Decide on
The Type of
Funeral Service
A funeral service is not a legal requirement in South Africa. However, it is customary to have an ‘end of life ritual or ceremony’ to commemorate your loved one’s life. When planning a funeral, all decisions should be made in terms of your loved one’s will, if not disclosed, try to ascertain what kind of funeral your loved one would have preferred.
Types of
Services
Some of the most common types of services and ceremonies include traditional burials and cremations, immediate burials and cremations, traditional funerals, graveside services, memorial services, celebrations of life, wakes, viewing services, unveilings and scattering ceremonies.
Other details to decide on are, location (church, chapel, home, cemetery or crematorium); will the coffin be present; opened or closed, will a hearse be present; will there be a viewing and where; what the deceased will be dressed in. Sometimes it helps holding a memorial service or celebration of life only at a later stage to give yourself more time to plan a meaningful event after you’ve had a little more time to process the passing of your loved one.
A full-body donation is a good option for families who want their loved one to be able to continue to give back, even after death, or who are looking for a more economical alternative to a traditional funeral.
Other details to decide on are, location (church, chapel, home, cemetery or crematorium); will the coffin be present; opened or closed, will a hearse be present; will there be a viewing and where; what the deceased will be dressed in. Sometimes it helps holding a memorial service or celebration of life only at a later stage to give yourself more time to plan a meaningful event after you’ve had a little more time to process the passing of your loved one.
A full-body donation is a good option for families who want their loved one to be able to continue to give back, even after death, or who are looking for a more economical alternative to a traditional funeral.
Ashes to ashes, dust to dust, all come from earth, and to earth all return.
Ashes to ashes,
dust to dust,
all come from earth,
and to earth all return.