Funeral question?

Question

I'm thirteen, and I'm going to go to a funeral on Thursday. I would like to know how long it will be. I'm going to the viewing, the actual funeral, the burial, and the luncheon afterwards. How long will this take? I'm really scared to go to the funeral. I hate looking at dead people. Any advice?

Answer 1

First of all, I'm sorry for your loss.
The length of time will depend entirely on whoever planned the service and on who is doing it. Usually a viewing is held for an hour before the funeral. The funeral itself can be a short 20-30 minutes, or it can last an hour or more--it depends on whether or not people stand up to say something about the person being remembered, and how many do that. At my dad's funeral about 8 people told about a memory, but for my mom it was only about 4 people. The burial is usually pretty short, just a reading of Psalms 23 or whatever, and the casket is lowered into the ground. The luncheon can drag on, but that's usually fairly pleasant--just eating and hanging out with friends and relatives.
As for not wanting to look at dead people, that's certainly understandable. Some people choose to have a closed casket and just display pictures. You don't have to look at the person if you don't want to. For some it brings closure, but it's certainly up to you. You'll get through it, though. Just hang in there.

Answer 2

I'm sorry that you have to go through this. It's hard to deal with. It always depends on what type of church that is having the funeral. Sometimes the funeral itself is only about 30 or 40 minutes. In some churches, it can be an hour or two. The viewing can be short if it's only for the family and close friends. If it's not, it can go on for a while. The burial is usually the shortest of the whole thing. The luncheon afterwards can be long because everyone will be talking. You will be busy for the whole day. I'm sorry that you are dealing with this. Don't worry about things like looking at dead people. That isn't something that people "love" to do anyway. It'll be okay.

Answer 3

If it is a closed casket do not worry---you don't have to look even if it is open but the length and all that depends on the denomination or where it is being held. In a Catholic Church it also depends on if there is a Mass or just a memorial. If it is a Mass then it will last about 1 hour and an extra 1/2 hour probably for the family to get up afterwords and talk about the person then if you go top the graveside that's usually another 1/2 hour at least then the luncheon---at a Catholic Funeral it is WONDERFUL because we can cook!! and it will last probably 1 to 2 hours depending on how many family members and old friends show up. I have found funerals to be quite enjoyable in the Catholic Church. They are a celebration of life and life everlasting.

Adonei is wrong this is not called Rosary---that is something entirely different. Many Catholics have a Rosary but, it is usually done the night before or the morning of the funeral and hasn't got anything to do with the funeral and it is not an excuse to get drunk as the poster said. It is prayers to The Virgin Mary to pray for us to Jesus.

Answer 4

I live in a funeral home. The service usually lasts for 1 1/2 hours. The viewing can last anywhere from 3-4 hours depending on the amount of people who show up. When you go to the funeral it may or may not be an open casket viewing. If the casket is open and you feel uncomfortable about it, just pass by and look at all the pretty flower arrangements. The luncheon usually lasts 2 hours, and again, it depends on many attend and how long your parents are going to stay.

Answer 5

The service itself is usually about an hour. The rest of it is a couple of hours of meeting distant relatives, and maybe an hour to the graveyard and the ritual of throwing laying them to rest. They normally do not actually lower the coffin into the grave any more, just set it over the grave. They use machinery to do the actual dirtmoving after everybody has left.

It will take most of the day by the time it is all over, likely. You normally would only see the body just before the service or walking past the coffin at the end of the service.
Sometimes the coffin is closed and you do not see the body at all.

Answer 6

Sit in the back row and simply do not do the "viewing" of the body if you feel it to be that disturbing for you.

This is commonly called "Rosery" for Catholics and for Irish Catholics a chance to get hammered.

This Rosery should take about an hour.

The burial will take another 1:20 minutes are so but part of that is driving to the burial location.

Now, remember, funerals are "closure" for families, a validation of the passing, so, don't be a pain in the ***, be polite as possible as it may be difficult for some of yopur relatives there and simply annoying to you; remember, you at that special age where somehow you possess the wisdom of the Universe... :)

So, relax, and do what needs to be done to show support for your mom and dad and so on...I promise you your parents will look upon you with favor when you show them how mature you are with it all.

Answer 7

You've already gotten some pretty good estimates on the time the funeral will take. I'd advise you to sit toward the back of the chapel if being close to the body makes you nervous.

Funerals creep me out a bit too, and I'm over forty years old. :-) But you'll be fine.

Answer 8

You don't have to look if you'd rather not. Plan on a 4 hour block of time for all of it.
Funerals are meant to honor the dead and to support the family and friends. It is an act of mercy to attend. It is a going away service if not a party. You will learn a great deal about family and society just by watching. Be respectful. It won't be as bad as you think.
C. :)!!

Answer 9

Count on at least 4 hours, depending on the distance between the funeral and the cemetary.

You don't have to go up to the casket at any time during the viewing, if it makes you uncomfortable.

Answer 10

the thought I had for my very own (i'm a maximum cancers survivor who has easily planned my very own funeral out in improve--thankfully those plans do no longer seem to be mandatory suitable now) became into to make it a social gathering of my existence. an analogous pastor who oversaw my wedding ceremony is a uncommon guy: as long as appreciate is shown for the non secular, he has no worry seeing to the purposes of disbelievers. mutually as each and each individual in attendance at my wedding ceremony knows i'm an Atheist, I nevertheless needed the pastor to steer a prayer for something of my relatives--the vast majority of which carry a Christian denomination. He did it ok: "The bride and groom have asked a 2nd of prayer for people who might decide for to take part..." and the 2nd went on. I spoke with him approximately overseeing my funeral, and having an analogous form of attention. He agreed, and had various recommendations for making that take place. this type any prayers pronounced for me have been by using the determination of those offering the prayer. The funeral itself might in effective condition me for who i became into, yet enable the survivors to be who they are and cope with issues of their very own way.