Planning a funeral is a sensitive task, often done during grief. The choices, from the ceremony type to the final arrangements, reflect the deceased’s wishes and family beliefs. Knowing the different funeral services available is key to making choices that properly honour a loved one. Understanding the common types of funeral services in Singapore can help you find a truly fitting farewell for your loved one.
1. Traditional Funerals
Traditional funeral services usually include a viewing or wake, a formal ceremony, and then burial or cremation. This type often involves embalming the deceased, dressing them, and placing them in a casket for public viewing. The wake, lasting one to several days, allows the family and friends to pay respects. The formal ceremony, often in a church or funeral home, includes prayers, eulogies, and readings.
After the ceremony, a funeral car carries the casket for a procession to the burial site or crematorium. This type of funeral service in Singapore often changes based on specific cultural or religious customs, such as Taoist, Buddhist, Christian, or Muslim rites. Traditional funerals offer a set, comforting way to grieve. They allow for community support and following old customs.
2. Cremation Services
Cremation is a growing choice for funeral services, offering an alternative to traditional burial. A cremation service can be direct, where the body is cremated soon after death without a viewing or ceremony. It can also follow a full funeral service, after which cremation happens. After cremation, the funeral parlour gives the ashes to the family in an urn.
Families then have various choices for these ashes. They can place them in a columbarium, bury them in a cemetery, scatter them in a meaningful place, or keep them at home. Cremation offers flexibility in remembering a loved one.
3. Memorial Services
In a memorial service, the body is not present. These funeral services can happen days, weeks, or months after a person’s death. Families often hold them after burial or cremation has already taken place. It allows distant family and friends to travel to attend. Memorial services are usually more flexible in their style and location.
They can be formal or casual, religious or not. They can also be held in places such as community halls, homes, or gardens. The focus is usually on celebrating the deceased’s life through shared memories, stories, music, and tributes. A memorial service offers a chance for healing and remembering the person, as well as a different space for grieving and celebrating a life lived. This type of funeral service in Singapore offers flexibility for various needs.
LEARN MORE: How To Plan A Memorial Service: 6 Key Factors When Honouring The Departed
4. Graveside Services
A graveside service takes place entirely at a burial site. This service happens after a viewing at a funeral home or immediately post-death, especially for direct burials. The service typically involves a short ceremony, prayers, readings, and placing the deceased into the grave.
This option is often chosen because it is simple and short, focusing directly on the final act of burial. It suits families who prefer a private gathering or those who have already held a separate memorial service. For a funeral service in Singapore, residents might choose this for its practical speed and directness.
5. Direct Burial or Direct Cremation
Direct burial and direct cremation are the simplest and quickest types of funeral services, where the body is buried soon after death, usually within a day or two. There is no prior viewing, wake, or formal funeral ceremony. Similarly, direct cremation involves cremating the body shortly after death, with no ceremony.
These options are the cheapest among funeral services. Families often choose them for a minimal ceremony. They might wish to avoid the emotional intensity of a traditional viewing, or they need to manage costs. While they lack formal rites, families can still hold a separate memorial service later if they wish, offering flexibility in remembrance while handling the final arrangements quickly and efficiently.
Conclusion
Selecting the most suitable type of funeral service for your loved one is a preference guided by beliefs, preferences, and situations. Whether picking a traditional funeral, a cremation service, a memorial gathering, a graveside ceremony, or a direct disposition, knowing these options helps families. For any funeral service in Singapore, making an informed choice ensures a respectful and meaningful tribute.
Navigate your options for funeral services. Contact Casket Fairprice for a comprehensive and compassionate funeral service in Singapore.
