What Are The Essential, Optional & Aesthetic Components In A Funeral Service

Every funeral is unique. It serves as the last farewell for the deceased and immortalises their memories with loved ones. Funeral rituals help people heal from loss in ways words cannot. A funeral service speaks volumes about your spiritual, cultural, and religious beliefs. It also reflects the personality of the deceased and that of their loved ones. Depending on personal preference and ritual style, there will be different elements presented at a funeral. Here is a list curated for you to decide on the types of components to include.

Essentials

Every component covered under this category is a must-have when a funeral service is held. Their presence is essential to honour the life of the deceased.

1. Casket

It is the main focal point at a funeral. Choosing a suitable casket for the deceased is especially meaningful as it reminisces your loved one’s passing. Besides considering the funeral cost in Singapore, the amount to spend on a casket is also a factor to take into account. Here is a guide to help you make more informed decisions.

Material

In general, metal caskets are more durable than wooden ones. Specifically, copper and bronze have high resistance to rusting, hence, caskets made from the two materials are priciest. There are also caskets built from woods such as poplar, pine, oak, pecan, etc. The most economical option will be cloth-covered fiberboard and pressed wood.

Size

Take note of the casket width as the length should not be an issue. However, an “oversized” casket should be considered if the body size of the deceased is larger than average. Generally, a standard casket is 84 inches long, 23 inches tall and 28 inches wide.

2. Rituals

As Singapore boasts a multicultural and multiracial landscape, funeral services are held based on different traditions and customs. Each funeral ritual features its own etiquettes and taboos. Some common types of Singapore funeral services you should know:

Taoist funerals
Buddhist funerals
Catholic funerals
Christian funerals
Free Thinker funerals

Learn more: A Guide To The Common Types Of Funeral Services Held In Singapore

3. Venue

Two locations should be chosen for each of the funeral wake and service respectively. Consult your funeral planner regarding the funeral arrangement as this helps to determine where the ceremonies will be held. In Singapore, funeral wakes usually take place at a void deck, funeral parlour, or home. Funeral services are hosted at the burial venue if the deceased is being buried. On the other hand, if the deceased is being cremated, a place of worship near the crematorium will be the funeral location. You may also want to take the capacity and attendees’ convenience into account. Consider whether the selected location provides enough accommodating capacity and its accessibility for friends and family to visit.

4. Burial/ Cremation

A funeral service also involves the process of burial/cremation. Seek assistance from a funeral director to reserve a slot for any of the services. Apart from the regular burial means, there is also the so-called “green burial”, where ashes of the deceased are mixed into a biodegradable urn together with tree seeds. When planning for funeral costs in Singapore, charges of burials should also be taken into account.

Optional

After determining the essential components in a funeral service, you may want to incorporate optional details for a more memorable funeral. The following items serve as great additions to a funeral’s aesthetics:

1. Flowers

Choices of funeral flowers vary in terms of colour, budget, formality, or meanings of the particular type of flower. The common flowers used at a funeral include roses, lilies, carnations, gladioli and chrysanthemums.

2. Flower arrangements

The ambience of a funeral can be created through funeral floral arrangements. The four common types of funeral floral arrangements include sprays, bouquets, crosses and wreaths.

3. Decorations

Decor accents such as photo portraits, candles, lanterns and others help you to celebrate the deceased’s life and legacy in a more meaningful way.

4. Food catering

Singapore funeral service providers offer food and catering services at a funeral. Meals and refreshments are usually served during the memorial service. Food offerings are also customisable.

Aesthetics

Funeral procession entourages allow loved ones to bid the deceased goodbye in a grand sendoff. Ensuring the right aesthetics reflects appreciation and respect to the deceased. Funeral processions also encourage community support. As the entire community is gathered on notice, they are invited to mourn and show respect for the bereaved family and friends. At the same time, they are enlightened about the preciousness of life.

Planning a funeral service can be daunting when you have vague ideas surrounding the process and details. We hope this article has been helpful in providing you with a better understanding on what are the essential, optional and aesthetic components in a funeral service.

At Confidence Funeral, we provide a one-stop solution for funeral arrangements. Feel free to call us for more information.

The Differences Between Taoist And Buddhist Funerals

Taoism and Buddhism are two common religions in Singapore. People are often confused between the duo due to the similarities in their beliefs and philosophies. In fact, both ideologies have significant differences in some aspects, including their funeral rituals and services. Read this article to find out how Taoists and Buddhists hold their funerals and the differences in processes.

1. Philosophy

The first distinguishable element between a Taoist and Buddhist funeral is the philosophy. Both ideologies believe that by burning the body parts of the deceased, a chance will be granted for a person to become enlightened. Nonetheless, as perceived in the Taoist belief, a person will be reborn again as a new being if their body parts are removed before cremation. On the contrary, Buddhism values the concept of preserving the body as it believes one’s cellular structure cannot be destroyed. There are different Buddhist and Taoist funeral packages to be chosen from in Singapore, based on the ethnicity and personal requirements.

2. Chanting and scriptures

There will be a religious leader presiding over the funeral for both Taoist and Buddhist funerals. The religious leader will hold the final rites and recite the chants based on the deceased’s belief. Prayers for both ideologies are the same, which are to assist the deceased to transition into their afterlife smoothly without being hindered by evil spirits. Nonetheless, the purpose of chants and the materials used for funeral rituals are different between Taoist and Buddhist funerals.

The purpose of chants and scriptures

For Taoist priests, the scriptures are to pray for mercy for the deceased. People can choose their favourite prayers for the deceased. Buddhists monks chant sutras to eliminate bad karma from the deceased, helping them reincarnate into one of the higher realms more easily.

