Funeral Etiquette | Golnick-Schueneman | Kewanee IL funeral home and cremation (2024)

FAQs

Funeral Etiquette | Golnick-Schueneman | Kewanee IL funeral home and cremation? ›

When attending a memorial service or funeral, dress in dark and subdued colors, such as dark blues, grays, browns, and black. Be sure to dress simply and conservatively. Men are encouraged to wear a jacket and tie paired with dress shoes, while women should choose either a dress or a suit.

When attending a service, be on time and enter the house of worship or location where the funeral will be held as quietly as possible. If there are no ushers, remember that the seats closer to the front should be taken by very close friends, with acquaintances seating themselves in the middle or towards the rear.

If you are giving a donation in lieu of flowers, then donate the amount you would have spent on flowers. Typically, this means $50 to $100. However, the amount is ultimately up to you because it is the thought that counts and not the amount you donate.

With funeral thank you cards, no one is expecting a lengthy epistle. So, feel free to keep it short and simple but also personal and heartfelt. One to three sentences is more than enough (unless you want to write more), and it's perfectly acceptable to write similar phrases on each one.

Floral Sprays And Wreaths

Funeral flower etiquette dictates that members of the family (including the children of the deceased, their siblings, and grandchildren) take care of the spray that covers the coffin. The family may ask the funeral home director to place a small flower arrangement inside the casket.

Things you should not say at a funeral

It is advisable to avoid platitudes such as 'well, s/he had a good life' or 'they're in a better place now'. We want to try to recognise a bereaved person's grief, not to minimise or trivialise it.

The most expensive part of a funeral is typically the basic services fee of a funeral home. The median cost of basic services fees is about $2,300.

An average funeral can cost between $6,000 and $10,000 depending on the burial options chosen. While that is a significant amount of money, when spread across several individuals, the expense becomes more doable.

So, the overall average funeral costs can quickly run between $10,000 - $20,000 in total. How much does a cremation cost?

Is it rude to not send thank you cards after a funeral? ›

Sending sympathy thank you cards are a wonderful token of appreciation you can send to those who helped you in the difficult time of your loved one passing. While you certainly do not have to send them at all, those who receive them will appreciate the sentiment and effort.

Blank on the inside, these informal cards allow you to write a special message for each recipient. One can also order more formal, custom, printed sympathy acknowledgement cards particular to the deceased and her/his family. Both types of cards can usually be found at the funeral home.

Chrysanthemums

Asian countries see white chrysanthemums as a symbol of grief, whereas European countries view this flower as a symbol of death and only use them for memorial services or graves. In the United States, chrysanthemums are typically viewed as lighthearted flowers that honor the life of the lost loved one.

White flowers are the most commonly present at funerals. This traditional color choice represents honor, peace, and innocence. Pink is considered a respectful color choice, used to express gentleness and sympathy. Red flowers symbolize love, as well as beauty and strength.

Funeral homes may have different times or procedures to bring in arrangements, so it is best to coordinate with them on when delivery should occur. You can always send flowers to the family's home. It is never too early or too late to send flowers to the family's home.

The spouse is first, accompanied by children. Parents and siblings would be next, followed by extended family (grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins, etc). Where should immediate family sit at a funeral? The immediate family members sit in the front rows.

Viewing the deceased

If you choose not to view, but have been invited personally by the family to do so, it is perfectly ok to thank them for the gesture but politely decline. If you do decide to view the body, be aware that the person will be recognisable but will probably not look like they did when they were alive.

The cost of the repast is usually covered by the loved one's family, though a fraternity or sorority group, Sunday school class, trade union or other group your loved one belonged to might sponsor the repast as a gift to the family.

If you've had a tumultuous relationship with your parents or family members, it may be better to not attend. If you're an ex-spouse or partner of the deceased and won't be welcomed by their current family, that might also be a reason to not go to the funeral.