Religious Services

Buddhist Way of Life at Death

Buddhist’s believe that when someone has passed away, the body must be kept resting in the current situation for the next eight (8) hours. The body is not to be moved. The heart has stopped, but the body and mind are still functioning. The peaceful slumber of the body and mind is not to be disturbed by crying or arguing. Chanting of prayers should be offered continuously to give the person a harmonious and pleasurable exodus for a better afterlife. The “Book of Dates” is checked to find the most auspicious date and time for burial or cremation.

Roman Catholic Funeral

It is customary for Catholics to be buried from the Church with a Mass. The family may have a viewing prior to a Vigil service.  The Vigil is usually held the night before the funeral Mass and is conducted by a priest or deacon to reflect upon the person’s life, death and eternal life. Religious items may be placed with the body and casket; devotional scapular, crucifix, rosary beads, prie dieu, pall, vigil candles and Holy Water. A committal service is done at the cemetery following the Mass. Cremation is allowed as final disposition.

Christian ~ Protestant Funerals 

The clothing and casket are determined by the family, but the denomination of the faith will determine the location of the funeral; church or funeral home. Order of worship of the funeral, casket opened or closed, use of flowers, music, candles, incense, use of a pall, a crucifer, etc. are determined by the preferences of the officiating minister. Final disposition may be earth burial, entombment, cremation, or donation of body to science. The majority choose interment or burial as final disposition for a Christian funeral.

The deceased body is cleansed, dressed and adorned with flowers then prayers are said before the body is taken for cremation. Cremation is spiritually beneficial; the soul remains as long as the physical body remains, so cremation is a way of releasing the soul on to the next life. The cremated remains are placed in a river, the Ganges River or other sacred waterways in India.  In California the cremated remains may be scattered at sea 500 yards beyond the shore.

Here is a link to a company that will scatter the remains in India for the family:

https://www.hindupratha.com/

Muslim funerals are simple; no embalming, no delaying the burial. Friends & family of the deceased prepare the body; wudu or ablution is performed followed by a ghusl or bath then a camphor mix is poured over the body and the body is shrouded in three pieces of white cotton, janazah or funeral prayers are recited and the shrouded body is placed directly into the ground.

There are no specific requirements or church laws for casket but burial is the preferred disposition. Members who have “been through the temple” are dressed in special clothing with church members coming to the funeral home to dress the deceased. The Bishop or Speaker of the Ward establishes the order of the service. The funeral can be held at the funeral home, ward chapel or the tabernacle but not in the Temple. Visitation and viewing may be held the evening before the funeral or the same day.

Orthodox Jewish Funeral Services are supervised by the Rabbi-rituals vary according to preferred customs, along with the funeral director and the Chevra Kadisha Society. The Chevra Kadisha insure that the body is prepared for burial by the ritual of “tahara” according to Jewish law; the body is purified, dressed in a shroud of white cotton & placed in a plain wood casket with Israel earth. A Shomer(watchman) may remain with the body and recite traditional prayers or Psalms. A committal service is done by the Rabbi at the cemetery with everyone reciting the Kaddish & earth is shoveled over the casket. A mourning period is observed according to custom; Shivah, Sholoshim, Yarhrzeit.

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