Traditional Funeral Services

Steps of a Traditional Funeral

Traditional funerals can have differences, but all have the same basic structure. We explain the main steps below.
The funeral ceremony is the largest component that we mentioned above. When people think about a traditional funeral ceremony they often associate it with religion, and in particular within Winnipeg families think of a Christian style funeral. To further describe the funeral ceremony component, we will look at it through a Christian perspective. However, please remember that you can still have a traditional funeral this is not Christian.

Breakdown of a Christian Funeral Ceremony

A Christian funeral ceremony takes the form of any other Christian mass with a few nuances. The main objective of a Christian funeral service is to pray for the soul of the deceased, and to provide support to the grieving family. 
The funeral ceremony starts with guests entering the church or chapel and taking their seats. It is recommended that guests arrive about 15-20 minutes early. There is then a small procession down the main aisle of the church by the immediate family and the pallbearers who are carrying the casket. The casket will generally be placed in front of the altar, and the immediate family and pallbearers will sit at the very front. Once everyone has gathered together, the priest will give an opening statement that is either a prayer or a statement of support for the family, or a combination of both. After the opening statement, the mass officially begins. A traditional funeral ceremony will include a sermon from the priest, readings from the Bible, prayers, and hymns. A sermon or homily is a speech given by the priest after scripture has been read. The Priest will provide insight into the scripture readings and will relate it to the life of the deceased in some manner. Generally, the family will choose close relatives or friends to say the prayers and the scripture readings. The funeral ceremony often concludes with the delivery of the eulogy. The eulogy usually discusses the deceased’s life, his/her values, personality, and accomplishments, etc.
Since there are so many sects of Christianity there will be small differences when comparing for example a Roman Cathlolic funeral to a Presbyterian funeral. 
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  • A Reading from the Book of Job [Job 19:1, 23-27a]

    Job answered Bildad the Shuhite and said: Oh, would that my words were written down! Would that they were inscribed in a record: That with an iron chisel and with lead they were cut in the rock forever! But as for me, I know that my Vindicator lives, and that he will at last stand forth upon the dust; Whom I myself shall see: my own eyes, not another’s, shall behold him: And from my flesh I shall see God; my inmost being is consumed with longing.


    The Word of the Lord

  • A Reading from the Letter of St. Paul to the Romans [Romans 8:31b-35, 37-39]

    If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but handed him over for us all, how will he not also give us everything else along with him? Who will bring a charge against God's chosen ones? It is God who acquits us. Who will condemn? It is Christ Jesus who died, rather, was raised, who also is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us. What will separate us from the love of Christ? Will anguish, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or the sword? No, in all these things we conquer overwhelmingly through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor present things, nor future things, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.


    The Word of the Lord

  • A Reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew [Matthew 11:25-30]

    At that time Jesus said in reply, "I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned, you have revealed them to the childlike. Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him. "Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light."


    The Gospel of the Lord

  • A Reading from the Holy Gospel according to Luke [Luke 23:44-46, 50-53]

    It was now about noon and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon because of an eclipse of the sun. Then the veil of the temple was torn down the middle. Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commend my spirit"; and when he had said this he breathed his last. Now there was a virtuous and righteous man named Joseph who, though he was a member of the council, had not consented to their plan of action. He came from the Jewish town of Arimathea and was awaiting the kingdom of God. He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. After he had taken the body down, he wrapped it in a linen cloth and laid him in a rock-hewn tomb in which no one had yet been buried.


    The Gospel of the Lord