PLanning ahead for a funeral

Why Should You Plan Ahead for a Funeral?

Funerals — Planning Ahead has Advantages Funeral Homes, cemeteries and other funeral service companies can help you arrange a funeral at any time -- even before there has been a death.


Buddhist Funeral Service Rituals

Note: Buddhist funeral customs vary between traditions or “schools” and even within schools. They may also vary depending on the country—for example, Zen in Taiwan and Zen in Japan are different. The following information is general and applies to many or most Buddhist traditions. If you have specific questions related to Buddhist funeral customs for […]


Funeral Resources

Looking For More Funeral - Related Information? If you need more information on funeral planning, grief, customs, or other funeral-related issues, you can find more information in books, organizations and on other websites. We are happy to offer various sources of useful information organized in the following categories


A How-to Guide for Making Funeral Arrangements

What To Do When Someone Dies Here you can learn what to do if a friend or loved one has just died or if death is expected sometime soon. The following guides will take you through the steps of arranging a funeral from making the first call when someone dies to the various arrangements to be made following the funeral.


Funeral Customs

Funeral Customs by Religion, Ethnicity and Culture

Funeral Customs by Religion, Ethnicity and Culture Here you can learn what to expect when attending the funeral services of a different religion or culture. Information includes an overview of each group's beliefs concerning death and the afterlife. How they regard grief and unique aspects of their funeral ceremonies and customs are also discussed.


Mexican American Funeral Customs

Mexican American Funeral Service Rituals

Since the earliest stages of Mexican culture, Mexicans have embraced death as a part of life. The Mayans and Aztecs were both warriors who practiced human sacrifice — which shows a casual acceptance of death. Combine this ancient belief with the Catholicism that missionaries brought to their country and funeral attendees will see a relaxed, yet deeply religious regard for death.


Methodist Funerals

Methodist Funeral Service Rituals

Quick Reference Length of Service Depends Flowers? Yes Food? Yes Dress Code? (Men/Women) Dark & Somber / Men: Jacket & Tie Recording Devices?


Jewish Funeral Customs

Jewish Funeral Service Rituals

Jewish funeral service rituals and practices have traditionally adhered to a strong set of customs and beliefs rooted in the Torah. Despite the similarity of funeral customs across all sects of Judaism, they can vary depending on the specific sect. The following information is based on general Jewish funeral customs. We explore each sect specifically […]


Episcopal Funeral Service Rituals

As in other Christian faiths, funeral services are held in a church or funeral home. Guests may sit where they choose and are not expected to view the body. A priest leads the service and sometimes includes a Bible lesson as part of the program.


Christian Orthodox Funeral Customs

Christian Orthodox Funeral Service Rituals

A split between the Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church, known as the Great Schism, divided the Church in 1054 A.D. Today, divisions of the Orthodox Church include the Antiochian, Carpatho-Russian, Greek, Romanian, Russian, Serbian, and Ukrainian Orthodox Churches which follow the languages and cultures of their founders. Although many Orthodox beliefs remain the […]


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