visitation and some kind of service, but only because it is a tradition - we have attended funerals for years without fully understanding why funerals are done the way they are. (Later in this series I will break down each stage of the funeral and explain its purpose.)

A traditional service consists of a visitation period and a funeral service with the body of the deceased present. The visitation could be an afternoon and evening, often between 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9. These times accommodate a variety of schedules and allow the mourning family a break for dinner. But these times are not set in stone. For example, there could be just afternoon visiting from 2 to 5 p.m. or evening visitation from 6 to 9 p.m. If the deceased has a large circle of family and friends there may be a need for two or three days of visiting to accommodate those wishing to attend. Conversely, if the group of family and friends is small, perhaps a few hours of visiting prior to the funeral service is more appropriate. The goal in deciding on visitation time is to accommodate the people who wish to attend but not exhaust the immediate family members who will be present for the entire visiting period.

The location of the visitation is usually at the funeral home, simply because funeral homes are set up to hold such an event. But this doesn't mean that visiting can only take place at the funeral home. Churches, community halls or one's own home are also options, provided there is a doorway large enough to move the casket inside without causing damage.

The actual funeral service doesn't have to take place at the funeral home, either. Some may disagree, but in a town like St. Marys, with all its beautiful architecture, churches are an ideal spot for a funeral. Granted, it can be physically impossible to get a casket inside some smaller churches, but generally speaking, many big life events take place at houses of worship - baptisms, weddings and holidays, for example - that it makes sense to complete the circle of life there as well. Some families worry that their church is "too big" for a funeral, but any house of worship need not be packed to the rafters for a funeral to be meaningful, provided loved ones attend. Also, chances are your family and friends will return to for a happier event, quietly letting them know that even after death, life goes on.

Following the service, burial or cremation takes place. The family can then have a reception at a convenient location for all to attend, to catch up with friends and families and perhaps share in some refreshments.

When selecting the time for a funeral to take place, clergy and location availability are key, as is allowing enough time for those coming from a distance to make it on time (there's a reason why funerals aren't held at 6 in the morning!). As well, if there is going to be a reception, the location has to be available as well as people to prepare any food to be served.

Lastly, if burial at a cemetery is desired, the funeral has to be held at a certain time to allow for the procession to the cemetery, as most municipal run and larger cemeteries charge overtime fees afters after a certain time, usually late afternoon.