ON MATTERS OF LIFE AND DEATH - AN OVERVIEW ON FUNERALS
Once we’ve reached our prime years, it’s not uncommon for people to start thinking about their retirement. Unfortunately, thoughts of retirement also come from the idea of passing on and letting go of earthly possessions. This is why many people want to plan everything from their wills to their funeral service in advance.
The idea of dying is an unpleasant thought for many. With so many questions left unanswered about life after death, people are often disturbed by this level of uncertainty. However, the fear of dying is a lot less about wondering what will happen next but is instead a part of leaving things behind.
The Inevitability of Death
Death is an inevitable reality of living, but somehow it becomes harder for most people to accept the farther they are from it. In reality, people near their retirement age are always around death. Since older adults are more vulnerable to fatal medical conditions, meeting sickly colleagues and attending funerals has become part of everyday life.
Whether for better or worse, people are experiencing much higher life expectancies due to the wonders of healthcare and technology. Unfortunately, these added years aren’t always the most pleasant stages in peoples’ lives. Reaching past 60 or 70 isn’t always the best experience, especially for people with chronic or hereditary illnesses.
For example, dementia and other degenerative illnesses can lead to very uncomfortable lifestyles. Besides the difficulty of performing routine tasks, people with these conditions also pay expensive medical fees. This is why death can be seen as a merciful release, especially for people who’ve had their fill of life.
The Tradition of Holding Funeral Services
Funeral services are solemn events meant for recollecting a person’s life. Although it’s an event that brings people to commemorate a person’s death, its true purpose is to welcome the deceased and bereaved to a different stage in their lives.
Religious funerals were held to allow faith leaders to guide their deceased into the afterlife, whatever it may be. Different cultures and belief systems have their own idea of passing on to the next life, and it’s reflected in how people from varying backgrounds choose to see death. While this formal form of saying goodbye to your loved ones is a kind of tradition, modern ideas on funerals are changing to less formulaic occasions.
The Modern Take on Saying Goodbye
Public ceremonial funerals require the friends and family of the deceased to hire a spiritual leader to handle most of the processions. These events usually follow a strict and specific format, from the dress code to the presentation of a eulogy. Nowadays, people can opt for more personal goodbyes by holding private funerals.
Although private funerals still invite friends and family to celebrate the deceased’s life, the gathering is more personal and akin to a small occasion. This allows people to be more comfortable saying goodbye instead of sticking to rigid rules for funeral proceedings.
Conclusion
Death doesn’t come easy for everyone. While most people would want to die in their senior years peacefully, some people aren’t as lucky. Passing on when one still has many years ahead of them can feel like a devastating event for the bereaved. This is why funeral directors need to be delicate and accommodating during these untimely deaths.
The best way to say goodbye to your loved one is to focus on taking care of yourself. This is why our team at Holmes and Family can committedly oversee your funeral service with ease. If you need a funeral home in Ashford to say goodbye to your departed, contact us today.