Are you curious about how long a funeral lasts? Shropshire Funerals are independent funeral directors working in Oswestry And Shropshire. We look at what happens at the various types of funeral and how long each type of funeral lasts for.
Each funeral is unique and we all have our own faiths, beliefs, and cultural traditions that must be respected in order to honour our dead. The length of your loved one's funeral service depends on a broad spectrum of aspects, and there are many factors to consider. The type of funeral service you or your loved one desire will have an impact on the duration.
Types of Funerals and The Duration:
How long does a Catholic funeral last?
Compared to Christian funerals, a Catholic funeral is generally longer. The reason for such a long service is due to the Funeral Mass, typically referred to as a Requiem. A requiem is a special procession and service dedicated to the deceased.
Traditionally, the mass and funeral service lasts for an hour or more. However, you can choose to only have the funeral which is approximately 40 minutes.
How long does a Muslim funeral last?
Typically a Muslim funeral can last anywhere from 30-60 minutes. Once they reach the place of burial, the body is often removed from the coffin and placed into the earth with the body positioned facing Mecca. The entire service will involve readings from the Quran and recitals of prayers.
How long does a Hindu funeral last?
Compared to other religious funeral ceremonies, Hindus tend to prefer shorter services. Depending on the wishes of the deceased, these funerals are usually over within 30 minutes or so. They often have the body cremated at least 24 hours after the death, there is a ritual viewing of the body, which is over very quickly.
How long does a Jewish funeral last?
When it comes to a Jewish funeral, the duration can widely vary. Orthodox Jews are more partial to a simplistic service lasting only 15-20 minutes or so. However, other Jewish communities, such as Reform, Reconstructionist, and Conservative, might allow for a longer service. These may include more remembrances and readings, increasing the length of the ceremony to an hour or more.
What Happens At A Funeral Uk?
People Arriving at the Venue
People will typically begin arriving at the venue at least half an hour early prior to the service. Doing so gives guests the chance to enter, give their condolences to those around, and take their seats. If you have a large guest list of people that are planning to attend, you want to ensure the venue is large enough to hold its capacity.
You must also make sure to factor in enough time for them to arrive and leave. If you're concerned about overrunning your time, you can book a double slot to cover this. It's such a significant day, and you want to ensure everything runs smoothly to avoid mishaps or any upset.
Funeral Procession
Funeral processions occur at the beginning of the funeral service. The closest family members and loved ones will travel on foot carrying or trailing behind the coffin. It often begins at the funeral home or sometimes the residence of the deceased, yet the start of the procession can begin from any chosen location.
Family and friends will follow the hearse to the funeral venue or place of worship and process through to place down the coffin. Longer, traditional processions aren't too common anymore. However, many families still have the coffin carried from the hearse into the desired room of service.
If you and your family don't wish to process into the church, temple, mosque, or other ceremonial venues, then the coffin can be safely and discreetly transported inside by funeral directors before everyone arrives.
After the immediate family, friends, and loved ones have entered, then the remaining guests will follow into the service room unless they have been previously instructed to take their seats. In a traditional service, the family will process afterwards to the place of burial.
Funeral Service
The service can involve a series of songs, readings, and prayers if the ceremony you have selected is spiritual or religious.
One or more attendees are often prompted to say a few words about their deceased loved ones. The speakers can be sons, daughters, siblings, close friends, significant others, etc. Speeches and eulogies typically include who they were, their interests, and the things they cared about (specific family, friends, causes or beliefs they were dedicated to, etc.).
The duration of the funeral can be calculated according to the number of songs, readings, and speeches involved. Your funeral directors and celebrant staff will curate an order of service. This details each song, reading, eulogy, prayer, poem, or tradition involved in the ceremony.
Committal
You'll find that in more modern funerals, the committal is part of the service where the coffin is removed. Whether it is removed from view for cremation or lowered into the ground during a burial. The process is different depending on the religion or culture you adhere to.
This part of the service often marks the parting of funeral attendees with the deceased loved one. Suppose the committal is a burial, the loved one can be buried at the same place as the ceremony.
This is ideal if the place of worship has its own cemetery or burial ground. Alternatively, they can be taken to a different spot for burial. Your celebrant or a family member may take time to say a few words if you wish. If you wish to have a burial for the deceased, keep in mind that this will take an additional 30 minutes or more if you are heading to a second location.
Reception or Wake
The reception, colloquially known as the wake, is the less formal aspect of the day, and the duration of this can be as long as you wish. Some opt for a shorter wake that serves a buffet of food and then mourners can return home to let their close friends and families grieve.
Or you can lengthen the wake turning it into a more drawn-out celebration of your loved ones, serving a larger meal and drinks. No one is obliged to attend the wake or reception if they cannot make it, or perhaps if it may upset them. However, it is much appreciated by the family if you show up, even for a short period.
What Affects the Length of a Funeral?
When planning the funeral of your loved ones, it's paramount to keep their religious or cultural agenda and needs in mind. For many people, culture and religion have a profound impact on their livelihood and how they feel in response to death and afterlife.
If the individual you are laying to rest was someone deeply devoted to their religious and cultural practices, then it's best to conform to these traditions during the ceremony. They may have believed that these rites and practices are what will enable them to rest in peace, therefore, they must be respected. The length of these traditions and religious rites varies from faith to faith, so keep this in mind.
Funerals are incredibly expensive, so when planning for yourself or your loved ones, you want to keep expenses in mind. When planning for your loved ones, it's ideal to set a budget that accounts for whatever you and your family can collectively afford.
It's best to keep in mind that many locations, such as places of worship, celebrant venues, crematoriums, and receptions, could charge extra fees if your service run over. When discussing the budget with your chosen celebrant, you want to ensure you talk through the schedule and get as accurate a timeframe as possible.
For those with larger numbers of people attending the funeral, we would recommend leaving approximately fifteen minutes before the ceremony for people to take their seats, and fifteen minutes afterwards for people to vacate. Doing so will ensure you don't under or overlook the chosen venue, and you won't overrun your timeslot.
This is especially significant for those that desire religious ceremonies. Priests, altar servers, and many more religious celebrants tend to be very busy and they may be double booked. It may also be wise to factor in time for your guests to offer their condolences to you and your family.
Typically, before a loved one passes away, they may share with their friends and family their wishes. Sometimes they do this verbally, and otherwise, through the means of their will and testament. Enclosed in these documents are the funeral arrangements. They may ask for particular funeral rites said, if the funeral isn't structured traditionally. Or, they may desire special songs played.
You can opt to have attendees dressed a certain way or select a more bespoke ceremony performed. We recommend collaborating with your religious leader, celebrant or funeral director closely to ensure they accommodate your loved one's desires. Regardless of how outlandish their wants may be, they'll be able to assist you in creating the perfect service to send off your recently deceased.
Some religions with more traditional, reserved approaches to funeral celebrations, may be opposed to the idea of playing certain songs inside sacred places of worship. So, if you're still seeking traditional rites, you can choose to save these songs for the crematorium or the wake instead.
However, many services understand that the funeral is the opportunity to mourn the passing of a loved one. It allows you to lay them to rest, and celebrate their interests, talents, and idiosyncrasies. With that in mind, whatever this entails is usually taken on board by celebrants and religious leaders.
Are you looking for independent funeral directors in Oswestry and Shropshire? Our family run funeral director service provides support for you and your loved ones during the funeral arrangement and service.