Asian Funeral Planning Guide
Executing an Asian funeral can be pretty challenging for most families. In most cases, there is too much to do in a limited period. This guide offers some insights for people planning an Asian funeral for their loved ones.
Culture
Once your loved one dies, your immediate task is to establish cultural or religious rights that could affect the funeral planning process. For instance:
- Do you have to hold special ceremonies or rights on the body before or after the burial? For instance, you might need to clean the body using special oils or hold a wake.
- Are there restrictions on who can view the body? For example, some cultures could prohibit kids from viewing the body.
- Does the culture or religion of the decease compel you to cremate the body or hold a ground burial? If you have to cremate the body, assess whether there are conditions on how to handle the remains.
- Check whether you have to use a specific coffin design.
Funeral Director
Once you establish the customs to follow, your next task is finding a funeral director with the expertise and resources required to execute the funeral. Start by checking the director's reputation to know whether they offer quality services to their clients. Then, inquire about the director's availability since you have a limited period to plan the funeral. You should also examine the services offered by the director. For instance, you might need event hire services when holding wakes and on the funeral day. Moreover, you could need transport services to move guests from the funeral home to the burial site.
Funeral Program
You should create a funeral program at the earliest time possible. After drafting the program, send it to close family members and ask for their input. For example, some family members might want to incorporate the deceased wishes into the funeral program. Then, create funeral invites to close friends and family. The general principle is including the funeral program and a map to help people locate the funeral home or grounds.
Organisation
Organisation is a critical aspect of the funeral planning process. Therefore, hold regular meetings with the funeral director to establish their progress and the challenges faced when planning the event. It is always wise to have contingencies. For example, you should consider backup power to ensure you have power in case of an outage on the funeral day. If you intend to hold an outdoor funeral ceremony, ensure you have tents for your guests. On the funeral day, meet with the organising team and ensure everything is as it should be before guests arrive.
For more information on Asian funerals, contact a professional near you.
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