How to Organize a Funeral When You Don’t Have the Body

Typically, anyone would expect a body at a funeral - not to make light of an unfortunate event - a dead body  should be present. You'd be surprised at how many funerals are conducted without a body. How, you may ask, is this even possible? The answer involves the intentions of the people holding the funeral - family and friends of the deceased. In the present day, the trend is for families to hold very exclusive and private burials, with the body buried. A separate funeral service, held for extended friends and family/associates of the deceased is common.

Different Circumstances

In organizing a funeral, a lot of consideration is given to details, such as moving the body, casket, etc. Typically, a funeral home will offer these ancillary services to the deceased's family. Nonetheless, in some cases, movement of special products, like vases, and personalized caskets travel to the funeral home. In some cases, like disappearances, car accidents, natural calamities, and other situations of unexpected loss, funerals take place without a body. These are more like memorial services. In case of a cremation, a burial service isn't always needed, and a memorial service suffices. This may be non-traditional, in the form of those close to the deceased reminiscing about the past.

A Funeral Without a Body

Handled akin to a memorial service, a funeral without a body can be at a public hall, or a room at a funeral home. According to the faith of the deceased, a chapel or a residence could be good options. These services may include photograph displays or videos of the honored deceased. Usually, families and friends portray photo montages, timeline displays and captions of the deceased. A special table with a collection of the deceased's preferred possessions may be exhibited.

Memorials can be held at a favorite place of the deceased. Additionally, you may want to include a list of the deceased's achievements and put those on display. Whatever the case may be, the funeral service should be deserving of the memory of the person passed away.

Thanks for reading,

Karen