Americans traditionally schedule funerals soon after the death. When you need the services of Shillington, PA funeral homes, it wouldn’t be unheard of if the funeral took place just 24-hours after the death of the deceased. However, depending on your circumstances, you might have strong reasons to delay the end of life service.
Is this acceptable? How long can you wait?
Keep reading to find out.
Religion
Certain religions dictate when the body should be buried. If the deceased believed in one of these religions, their wishes should be followed. You can compromise by burying the body according to the religion’s rules then hosting a memorial service at a later, more convenient time.
Reasons to Rush
Bodies begin to decompose after death. That’s perhaps the biggest reason why funerals are often so soon after the death. Modern embalming techniques, however, have made this less of a worry.
People also feel desperate in their grief sometimes. After someone close to you dies, it’s not uncommon to want to do something, anything to relieve your pain. Putting your loved one’s remains to rest can offer closure.
If you decide to delay the funeral, you might have to deal with questioning friends and family. There will be strong pressure to schedule the service sooner.
Reasons to Wait
Now you know the reasons to rush when you’re planning a funeral. Equally important are the reasons you might want to delay. It’s a delicate balancing act. You need to consider as many factors as possible.
For most people, it’s very important that the deceased’s loved ones attend the funeral. If someone can’t arrive immediately, there’s a strong argument for waiting. For instance, if someone lives abroad, it can be difficult to arrange timely travel.
You might also want to delay the service if there’s trouble around the body. If the police are involved, you might need to wait until their investigation is done. Problems also arise when the deceased has been declared dead but the body hasn’t been found.
How Long Do You Have?
The body’s needs will have to be addressed in some way within 24 hours after the death. Otherwise, the decomposing process could cause health problems. However, once the body is embalmed or refrigerated, you have a little time to work with.
You can also opt for cremation. The deceased’s body will be kept until the cremation is scheduled.
Final Thoughts
Funerals are fraught with emotion. You might feel unhappy or stressed out while the arrangements are underway. However, you can’t avoid it forever. If you’re trying to delay the funeral because you don’t want to face the emotions that it will dredge up, it would be better if you made yourself schedule the service.
At Bean Funeral Homes & Cremation Services, Inc., our Shillington, PA funeral homes can help you in your time of need. Our team has the compassion you’re looking for. We can be reached at (610) 376-0985 or you can stop by at 1605 Rockland St, Reading, PA 19604.