Death is an inevitable aspect of life. Eventually, we tend to lose a lot of our dear ones with age or due to any unfortunate incident. As a Singaporean, if you have recently faced a death of a close one, you might want to organize an appropriate funeral in Singapore. Funerals are an integral part of the process of bidding our goodbyes to a person. Arranging for a proper funeral is the best way to pay our last respects to a deceased family member or friend.
As a country with people from diverse cultures and religious backgrounds, there are various types of funerals in Singapore. If you are looking for the best funeral services, it is advisable to understand the ways in which one can do a funeral in Singapore. A funeral procession varies with the religious beliefs and practices of an individual. There can be a burial, cremation, memorial service, or a scattering ceremony during a funeral.
People in Singapore largely follow religious practices related to Buddhism, Christianity, Taoism, Islam, Soka association, and Freethinkers amongst others. Hence, the requirements of a funeral in Singapore can be variable as per one’s personal needs. Here we have listed some of the most accepted types of funerals in Singapore.
- Committal service
A committal service is a funeral tradition that generally Christians from the Catholic and Orthodox denominations follow. It involves a set of prayers to bid adieu to the individual who has passed away. A committal is mostly a graveside ritual but some can perform it post-cremation as well. This funeral service allows the family and friends of the deceased to commit the person’s physical body back to mother earth. It signifies the final resting place of the person. Committal service forms the final rite of three main traditions related to death in a Christian funeral.
- Direct cremation
In a direct cremation, the family and friends of the deceased generally perform a single event of incinerating the body. Crematoriums return the remains or ashes of the deceased to the family after the cremation. People may or may not hold a memorial after the cremation.
- Memorial service
People celebrate and pay their tributes to the memory of their dear one whom they have lost in a memorial service. In most cases, the casketed dead body of the person is not present in a memorial service. People use the photograph and remains properly inurned during the memorial service. It is an endearing way to share both good recollections and grief with the people connected with the dead individual.
- Buddhist funeral
Traditional Buddhist funerals are quite common in Singapore. In most Buddhist funeral ceremonies, the dead person’s mortal remains are kept in a casket with the person’s photograph. The photo of the god Buddha is also kept times nearby. There is usually a wake ceremony where all the close ones of the deceased come and pay their respect. Mourners offer flowers and pray for the peaceful departure of the soul from the body. Candles and incense sticks are also placed near the body.
- Green service
As one can perceive from the name, a green service promotes the practice of causing minimal environmental impact in the process of bidding goodbye to a dead person. In a green burial, the body is placed in a biodegradable coffin so that the body decomposes completely. All the materials used in the process are eco-friendly and allow sustaining a special connection with nature.
- Traditional Taoist funeral
Since Singapore has a significant Chinese population, the Taoist funeral traditions are also largely followed here. Photos of the dead person, flowers, and incense sticks are used to honor the person. Priests are called to chant from the holy scriptures and people often conduct a funeral feast. There is a specified period of mourning and different traditions are followed as per Taoism.
- Non-religious funeral
People from the humanist or atheist community often practice non-religious funerals. Non-religious funerals do not stick to the rituals or beliefs of any specific religion. Usually, eulogies and non-religious funeral readings take place to honor the dead. People express their condolences and grief to the bereaved family. Sometimes the funeral ceremony may take a more positive turn and may include some moments of fondness in remembering the departed soul.
- Viewing service
In a viewing ceremony, the close ones of a deceased individual come to see and honor him/her before their burial or cremation. People usually go for embalming the dead body before a viewing service. The approaches for a viewing service differ with the cultural and religious beliefs of the families.
- Scattering ceremony
A scattering ceremony is a form of ritual where the family members of the deceased spread the ashes of the person they have lost at a place connected to them. Many religions also specify the place where their followers can scatter the ashes. Riversides, beaches, or parks are some common places where people hold the scattering ceremony.
Find the much-needed support amidst tough times for doing a funeral in Singapore with Last Journey Funeral Services!
Arranging for all the necessities of a funeral can be a challenging task during the times of losing a dear one. The team at Last Journey Funeral services truly stands as a supporting should help you in all the essentials of organizing a funeral in Singapore. We offer a wide range of funeral services to cater to the needs of people from diverse faiths and cultures. Contact us to know more!