06/05/2021
Be careful not to underestimate
Often families underestimate how many people might attend the funeral of their loved one and this can make attending the service uncomfortable for mourners and embarrassing for the family.
Funeral homes vary on many fronts, including the presentation of the venue, the size of the chapel and mourning lounge, and the catering options and facilities. As a celebrant, I find, that often, a small private funeral home chapel can be quite intimate when the group of mourners can comfortably be seated. Generally, if the service is not too long, a few mourners standing is fine. However, when the mourners spill outside into the carpark, the atmosphere is lost for them and, moreover, if they cannot hear the eulogies. This can be very uncomfortable when the weather is hot, cold and windy, or if it’s raining. Of course, graveside services, by nature, can be compromised by weather, and we take it as it comes.
Be very careful not to be persuaded to hold the service at the funeral director’s chapel if it might be too small. It might be better to hold the service at a MCB (Metropolitan Cemeteries Board) chapel, which have varying capacities. Your funeral director can assist you choose the right chapel, or you can find details on the MCB website https://mcb.wa.gov.au/chapels-facilities
