{"id":4484,"date":"2022-05-26T10:33:25","date_gmt":"2022-05-26T00:33:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.picaluna.com\/?p=4484"},"modified":"2024-03-22T20:25:51","modified_gmt":"2024-03-22T09:25:51","slug":"children-at-funerals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.picaluna.com\/children-at-funerals\/","title":{"rendered":"Children at funerals\ufffc"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
We can all remember attending our first\u00a0funeral service.\u00a0<\/em>Many thoughts go through our minds during the\u00a0funeral service<\/em>, whether it\u00a0<\/em>is a\u00a0burial<\/em><\/a>\u00a0or\u00a0<\/em>cremation<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Funeral directors<\/em><\/a> <\/em>are often asked about children attending the funeral service <\/em>and what role, if any, the children could play. <\/em>With the increase in life celebration funerals <\/em>and non-traditional funeral services, <\/em>there has been an increase in the involvement of children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n There are many gentle ways children can provide a tribute to the deceased. We have outlined some different suggestions that our funeral directors<\/em><\/a> <\/em>have seen families use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some families select a cardboard coffin <\/em>that can then be decorated by the deceased family and friends. Children may choose to write a letter or draw a picture that can be attached to the coffin. <\/p>\n\n\n\n As part of the funeral service, <\/em>children may wish to participate <\/em>by reading a tribute, poem, or letter to the deceased. Funeral directors<\/em><\/a> <\/em>encourage children to have their tribute written so that support can be provided if they find it overwhelming when they read it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If an \u2018Acknowledgment of Country\u2019 is being read at the start of the\u00a0funeral service<\/em><\/a>\u00a0a<\/em>\u00a0child may be comfortable reading the acknowledgment as they are familiar with this from school events.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Inviting mourners, including children, to place a flower on the coffin may provide some comfort. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Our funeral directors<\/em><\/a> <\/em>can provide paper and pens for children to write a message or draw a picture for the deceased during the funeral service. <\/em>This can then be placed on the coffin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lighting a candle as a tribute to the deceased can also be a gentle way of having children involved in the funeral service<\/em><\/a>, <\/em>especially if they are not comfortable with reading. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Children who are musically inclined may wish to play a tribute to the deceased during the funeral service<\/em><\/a>. <\/em>This can be a beautiful way of remembering the deceased. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A pre-recorded tribute can be played during the ceremony as sometimes children may find this less confronting the standing in front of a crowd. The video recording can then be included as part of the ceremony and even included in the livestreaming<\/a> of the event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some cultures and families may choose to have a viewing as part of the funeral process; children may find comfort in saying goodbye to the deceased with a viewing. Particularly if the last time the child saw the deceased was in a hospital or if they did not have the opportunity to say goodbye, it could be comforting to see the deceased at a viewing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For a scattering ashes ceremony <\/em>children can be involved with reading a tribute or scattering flower petals. Our funeral directors <\/em>can assist families in finding a suitable scattering urn. <\/p>\n\n\n\n