THE FUNERAL ITSELF

On arrival at the place of the funeral the funeral conductor leads the procession, followed by the coffin carried by bearers,

the funeral officiant and the chief mourners. The coffin is placed in position and the chief mourners normally take their places in seats on the right at the front.

At church funerals and some that take place in cemetery chapels the congregation is already seated when the procession enters. At others the congregation file in after the chief mourners and take their seats as directed by the funeral conductor.

If this is a cremation, at the end of the funeral the coffin normally disappears from view as the officiant says the committal, often to the accompaniment of music. The congregation wait for the chief mourners to leave and then follow them out of the venue. A plate is sometimes left by the door for any donations people care to make.

If the body is to be buried, the family mourners follow the coffin and officiant out of the chapel or church to the final burial place in the cemetery or churchyard. The congregation stand in a circle at the graveside, the coffin is lowered into the grave and the officiant says the prayers of committal. Sometimes the mourners sprinkle earth over the coffin.

Many variations are, of course, possible. Sometimes the funeral consists only of a graveside ceremony; at other funerals the coffin is already in place when the mourners arrive. The service may be short, simple and sweet or, in the case of a Christian funeral, could also incorporate the eucharist or a mass.