Figure 1.-- This snapshot shows four boys carrying a tiny coffin to a waiting car. It would have contained a baby or very young todler , presumably one of the boy's baby brother. We are guessing that the other boys include his friends or perhpa a cousin. Based on the bpys clothes and car, we would guess that the snap shot was taken in the mid-1920s.

Traditional funerals like wedding ceremonoes Within the United States are mostly religious services. And unil relatively modern times were almost all religious ceremonies. Mormally there are three elments: visitation, funeral, and the burial service. ome are public services while other may be private ceremonies. section you will find information on all three subjects. American customs until the late-19th century were largely English and Chritian (Protestant) in charater, but the impact of immigration has introduced a much wider range of national and religious influences. Many other nationalities and relgious can have very differnt traditioms. Irish wakes for example were seen as scabdalous to many Protesrabt anericns. Funerals in contrast to hoe they are comminly preceived are for the surb=vivors and not the deceased. It provides a way of saying goodbye to a loved ones. And funerl ceremonies give family and friends the opportunity to remember their loved one and offer each other love and support. Often children, in contrast to weddings are excluded from the ceremonies. Modern thinking is that they should be included in the griving process. Most experts now think that bereaved children should be included in the process. And it is now thought that even very young childrn can attend funeral services. Young children of course will not understand much of what is happening. And it will normally be their first such experience. They thus must be prepared for what the expoerience. And this includes the touvhu matter of not only what death is, but what dead bodies look and feel like.

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Created: 10:01 PM 5/2/2010
Last updated: 6:01 PM 4/29/2015