How Long After Death is a Funeral Held?

Arranging a funeral brings up several stressful decisions, including choosing the best date for service. How long after death is a funeral held? Should you do so within days, or can you wait a few weeks?

Knowing how long you should wait between death and a funeral is hard. First, there is no wrong decision unless you have any strict religious traditions to follow. Otherwise, families are encouraged to discuss their options and pick whatever is most appropriate to their situation. Here are some essential factors to consider.

How Does Religion Affect Funeral Dates?

Most funerals that occur shortly after a passing do so because of religious traditions. For example, it is commonplace in Jewish and Muslim families to conduct a funeral as soon as possible. With Jewish funerals, the body cannot be unattended in between. Some Catholic families choose to have a funeral three days after the death. However, this is far too soon for families that don’t feel obligated to arrange something this quickly.

Why Do Some Families Wait Weeks For Funeral?

The prospect of having a funeral within a matter of days isn’t for everyone. This doesn’t allow for much time between the death and funeral to process what’s happened and make plans. Even if a detailed plan is already in place and death is expected, many people will need a little more time. Waiting a week or so makes it easier to spend time with family members, help children prepare for a funeral, and deal with other pressing matters.

Another common reason families wait a while is convenience for other family members. Modern traditions in body preservation and adaptable funeral planning both mean that there is greater flexibility. Embalming processes and appropriate body storage mean it is much easier to keep the body in perfect condition for a few weeks, if necessary. This allows family members to travel long distances to pay their respects in person.

Funeral directors sometimes will arrange a service on the weekend, although this could be more expensive. Because of this, it is vital to think about the best possible date for the service.

What To Consider When Choosing The Best Date For A Funeral.

Talk with other family members to see what date is the most appropriate. Those with kids will need to take them out of school, others will need to arrange time off work, and there may be other commitments they can’t rearrange. You also don’t want the date to clash with positive upcoming events, such as birthdays and anniversaries. Also, make sure to discuss travel plans for those out of time, especially those that may have limited options for flying in.

How Long After A Death Is A Funeral Held?

The crucial thing to remember here is that there is no right or wrong answer. All families must do what is best for their mental health, convenience, and family commitments. At Brampton Crematorium and Visitation Centre, we promise to work with you to create the best possible plan on whichever date works best. Contact us today to learn more.