Being asked to be a pallbearer at a funeral service can make many people nervous. Most people have never done that before and so you may have questions or worries about the process to avoid doing something wrong. If this is the case and you want to ensure you know what to do during the service, funeral homes in La Porte, IN can offer some tips that can help you.
The first thing you need to remember is that you should get to the service early. Not only is this more respectful to the grieving family who have asked you to be part of the service, but it will also allow you to ask questions from the director. Usually, too, the funeral director will give you and the other pallbearers instructions about what you need to do during the service, so you should be present. Be certain that you pay attention to the instructions, too, since you do not want to have doubts about what you have to do.
When you choose the outfit for the service, go for conservative style. You want to stick to dark, somber colors, and you want to wear something respectful and that will not draw attention away from the proceedings. For women, skirts, dresses, or dress pants are great options, and for men a suit of some kind can work very well. Unless told otherwise, men should wear ties. Be sure you also wear shoes that you are comfortable in, since you will have to walk as a pallbearer.
Pay attention to the other pallbearers. You want to make certain that you are walking at a pace that matches those of the others. Sometimes, there are rehearsals for this, but if there is not, then you want to keep an eye on the people around you to see the kind of pace you should follow.
As a pallbearer, you may be asked to sit with the other pallbearers and participants in the service. Some families prefer to do this to ensure that everyone is in the right place when they are needed and that no one is distracted. If you have not been given instructions about where to sit, you should be ready to move if the family or the funeral director asks you to do so.
These tips can make the process of getting ready to participate in the service as a pallbearer a bit easier. You should definitely make certain that you are comfortable with being a pallbearer, since not everyone feels that they can do the task while dealing with grief. If that is the case with you, notify the family at once so that they can find someone else. If you still have concerns about the process, you can always reach out to a La Porte, IN funeral home to speak with the director and ask the questions you may have. Get started right now by contacting us at Cutler Funeral Home and Cremation Center. Visit us at 2900 Monroe St La Porte, IN 46350 or give us a call at (219) 362-2828.