Funeral Service Guidelines for Religion
Funeral homes in Mooreland, IN are used to receiving requests for services and dispositions based on the religious faith of a decedent. Funerals aren’t innately religious, but the beliefs of a person in life can dictate the kind of funeral service they have in death.
Christians, for example, are neither praised nor forbade cremations, so many will choose this as a disposition method. However, there are sects to Christianity, and some believe that cremation encroaches on the story of Christ’s bodily resurrection.
Other religions, such as Islam, prohibit cremation because it’s seen as sacrilegious and disrespectful to burn someone’s body. Mormonism doesn’t encourage or disallow cremation, so it’s left up to the personal beliefs of the decedent and their loved ones.
Aside from Traditional Funeral Services, What Can Loved Ones Do to Remember the Deceased?
For many people, traditional funeral services provide loved ones with peace of mind and ways to cope with the death of someone they cared about. However, traditional funerals are often somber and solemn, speaking in quiet whispers to tell the family how sorry you are. It’s something accepted as a society.
However, there are other ways to remember the deceased. For example:
· Celebrations of life. These could be held anywhere that was well-loved by the decedent. It’s a party, a celebration where loved ones can share food, memories, music, and stories, while also shedding a few tears for someone they loved and lost.
· Annual memorials. You never stop remembering the person you loved, so celebrate their life on anniversaries or birthdays. Hold get-togethers with other loved ones to again celebrate the moments that you all spent together. Never stop bringing their memory back.
· Hold your own service where you can scatter ashes or plant a memorial tree somewhere that the decedent loved to be.
There’s no wrong way to celebrate the love you had for someone before they died. It’s important to remember them in order to cope and move forward through your grief. Do whatever makes you feel better when keeping the memory of your loved one alive.
Do Funeral Homes in Indiana Allow for Natural Burials?
The average coffin is made of thick wood, lacquer, fabric for the interior, and hinges. It’s a heavy construction fit to hold a decedent throughout decomposition. When the body is reduced to bones, the coffin often remains for a century or more, breaking down slowly.
These days, many people are more environmentally conscious. Natural burials involve the decedent’s body being placed directly into the ground – no coffin or container. The body is then allowed to decompose naturally and return to the soil.
In all of Indiana, there are four cemeteries where natural burial is allowed. It’s still considered a taboo topic, but funeral directors can help you get in touch with the managers of those cemeteries to discuss a plot for your natural burial.
Can Someone be Cremated without Funeral Services Beforehand?
Instead of traditional funeral services, a decedent can be cremated first. This gives loved ones more option for celebration, while also offering them several more days, or even weeks, to plan a service. Quick funeral services are only ever necessary if someone is to be buried because the body needs to be preserved for the services.
If a Decedent Isn’t Religious, Can the Funeral Service Be Life Focused Instead of Religion Focused?
If someone dies without a specified religion or belief, then a funeral service can be life-focused. It doesn’t have to involve a priest or talk of gods. It can be a time of memories and comfort for the attendants through discussion of life experiences that a decedent had over time.
Is It Okay for Children to Attend Funerals? Is There an Age Requirement for Funerals?
There’s no age restriction on the attendance of funerals. Children attending a funeral is left to the discretion of their caregivers. If parents or guardians believe that it’d be a good thing for a child to attend a funeral, and if that child wants to attend a funeral, then there’s nothing saying that the child can’t.
Children will learn about death at some point in their lives, likely early during their childhoods if they have an extensive family. Death shouldn’t be kept as a taboo subject around children. Try to explain it to them in whatever way you can and encourage questions. Death is natural, inevitable, and the subject shouldn’t be one that your children are afraid to talk about.
Is Cremation Painless?
When you die, the nerves in your body die alongside your heart, brain, and other important internal organs. Ergo, you don’t feel pain anymore. You aren’t aware of anything happening to your body because that’s not where you exist anymore. So, cremation is painless and peaceful.
What are the Best Flowers to Send to a Funeral?
Flowers have meanings and symbolism. For funerals, white lilies are often sent to represent restoration, resurrection, and eternal life and remembrance. Roses are also a prevalent choice because the red ones symbolize the enduring strength of the loved ones left behind.
Chrysanthemums, also known as mums, in yellow or white often represent a time of mourning and grief. Popular in Asia and Europe, these flowers are meant to encourage loved ones to cope and heal by getting through their grief, like the sunshine after a cloudy day.
Can Personal Items from Loved Ones be Placed in the Coffin with a Decedent?
Yes, small belongings and letters can be placed in a coffin with the decedent. It’s soothing for loved ones to leave a decedent with something of theirs, allowing them to always be together in some way. It’s the equivalent of a child giving you their favorite stuffed animal before a big trip.
Funeral homes in Mooreland, IN vary slightly in rules and regulations, but all of them are willing to answer your questions and help where they can. When you need answers about cremations or funerals, it’s best to talk with a funeral director. They are innately compassionate and respectful, giving you the comfort and peace of mind that you need after the death of a loved one.