The rituals and materials

Under a certain Buddhist funeral package in Singapore, the funeral ceremony is conducted by Buddhist monks and religious leaders. Burning incense, Buddhist sutras, and holding special ceremonies at the temple or the home of the deceased’s family are among the activities involved in the funeral ritual. Funerals for Taoism are based on the beliefs held since your birth. Unlike Buddhist’s funerals, the ones for Taoism usually involve paper offerings.

3. Views on reincarnation

Despite having reincarnation as a common core aspect of their religions, both Taoism and Buddhism come with different perspectives on the ideology. In Buddhism, there is a belief of rebirth when a human dies. This cycle of death and rebirth will go on until the person escapes from the samsara, or suffering, by achieving the state of Nirvana, or enlightenment. In short, Buddhists perceive that the deceased will be reborn with all of their experiences from their past life. In contrast, the Taoists believe in the immortality of the soul. They perceive life to be a continuous and eternal process of Tao, or “the way”. In other words, one’s spirit can continue to live after mortality and migrate to another body. Meanwhile, the charging rate of both Buddhist and Taoist funeral packages in Singapore is determined by the number of days the ceremony is held for.

4. Expressing grief

Both Taoism and Buddhism have the same perspective that family members of the deceased should respect him or her, as well as treat his or her body with care. During Taoist funerals, the bereaved family is encouraged to mourn in the most expressive and loudest way, until the coffin is nailed shut. On the other hand, those who attend Buddhist funerals generally grieve in a sombre and subdued manner. In the Buddhism perspective, cremation is treated as an opportunity to express your feelings for your loved one as emotions should not be shown at their funeral.

Regardless of the distinct beliefs between Taoism and Buddhism, the funeral customs of both religions are very much similar to each other. These include a 49-day mourning period, avoidance of wearing red, among others. Therefore, you must be well aware of how the funeral processes should be arranged.

Confidence Funeral offers funeral packages for Catholic, Christian, Free-thinker, Taoist and Buddhist in Singapore. We understand a final farewell is a form of respect to both of the deceased and living. Call us to find out more.

The Final Farewell

Death is inevitable in one’s life and the final moments should always be remembered. Planning a final farewell for the departed immortalises their last memories with their beloved ones.

Confidence Funeral Services is a one-stop team dedicated to arranging a dignified funeral for all. Handling funerals respectfully and smoothly from start to finish is our forte. We guide families through discussions on pre-planning, ceremonial procedures, and post funeral matters, empowering better decision making in paying respects to the departed. Our three main services include advanced planning, funeral arrangements and post funeral support.

1. Advanced planning

Pre-planning of funeral services may help loved ones overcome a difficult period. At Confidence Funeral Services, we offer funeral pre-planning services such as Will Writing, Financial & Estate Planning and Pre-planning Arrangement.

Will Writing

Will writing is crucial in a funeral pre-planning process. Hard-earned assets must be properly passed and distributed to designated members of the family. Your family will enjoy greater peace of mind as an independent financial firm will be engaged to handle and manage your valuable possessions.

Financial & Estate Planning

We have funeral pre-planning clients who engage us to settle their finances and assets before the final moment arrives. Complemented with the right resources, we partner with trusted entities to make good of our clients’ last will and final wishes for the benefit of their loved ones.

Pre-planning Arrangement

Funeral pre-planning covers preparations for the inevitable. These include drafting a will, subscribing to life, and memorial service insurance, to name a few. At Confidence Funeral Services, we delegate Funeral Directors to discuss your wishes and plans for your own funeral.

2. Funeral arrangements

As professional directors, we ensure smooth funeral arrangements by offering our clients all the necessary information, empowering them to make the right personal and financial decisions based on their budget and arrangement scale. Arrangements include religious item supplies, flower arrangement, inland ash scattering, etc.

3. Post funeral support

The healing process will come after the funeral service. As a professional funeral service provider in Singapore, we will continue to support you even after the funeral. Our post funeral support services include exhumation, removal of house deities, religious Gong Teck, relocation of Columbarium niches, grief counselling, memorial services, etc.

Exhumation

Confidence Funeral Services responds to requests for the exhumation and burial ground relocation of your loved ones. We ensure that the process is conducted in a respectful and dignified manner.

Memorial Services

We offer personalised memorial service based on the departed’s life. Ranging from music, spiritual sources, poetry readings to individual work, the elements will be used in a meaningful way to honour the departed.

Grief Counselling

Apart from regular funeral services, we also provide counselling to the bereaved family, in cooperation with different support groups and professionals in the field.

Why choose Confidence Funeral Services?

With our unique selling propositions (USPs) listed below, we have the confidence to meet your unique needs and serve you well.

1. Attractive flexible payment terms

Confidence Funeral Services is the first of its kind in Singapore that offers the following payment terms:

No payment required on the funeral day
7 days credit (Clients only to make payment 7 days after the funeral)
No deposit, upfront payment required for local funeral arrangement (except for SPH Obituaries, parlour rental, NEA columbarium and cemetery related)

2. Customisable / personalised packages available

Confidence Funeral Services offers funeral arrangement packages that are catered to our clients’ needs based on the scale of arrangement and budget. The customisable aspects include body cleaning, dressing and makeup, cremation of burial, number of days required for the service, tentage setup, among others.

3. Non-obligatory funeral pre-planning consultation

We provide free pre-planning consultation. There will be no deposit required as well.

4. Post support services

We offer post support services for 100 days. This showcases our commitment of overseeing the funeral arrangements from beginning to end, ensuring nothing less than a smooth and seamless journey.

At Confidence Funeral Services, we handle funerals respectfully as we understand how much a final farewell means for the departed and his/her loved ones. If you are in need of any services stated above, do not hesitate to contact us for more information.