Lesson 1: Welcome to Funeral Service Studies Flashcards
what factors historically influenced how we tended to the dead?
fear of unseen forces, religious and spiritual beliefs, beliefs about life after death, beliefs about what happens to the soul and body after death, superstitious beliefs about death, the social status of the person who died, connections between those still living and those that have died, and beliefs about human connection with animals and nature
what are the 4 common elements among every culture related to death and disposition?
some type of ceremony or ritual, a special place for the dead, memorialization of the dead, special people to care for the dead
grave goods
items were originally placed in the grave with the deceased so that they could be used in the afterlife, they are items and personal possessions that get interred with the deceased
what are the purposes of a funeral?
helps confirm the reality and finality of death, provides climate for mourning and the expression of grief, allows for ones sorrows to become the sorrows of many, provides a time when love is given and not expected in return, is a vehicle for the community to pay its respects, encourages affirmation of religious beliefs, is a declaration that life has been lived and is a sociological statement that death has occurred.
what does Wolfelt say the 6 purposes are that must be met by a funeral to promote meaningful healing?
reality- helps us accept the death is a reality
recall- gives us an opportunity to go backwards and explore our memories of the deceased, can be through video tribute, eulogy, etc.
support- helps gather those that knew the deceased to offer eachother support
expression- gives us a safe place to express our emotions and allow us to move forward
meaning- helps us find answers to questions and give us peace, begin to reconcile loss
transcendence- a publicly marked status change, helps us create new identities and think about how we want to live our lives moving forward
what were the earliest accounts of those taking on the role of disposing of the dead?
those who were carpenters, cabinet makers as they would be able to make the coffins, and liverymen who could transport the deceased to the cemetery with wagons and carts
who and when were the earliest embalmers in history?
physicians, as they understood the human anatomy, and they first came to prominence during the American civil war.
what is our primary obligation in funeral service?
to look after the disposition of the deceased and the health and well-being of the bereaved
