Pros And Cons Of Having Pallbearers Transport The Casket To The Burial Site
When you're planning a funeral, it's important to not only give plenty of consideration to the funeral service itself, but also to the burial service. It's common for the burial service to take place soon after the funeral, and a procession of vehicles will commonly travel from the funeral home to the cemetery. One thing that you'll need to consider is whether you'll have the funeral home staff transport the casket to the burial site before people arrive, or whether you'll have your pallbearers carry it from the parking lot to the graveside. Here are some pros and cons of the latter idea.
Pro: The Visual Can Be Stirring
It's often a stirring and emotional visual for those in attendance to see a group of pallbearers carrying the casket from the hearse in the parking lot to the graveside. Seeing the pallbearers take the casket out of the funeral home is a sight that many people will remember from the funeral, and seeing more of this process can be valuable for those in attendance.
Con: The Trip Could Be Difficult
When you want the pallbearers to take the casket from the parking lot to the graveside, they'll commonly be walking over natural terrain. Any time you have people walking on grass, especially if there's a slight incline, there can be a risk of someone tripping and falling. The last thing anyone wants is for one or more pallbearers to go down, taking the casket with them.
Pro: It Adds To The Honor Of The Role
Having people serve as pallbearers at a funeral is a significant honor, but it's also one that comes and goes quickly, as the walk from the front of the funeral home room to the waiting hearse may only take a minute. If you really want those who are serving as pallbearers to have more of an augmented role in the funeral, having them carry the casket to the graveside can be ideal. This walk, depending on the layout of the cemetery, could take several minutes.
Con: Not Everyone May Be Capable
When pallbearers carry a casket out of the funeral home, they're not always technically carrying it. In many cases, the casket is sitting on a wheeled cart and the pallbearers are moving the cart and casket along together. Outside, this may not be possible, as the terrain at the cemetery won't necessarily be conducive to using the cart. This could mean that a pallbearer who is elderly, for example, might not be up to this role.
For additional information, contact a funeral home like DiPonzio Funeral Home Inc.