Non-Christian Funerals

What customs are followed when a Jewish person dies?

When a Jewish person dies, the synagogue normally take over the arrangements for the funeral. Jewish people tend to pay into their local Hebrew burial society which affords them a funeral, coffin, hearse, mourning limousine etcetera at the time of the funeral. The Hebrew burial society will also arrange for the preparation and the washing of the deceased. The ceremony usually takes place fairly quickly after death. This is dictated by old tradition and custom. Generally only one Jewish person is buried in each grave. and at the time of the death, the family may well reserve the grave next or adjacent so that when the partner or the spouse of the deceased person passes away, they can be interred in the grave immediately beside the partner who has already died. An important part of the Jewish ceremony is the setting of the stone; the consecration of the headstone. This will take place a number of months after the actual funeral itself. On the day of the funeral, the community will gather in the prayer hall and recite the Kaddish, which is the Hebrew or the Jewish prayer of the dead, before the coffin is conveyed to the cemetary, lowered into the grave. In many parts of the country, it's still the tradition and the custom that the family and close friends would fill the grave after the burial has taken place. For thirty nights after the funeral, friends will gather in the house of the deceased person and will recite prayers for the dead. It is the custom that the eldest child will go to the synagogue for a number of months after the funeral ceremony has ended. It's also the custom that he will rip an item of clothing to show - generally a jacket - to show that he is in mourning for the loss of his father or mother.

Who can I contact for advice on Jewish funerals?

An approach can be made to a local synagogue or the office of the local burial society for advice on Jewish funerals.

What customs are followed when a Muslim dies?

When a Muslim dies, it is the custom that family and close invited friends will perform the washing ceremony. This will be done in a mosque if a facility is available in a mosque, or perhaps at the funeral director's mortuary if that facility is available there. The custom also is that the family and friends will place the deceased into the coffin. On the day of the funeral, it may be that according to local tradition, the deceased will be brought home prior to a ceremony at the mosque. All Muslims are buried. Generally speaking, in the Muslim cemetary, they are buried facing towards Mecca.

Are there designated areas in cemeteries for Muslim burials?

There are designated areas in cemeteries for Muslim burials. In fact, many mosques now, in the United Kingdom, have actually bought and developed their own cemeteries, as so many people are part of their faith.

Who can I contact for advice on Muslim funerals?

The imams at the nearest mosque will always be available to give advice on Muslim funerals.

What customs are followed when a Hindu dies?

Hindu's are always cremated. Once the statutary regulations have been completed. Then the custom is that the Hindu family and close friends will come to the mortuary to wash and make the necessary preperations. The deceased will then be placed in the coffin and on the day of the funeral normally taken home perhaps for half an hour or an hour. All family and friends will gather in the house and then at the conclusion of the visitation in the house, the coffin will be carried head first, placed in the hearse and then on route to the crematorium, the coffin will normaly stop for a short period of time at the place of worship. Prayers will be said, usually on the street beside the hearse and then the cortation makes it way to the crematorium. On arrival at the crematorium the custom is that the lid will be removed from the coffin, and family and friends will file past one last time before the coffin is placed on the caterfelt and then dipatiched to the cremation chamber. It is the custome that the closest male members of the family will go down into the crematorium chamber and there be given the oppurtunity to press the button, which sets the cremation process to be.

Who can I contact for advice on Hindu funerals?

Advice for Hindu funerals can be obtained from the local Hindu community. There is usually an office attached to the place of worship.

How do Sikh and Hindu funerals differ?

The custom and ceremony surrounding a Sikh funeral is very, very similar to that of a Hindu funeral.