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Funeral Pallbearers

Being a funeral pallbearer is a significant task within the service. Traditionally, the pallbearers may bring the casket from the hearse into the service venue and back out again as the mourners follow. The pallbearers may also bring the casket from the hearse to the grave site or cremation venue.

 
What is involved for Funeral Pallbearers?

Usually, six people are required. Caskets are always carried feet first, so you need to consider who your pallbearers will be and also where they can be positioned relative to their strength and height. The head of the casket is normally the heaviest. 

 

Sometimes, the casket is already placed when mourners arrive for a service, and the pallbearers carry the casket out to a significant piece of music. You can choose to have two sets of pallbearers if you want to and choosing who will be your pallbearers is deeply personal.

 

Who can be a Funeral Pallbearer?

There are no set rules about who can be a pallbearer; however, this is something that should probably be discussed before the day of the service. This can be an emotional task, and not everyone feels comfortable being an active part of a funeral service.

 

Pallbearers are usually close family members or friends; they can be male or female and there is also the option to include honorary pallbearers who don’t physically carry the casket but may walk with a hand placed on the casket or just accompany the pallbearers. It may be appropriate for a child to walk with the pallbearers with a support person, again this is personal and would usually be discussed in advance with those involved.

 

What should I expect as a pallbearer?

The funeral director will guide and support you in your role as a pallbearer. We will show you where to stand, walk and place the casket and we will support you if you are finding the task difficult or unclear. Acting as a funeral pallbearer can be very emotional, and it is alright to allow yourself to show emotion. If you don’t feel that you are able to perform pallbearer duties, it is perfectly acceptable to decline when you are asked.

 

Dressing for Pallbearing

If you have been asked to act as a pallbearer, it may be that each pallbearer has been asked to wear the same attire. Each funeral service is unique, and the level of formality for pallbearers will be decided by the person organising the service. There are no strict rules. However, traditionally,  many pallbearers wear a suit in a darker colour. The level of formality of the service should be conveyed to you when the request is made for you to join as a pallbearer.

 

Help with Pallbearing

If you have less than six people available for pallbearing duties, the team at The Natural Funeral Company can help you if that’s what works best for you.

 

If those tasked with pallbearer duties are unable to physically lift the casket, we can arrange for the casket to be placed onto a wheeled conveyance. This can be gently rolled in or out of the service venue when appropriate with the pallbearers accompanying the casket. There is no right or wrong way to move the casket, so we work with you to ensure that this is as stress free as possible.

 

At the Natural Funeral Company, we are here to support and guide you to organise a fitting send-off for your loved one, please reach out to discuss pallbearing or anything else that you need help with. 

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