Will the Physical Body be present at the Funeral, Memorial or Celebration of Life?

Will the Physical Body be present at the Funeral, Memorial or Celebration of Life? 

Death care providers are becoming more flexible with what you can and can’t do while planning the funeral of your loved one. That being said, the physical presence of the body or remains at the service is an important detail. One that depends on whether or not the service will be associated with cremation or burial and what type of service you are going to have. It’s okay if you do not know what to do with the body of the deceased, that is what funeral directors and other death care professionals are for - to help you make these decisions. 

When the Physical Body is Present

If you are having a traditional funeral, then the body will be present for all three events involved, the visitation, the service, and the burial. 

For various religious or cultural reasons, people may choose to have the body present for other times or other spiritual ceremonies. That being noted, there is legislation in Canada requiring the body to be embalmed if the remains are not going to reach their final resting place within 72 hours of when the death occurred. Having the body present and giving people a chance to physically see the deceased can often provide much-needed closure and a sense of closeness while saying goodbye. 

Burial services are a strong tradition for many of the cultures in Canada and the body is always present in these cases. Even though there has been a dramatic rise in cremation over the past several years, burial will continue to be a death care choice for Canadians. 

When the Body is Not Present

Unlike traditional funerals, the body is more likely to not present when you have a memorial service or celebration of life, each generally happening after the body has reached its final disposition. These services are more personalized and are generally for the purpose of capturing the life lived through stories, speeches, shared memories, photos, and videos. 

More frequently today than ever before, families are choosing to have their loved one cremated and have a memorial service or a celebration of life. The availability of personalization options has lead to many funeral homes pushing the boundaries of what has been done before. 

Not Sure What to Do?

If you are sitting there thinking you aren’t sure which one is right for you and your family, we recommend that you contact a funeral director. They will be able to help you understand the options from their specific service list and help you decide which is the best option. 

Pro tip: Even if you don’t see something available or think it is too out there any idea, just ask about it anyway. You will find Canadian funeral directors to be quite knowledgeable and accommodating. 
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