When a loved one passes away, choosing when to have a funeral can be a bit challenging for any family.
Giving yourself enough time to make the final decision will allow you to make a more personal farewell and rejoice your loved one in a meaningful way.
Setting the right date for the funeral may vary on a series of factors such as the funeral home’s availability, family circumstances, and religious beliefs.
How long can you delay a funeral after a loved one’s death?
This question boils down to how long it will take the family to make the necessary funeral arrangements. More and more families are living in separate parts of the country, and the world, nowadays, so it’s recommended that you have funeral plan arrangements in place to help streamline the viewing and burial process. If no burial arrangements have been made before death, then looking for the right funeral home service may also take time.
Religious beliefs and customs also play a large part in the time-frame for a funeral. Nearly every religion has specific traditions and customs around death. For example, in Islam, the deceased is to be buried within 24 hours.
Fridays and weekends are very popular days for funerals so you will also need to factor in added costs if you plan to hold the funeral later in the week.
When should you have a funeral after the death of a loved one?
A funeral is normally held at least one or two weeks after the death, even though it may be longer when the funeral director only has particular days accessible or if there’s an inquest into the death.
You may like your loved one to be buried as soon as possible, depending on their religious beliefs. Nonetheless, it has been discovered there has been an elongation in the average period between a funeral and death: from under ten days to more than three weeks.
A report discovered that adjustments to cremation regulations and movement to by appointment only for registrars are just a few factors causing it.
How long does a refrigerated body typically last?
Refrigeration is an alternative option, which lasts longer than embalming. Morticians will keep the body in a fridge at two degrees Celsius instead of preparing the body with chemicals.
However, you need to keep in mind that a refrigerated corpse will only last for three to four weeks.
What are the factors to consider when selecting a funeral date?
Below are some of the things you need to consider before selecting a time and date for the deceased’s funeral:
- If you are organizing a funeral at short notice, you may need to assume that people may already have commitments or work restrictions that would prevent them from attending the funeral
- Make sure that close friends and family are not away for a holiday before you select the date
- Consider whether you have close friends or family members who are not local and may need to travel long distance to attend the funeral
How long can you keep a body in the mortuary?
When a person perishes in a care home or hospital, they’re often temporarily transferred to the on-site mortuary. Such facilities have limited space, so they will often organize funeral homes in Pittsburgh, PA to transfer the dead to a private mortuary.
Whether you are doing funeral arrangements yourself or working along with a funeral director, you need to ensure your loved one or family member is transferred from a mortuary to a place of rest in a sensible time.
Conclusion
At Devlin Funeral Home, we understand how to organize a funeral for any situation. Our trusted funeral directors are committed and will always be on hand to accommodate a time and date that fits you. For more information, please contact us today.