Traditional Funeral Services

Traditional Funeral Services

Components of a Traditional Funeral Service

All traditional funerals contain the same main components. We explain each component below:

1) Wake or Visitation

This is often referred to as a viewing. Guests come to pay their respects to the deceased by viewing their casketed body and spending time with the grieving family. A visitation can occur at any time before the funeral service.

3) Committal Service

After the funeral service has concluded, there is a vehicle procession to either the cemetery or the crematory depending on the type of disposition. If burial has been chosen, the family and guests will congregate at the open plot or mausoleum. The Rite of Committal, the final set of prayers, are given for the deceased at this component of a traditional funeral service. 

2) Funeral Service 

This event commonly takes place at the funeral home, a church, or at the graveside. It can include music, the reading of literary or religious passages, a eulogy, prayer, and the singing of hymns.

4) Funeral Reception

Many families choose to have a social gathering after the committal service with food and refreshments. It is a chance for the family to thank guests for attending, and it is a chance for everyone to share memories and provide support to each other. 


The funeral service component is the biggest and most important component that we mentioned above. A traditional funeral service has long been associated with religion. For the most part when people think about a traditional funeral service, people imagine or have a Christian style funeral in mind. To further illustrate the funeral service component, we will examine it through the lens of a Christian style funeral. However, please remember that you can still have a traditional funeral that is not Christian. 

Breakdown of a Christian Funeral Service

A Christian funeral follows the 4 parts we already touched on above: the visitation, funeral service, committal service and finally the funeral reception.
The funeral service part is where most of the specific Christian rituals occur. The funeral service takes the form of any other Christian mass with a couple nuances. The main purpose of a Christian funeral service is to pray for the soul of the deceased, and to provide support to the grieving family. 
 
The funeral service begins with guests entering the church or chapel. It is recommended that guests arrive roughly 15-20 minutes prior to the start of the service. There is then a small procession down the main aisle of the church by the immediate family and the pallbearers who are carrying the casket. The casket will generally be placed in front of the altar, and the immediate family and pallbearers will sit at the very front. Once everyone has gathered together, the priest will give an opening statement that is either a prayer or a statement of support for the family, or a combination of both. After the opening statement, the mass officially begins. A traditional funeral service typically includes scripture readings from the Bible, a homily from the priest, prayers, and hymns. A homily or sermon is a speech given by the priest after scripture has been read. The Priest will provide insight into the scripture readings and will relate it to the life of the deceased in some manner. Generally, the family will choose close relatives or friends to say the prayers and the scripture readings. The funeral service often concludes with the delivery of the eulogy. The eulogy usually covers the deceased’s life, his/her values, personality, accomplishments, etc. 
 
Since there are many sects of Christianity there will be small differences between a catholic funeral compared to a Lutheran funeral, but for the most part the funeral rituals are the same. 
traditional funeral ceremony

Popular Christian Funeral Hymns

We have listed some of the most popular Christian Funeral Hymns. Please click on the hymns below to listen. 
The Lord Is My Shepherd 
by Choir of Wells Cathedral
by Philip Bliss & Horatio Spafford
by Charles Hutchinson Gabriel
by Leann Rimes
By John Michael Talbot
by Alan Jackson

Popular Christian Readings

It Is Good To Wait in Silence for the Lord God to Save: Lamentations 3:17-26
 
My soul is deprived of peace, I have forgotten what happiness is; I tell myself my future is lost, all that I hoped for from the LORD. The thought of my homeless poverty is wormwood and gall; remembering it over and over leaves my soul downcast within me. But I will call this to mind, as my reason to have hope: the favors of the LORD are not exhausted, his mercies are not spent; they are renewed each morning, so great is his faithfulness. My portion is the LORD, says my soul; therefore will I hope in him. Good is the LORD to one, who waits for him, to the soul that seeks him; it is good to hope in silence for the saving help of the LORD.
The Word of the Lord
Where Sin Increased, There Grace Abounded All The More: Romans 5:17-21
A reading from the letter of Paul to the Romans
 
For if, by the transgression of one person, death came to reign through that one, how much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of justification come to reign in life through the one person Jesus Christ. In conclusion, just as through one transgression condemnation came upon all, so through one righteous act acquittal and life came to all. For just as through the disobedience of one person the many were made sinners, so through the obedience of one the many will be made righteous. The law entered in so that transgression might increase but, where sin increased, grace overflowed all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through justification for eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
The Word of the Lord
Come To Me...And I Will Give You Rest: Matthew 11:25-30
 
At that time Jesus said in reply, "I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike. Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him. "Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for your selves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light."
The gospel of the Lord
Whether Alive Or Dead, We Belong To The Lord: Romans 14:7-9. 10-12

A reading from the letter of Paul to the Romans
 

None of us lives for oneself, and no one dies for oneself. For if we live, we live for the Lord, and if we die, we die for the Lord; so then, whether we live or die, we are the Lord's. For this is why Christ died and came to life, that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living. For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of God; for it is written: "As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bend before me, and every tongue shall give praise to God." So (then) each of us shall give an account of himself (to God).
The Word of the Lord
The Lord God Will Destroy Death Forever: Isaiah 25: 6. 7-9

A reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah

 
On this mountain the LORD of hosts will provide for all peoples. On this mountain he will destroy the veil that veils all peoples, the web that is woven over all nations; he will destroy death forever. The Lord GOD will wipe away the tears from all faces; the reproach of his people he will remove from the whole earth; for the LORD has spoken. On that day it will be said: "Behold our God, to whom we looked to save us! This is the LORD for whom we looked; let us rejoice and be glad that he has saved us!"

The Word of the Lord
It Is Good and Holy To Think Of The Dead Rising Again: 2 Maccabees 12:43-46

A reading from the second book of Maccabees

 
Judas [the ruler of Israel] then took up a collection among all his soldiers, amounting to two thousand silver drachmas, which he sent to Jerusalem to provide for an expiatory sacrifice. In doing this he acted in a very excellent and noble way, inasmuch as he had the resurrection of the dead in view; for if he were not expecting the fallen to rise again, it would have been useless and foolish to pray for them in death. But if he did this with a view to the splendid reward that awaits those who had gone to rest in godliness, it was a holy and pious thought. Thus he made atonement for the dead that they might be freed from this sin.

The Word of the Lord

Our Traditional Funeral Services

If you are interested in making traditional funeral arrangements for a loved one, we invite you to call us at (317) 831-0200 to begin.

For more information on how to plan a funeral for you or your loved one, visit our Funeral Planning section.
Source:
Rostad, Curtis, "The Basics of Funeral Service", Indiana Funeral Directors Association, 2014
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