We understand a funeral can be a painful experience for many people, so you may be wondering about the length of time you need to set aside on the day of the funeral. How long a funeral lasts depends heavily on the order of proceedings and the wishes of the departed.
Typically, a funeral lasts between one and one and a half hours including the memorial service and the burial or cremation ceremonies. Some funerals will have more people delivering eulogies than others and there may be certain religious traditions that can take longer.
The memorial ceremony
This is the part of the funeral where those asked to speak do so. There may also be a religious figure who gives a sermon or says a prayer in line with the traditional requirements of the deceased and the family. This part of the funeral can take around half an hour.
If you are the one organizing the funeral, you need to remember to allow time for people to enter and exit the service venue. Depending on how many people there are, this can take up to fifteen minutes.
How long does a cremation service last?
If you have chosen to have the deceased cremated, the funeral director may suggest having the memorial service and the readings take place in the crematorium, particularly if the funeral is a more intimate affair. In this case, the whole cremation service will take about an hour.
However, for funerals with a larger group in attendance, the memorial service may happen in a different venue, with the cremation ceremony done separately, only for close friends and family to attend. In these arrangements, the cremation service is shorter – around 20 – 30 minutes max.
How long is a burial service?
A burial service usually includes the memorial, readings, and burial ceremony all in one place. This is typically around the final resting place of the departed. Anyone attending the funeral can expect the whole service to take around an hour and a half, although some may take longer depending on burial traditions.
You can expect those who were close to the deceased to speak at the burial service, talking about the departed’s life and how they were so loved by those around them.
How long should I stay at a funeral?
As professionals, we advise that you take as much time as you need at the funeral of a loved one. Grieving is an important aspect of your journey, as well as the journey of the deceased. It’s important that those grieving know that they have your support, so if you need to take some time to console them, that’s okay.
It’s also important to remember that there may be some aspects of the funeral that are for family members and close friends. This is to be respected and at these times, it may be better to step away. It’s usually more than acceptable to join any celebrations that take place after the formal ceremonies. Here, you can stay as long or short a time as you see fit.
