A Guide to Funeral Processions
Funeral processions are very important and a crucial part of the funeral service. They are designed to bring comfort to the friends and family of a person that just passed away. Knowing the funeral procession etiquette and understanding religious funeral customs is very important and it can make a huge difference. You have to ensure that you understand how these things work and how you can follow the right guidelines and be certain that everything is done to the letter.
Understanding what a funeral procession is
The funeral procession is the family and friends of a person that passed away following their coffin as they are taken to their resting place. It’s also known as a funeral cortege. This procession starts at the funeral home, or at the home of the person, and it follows the coffin to the burial place. Sometimes the funeral procession goes to the funeral service location or the committal, it depends on the situation at hand.
What you will notice is that most of the time you will have a funeral director. He is the one that leads the cortege on foot for a small distance, at least before it gets into the hearse. With that in mind, once they reach the crematorium, cemetery, or the place of worship, they will lead the cortege on foot again, which is extremely important.
What should you know about driving in a funeral procession?
One of the things to keep in mind about funeral procession driving is that you usually drive very slowly, around 30 to 40 MPH on the roads. The focus is to ensure people can follow you without a problem. Also, if you are a part of the funeral procession, then you need to follow the car and stay close to it.
You want to ensure that no other vehicle comes after the funeral procession vehicle and cuts you off. That’s why the main vehicle with the coffin is very slow, because you want to ensure that there are no issues and it’s all handled in an adequate and appropriate manner. Doing that helps a lot and it will convey the quality and benefits that you want, without any possible worries that might arise.
Moreover, when you are in a v, you want to be certain that you stay with the procession and in line. The local traffic ordinances allow funeral processions to go in front of other vehicles, due to obvious reasons. Of course, that means you want to stay in place and not leave the funeral procession unless you are dealing with a specific emergency. Otherwise, you just want to stay within the procession until the end, just to prevent any issues or challenges that might arise.
Another thing to note about a funeral procession is that the last car will have 2 funeral flags, and it will also have hazard lights that flash to show others the procession is ended and traffic can be resumed. This is important to understand, because it shows when the procession starts, when it ends, and other relevant information that you need to know.
Things to do and what to avoid at a funeral procession
What you need to do when you are at a funeral procession is ensure that you respect everyone. This is a very tough time for every person that knew the deceased. So you want to show support and appreciation for the person that passed away. You also want to yield if possible, so it can make the funeral procession experience easier for everyone. You should consider looking for the last vehicle in the procession, it signals that the procession is over and other motorists can continue on.
But what should you avoid? Keep in mind that you don’t want to pass a funeral procession on the right side of the highway. You also want to avoid honking if possible. And yes, you don’t want to cut into the procession or cut it off, that’s not ok and certainly not allowed to begin with.
What vehicles are ideal for a funeral procession?
It depends on where the procession takes place, how much distance needs to be covered, and so on. However, for the most part, you will notice that funeral service vehicles, a limousine or a funeral coach, are the right options to keep in mind. You always want to ensure that you pick the ideal vehicle based on the situation and budget.
Is a funeral procession mandatory?
Theoretically, the funeral procession is not mandatory. However, this is a sign of respect and appreciation for the person that passed away. It’s their last ride, and that means it’s something extremely important to take into consideration and ensure it’s all handled appropriately and in an adequate manner. Yes, this is not mandatory, it’s something you want to do because it helps show respect and professionalism towards the person that just passed away. And since there are some rules regarding the funeral procession, you want to follow them as well.
A funeral procession is very important and it’s one of those things that can sometimes get overlooked. But if you address it wisely and know how to manage the process, nothing can stand in your way. What we guarantee is that the funeral procession will help show your appreciation and respect to the person that passed away. Plus, it’s the adequate way to send that person away on their last ride, with all their family and friends near them. It’s an emotional moment and an important one to say the least!
