When a loved one passes away, the bereaved have to not only select the person’s final resting place but also have to organize the funeral. This ceremony can be a healing event for the whole family, so it’s important to plan it well. Today, we’ll discuss how long funeral services last and how you can take the pressure off your grieving family by planning ahead.
How Long Should Funeral Services Last?
It’s hard to say how long a funeral should last because every family is different. On average, funerals last for 40 to 60 minutes because this length allows for a comprehensive ceremony, but it doesn’t feel too long for the attendees.
A religious event might be slightly longer, especially if there is a service at a church or other religious institution. However, people who opt for a spiritual service might prefer a shorter funeral. Aside from the ceremony itself, the funeral might consist of a graveside visit and a sit-down gathering that includes food and drink.
A Religious Ceremony
Most Christian funerals take between 30 and 60 minutes, but they can be up to 90 minutes long. Catholic ceremonies are often longer than other Christian ceremonies because they include a Requiem Mass, a special religious service to honor the deceased.
Other religious funerals, such as Hindu, Muslim, or Jewish ones, are of a similar length, often lasting between 20 and 60 minutes, depending on the family’s preferences.
A Spiritual Ceremony
Funerals are becoming more diverse, and only 35% of people now think that holding a religious ceremony is important.
The rest might opt for a spiritual funeral, which can include a speech by a civil celebrant, speeches by family, music, and a story or poetry readings. The shortest spiritual ceremonies take just 15 minutes, but you can choose any length.
When to Plan the Funeral
While only about one-third of Americans currently have a plan for their funeral, this is rapidly changing. More and more people are planning their own funerals, even those who aren’t expecting to pass away for several decades. This is a good idea for several reasons. Firstly, it allows you to plan the service the way you want it. You can choose whether you’ll be cremated or buried, who will speak, and where the ceremony will be held.
Additionally, you can take a lot of pressure off your family and friends. Finding funeral and mortuary services when a loved one just passed away can be hard. What’s more, some families struggle to pay for the service. When everything’s already prepared and paid for, your relatives can grieve in peace, without having to make last-minute arrangements.
During the process of arranging a funeral service, families often consider various aspects, from the duration of the service to the choice of caskets and even wholesale memorials to monument dealers to ensure a meaningful tribute.
Each family’s needs are unique, so there’s no way of determining the optimal length of a funeral service. Most people choose a religious or spiritual ceremony that lasts 30 to 60 minutes, but some religious events are longer, and some are shorter. If you want to make sure your loved ones don’t feel pressured after you’ve passed, you can plan your own funeral. That way, you can select a service that works for you instead of relying on someone else.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
