
Many are aware that they should express their heartfelt feelings to the important people dearest to them during important celebrations such as Valentine’s Day, Parents’ Day, Mid-Autumn Festival and the Double Ninth Festival. However, very few people understand the significance of funerals.
In ancient times, the purpose of funerals was to ensure the dead were properly laid to rest; but in modern times, its purpose is more to commemorate and remember the life of the deceased and to give those left behind the opportunity to heal and adjust to the loss of a loved one, as well as to give them and ourselves a chance for a proper farewell.

Funerals allow us to express our emotions. When people are faced with something painful and traumatic, they often choose to avoid it or be in denial. They bury themselves in work or other affairs to escape dealing with the grief. However, funeral rites can allow the grieving person to take a moment and come to terms with death and their personal emotions. Funerals allow us to openly express and vent our emotions, and organise our thoughts; to not suppress or ignore our emotions concerning the death of a loved one.
Funerals allow us to remember the dead. Through funerals, we can directly face our feelings about the death of a loved one, and allow family and friends to speak their thoughts, their stories on getting along with the deceased, as well as their bits and pieces of life with that person. These scenes of life vividly reflect visions of the deceased, as if the person is right there with us – so that we can recall moments of joy and good times shared, instead of constantly being in pain from the parting.

Funerals allow us to re-examine our relationship with the deceased and share these bits of memories of life with others. The many beautiful stories and memories shared at the funeral help family and friends see the deceased from different perspectives, and commit the relationship with that person from “these moments” to memory. Funerals provide us with a chance to say, “Thank you for being there; I’m sorry I was wrong; I really love you; you will forever be in my heart; and you are very important to me.”

Every ritual at a funeral is a way to accept the fact that we have lost a loved one, and the loss of a loved one is an unavoidable life experience for everyone and it is also a process. Therefore, we should not only participate in the entire process, but also face and express it more earnestly.
How do we face the rest of our lives after the death of a loved one?
Begin by accepting the loss, and through the funeral, cherish him or her in your heart.

Memorial options for cremations
Memorial options for cremations Upon cremation, the ashes or “cremains” are usually collected by the crematorium and returned to the family in an urn. At this stage, it is up to the bereft family to decide on how to memorialise their loved one. Professional...
Columbaria and cremation niches
Columbaria and cremation niches A columbarium is a construct used for the storage or final resting place of cremated remains in cinerary urns. They can be free standing structures, or part of a building with many niches resembling dovecotes. In fact, the term...
Burial versus cremation
Burial versus cremation When referring to burial or cremation, this usually relates to the final stage of the funeral involving the disposition of remains. In burial, the remains are interred whole below ground in a cemetery or in some cases, a crypt or mausoleum. In...
The Funeral
The Funeral Funerals tend to be very spiritual in nature and are generally dependent on the deceased’s cultural and religious background. The customs and practices may vary from place to place even for similar religions. Regardless of these differences, funerals are...
Meeting the bereavement care provider
Meeting the bereavement care provider service representative or consultant Owing to the unpredictability of death, bereavement care providers are generally on call 24 hours a day all year round and will be ready to assist at just a phone call. An understanding service...
What are bereavement care providers?
Bereavement care providers are generally professional establishments that engage in death care, burial preparation, funeral and memorialization of the deceased.
Nirvana Life Plans
Nirvana Life Plans Funeral planning is a complex and sensitive matter. Whether as a pre-plan or an immediate need, knowing where to begin and deciding what needs to be done can be daunting for many, especially for those who have never been directly involved in the...
Why is pre-planning important?
Life is uncertain; but death isn’t. That is the universal truth that is shared by all regardless of age, status, race or gender. Anyone who has lived through the unfortunate passing of a loved one will know how devastating it can be.
When is the best time to pre-plan?
When is the best time to pre-plan? The topic of death is a delicate one and it is understandable many are uncomfortable to discuss it. However, one should contemplate on this question: which comes first, tomorrow or death? We can never know for sure, but death...
Who should pre-plan?
Who should pre-plan? There are people in their 20’s and 30’s considering pre-planning, while there are people in their 40’s and 50’s who may think it’s too early to even think about it. Majority are likely to hold the perception that those in their senior years...