Traditional Funeral Services

The Basics of Traditional Funeral Services

A funeral service in NJ, whether traditional or more modern (memorial service or celebration of life), has two functions: to acknowledge an individual's death and lifetime achievements and to bring grieving family members and friends together in support of one another during this difficult time.

If you are interested in making funeral arrangements for a loved one, we invite you to call us to begin.

What is a Funeral?

All we need to do is say the words "traditional funeral service," and within microseconds, we have an image in our mind of what a traditional funeral service looks like. This mental image comes from many sources: the geographical place, culture, and society in which we live; our faith, and our life experience. Obviously, then, a funeral service in NJ would look very different from one held in Tanzania; there are even significant differences between the funerals held in ethnically and geographically diverse regions of North America.

Yet, despite the differences, these funeral services have much in common. We invite you to read further to learn the simple answer to the question, "what is a funeral?" Should you have questions about what you read here, we encourage you to call us. One of our funeral professionals will be delighted to explore the commonalities behind the broad spectrum of traditional funeral services seen around the world.

What Makes a Funeral?

No matter where it's held, a funeral is a structured ceremony, with a beginning, middle and end. Each is intended to engage the living participants in activities which will transform their status within the community, provide mourners with a collective grieving experience, and celebrate a life lived. It's a socially-acceptable way for members of a community to re-affirm and express their social attachments.

Anthropologists label a funeral as a rite of passage, which affects everyone involved–including the deceased. His or her social status changes dramatically, from a living contributing member of the community to one whose contributions are in the past, and relegated to memory. But the status of each of the survivors—the immediate family most especially—has also changed. In fact, the funeral service can be the start of a defined period of mourning for bereaved family members, marking this transition in a uniquely identifiable way. 

It could be said then, the focus of a funeral—no matter where, no matter when—lies in acknowledging change. And without doubt, human beings (as individuals and as a community) have trouble dealing with profound changes like the death of an integral member of the group. When you take this perspective, it becomes easier to understand the importance of ceremonially acknowledging the tear in the social fabric and the symbolic restoration of its integrity.

Funeral Services in NJ

For families and individuals living in this region (as elsewhere in the nation), a funeral service can mean many things. Some fall back on what is commonly called a "traditional funeral"; others see that same traditional service as an emotionally unfulfilling event. Fortunately, thanks to a number of unique social forces, there are alternatives. Today, end-of-life commemorative services range from the traditional funeral, to a memorial service and the increasingly popular celebrations-of-life. If you have yet to realize the immense value of such a collective acknowledgement of loss, reach out to us. Call to speak with one of our experienced funeral service professionals.
Source:
Huntington, Richard and Peter Metcalf, Celebrations of Death: The Anthropology of Mortuary Ritual, Cambridge University Press, 1979
Source:
Rostad, Curtis, "The Basics of Funeral Service", Indiana Funeral Directors Association, 2014
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