 3 Funeral Myths Debunked!
In my seven years as a funeral director, I've gathered the top three misconceptions people have about funerals. I am here to debunked these myths today.
Myth number 1: Internal Organs Are Removed When A Body Is Being Embalmed
Internal organs are not removed when embalming is being done on a body. A small incision is made either at the neck area or limbs area where embalming fluid would be pumped into the artery to displace the blood within the body. Somehow there’s a misconception that has been passed down from the older folks that embalming is cruel or bad because organs are removed and my thoughts is that MAYBE it is a tale told by undertakers in the past to persuade families not to allow the deceased to undergo embalming for a very practical purpose - to save time. Embalming typically takes 2-3 hours and even though embalming can be done at residential homes in the past ( before the outbreak of SARS), it is still a lot of time taken before the actual funeral rites can begin. Think about it, if embalming involved the removal of organs, then where are these organs disposed of in the past, when embalming could be done at home? It does not quite make sense right!
Myth number 2 : Funerals are a solemn event
Maybe in the past, funerals are sad events but in recent years, funerals are not simply a time to mourn and grieve. Funerals are also used to share and celebrate the person’s well-lived life. This is why it is not surprising that we confuse the void deck set up of a wake and wedding. These days, whatever used to be seen at a wedding like pretty table and chairs cloth covers, fairy lights and tiffany chairs can be seen at funerals as well. It is not uncommon to see beer, wine and even whisky being consumed at funerals as an expression of a celebration. Funerals are pretty much like weddings. Weddings are hopefully a once in a lifetime events but can sometimes happen again due to various reasons or life situations but funerals are definitely a once in a lifetime event that marks a very significant milestone of a person’s life.
Myth number 3 : Funerals are expensive
After the news detailing the case of a person who got quoted a few thousands of dollars who later then had to pay tens of thousands for a funeral in Singapore became viral, people started to think that funerals have to be expensive. My first thought is, why would the person have to pay tens of thousands of dollars with no black and white agreement? That is pretty odd right. You would demand for an itemised breakdown even for the smallest ticket item. So why the difference for a funeral service? If the funeral ended up costing tens of thousands of dollars, it either had to be (1) super grand in that there were a lot of traditional items like the traditional hearse, the teo chew style drums and cymbals [ gong guan ], the live band, the flower girls and the da biao, (2) had many religious leaders involved [the priest chanting fee can be quite steep ] or (3) the wake set up had to be really prestigious with lots of flowers, fairy lights and tiffany chairs. I am pretty sure the bereaved family who requested for the additional items had to have the slightest idea that additional costs would apply. The onus is on both the funeral director to inform the bereaved family of such costs and on the bereaved family to ask if in doubt. For us at Harmony Funera Care, any request that family has that incurs additional charges will be clearly stated before the act to meet the request is being carried out.
There are many different types of funeral packages we offer that cater to families of various budget. The cheapest and simplest funeral is called a direct cremation funeral which has prices starting from $1,300 to $1,600. The basic package would typically contain everything you need for a funeral but if you wish to have additional requests, additional prices might be incurred. I think that is completely understandable. Funerals can be affordable depending on what you choose.
These are the main funeral myths debunked and I hope this sheds some lights into the funeral process in Singapore. Do call us at +65 94892424 for more information!
Why choose Harmony Funeral Care?
At Harmony Funeral Care, we aim to preserve over 60 years of tradition of serving bereaved families. We take pride in providing the best support that one can find in grief and offer:
- Dedicated And Experienced Staff To Guide You
- Competitive Funeral Packages To Ensure Affordability For All
- Free Video Montage On Funeral Day
- Transparent Pricing With No Hidden Costs
Call us now at +65 9489 2424 for a non-obligatory consultation!
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A humble service done in remembrance of Mr Tee Hock Chwee, founder of Hock Hin Undertaker established since 1963
