How Soon after Death Is the Funeral?

The time between death and a funeral depends on many different factors. There are arrangements to be made, and some family members may need time to travel for the funeral. Additionally, religious beliefs can come into play. But what is the average time between death and a funeral?

Generally speaking, the funeral is held a week or two after the death. However, recent information indicates that the variation in length of time has increased.

Some funerals are held in fewer than ten days after the person dies, while others can take over three weeks to plan. Why is there such a wide range? If you are planning a funeral, there may be a need to wait for relatives or friends to make travel arrangements, particularly if they are traveling a long distance. You may also find that your plans are delayed by appointments required by the Coroner’s office or Registrar, or that the funeral director is not available on your preferred date. Additionally, if there is an inquest, it can result in a delay.

Typically, funerals occur in the late morning or midday, on a week day. Are funerals held on weekends? A funeral can happen on any day of the week, but it may be more expensive to schedule the funeral on a Saturday or Sunday.

Many funeral directors only book funerals on weekends by request, so if you wish to have the funeral on a Saturday or Sunday, you will need to make arrangements with the funeral director. This could cause further delay, though, if your initial weekend date is not available.

While you may find it stressful that your loved one’s funeral must be delayed, there is a good reason to take your time. Pushing the funeral to a later date gives you time to carefully consider the day, avoiding any holidays or other significant dates that could cause painful memories or negative associations. It also affords you the time to plan a memorable celebration of your loved one’s life.

In some cases, the family chooses to have a cremation or burial near the time of death and a memorial later, so that people can have time before they gather to honour their loved one.