Interfaith Services at a Wake

New York is a melting pot of different cultures, backgrounds, and religions. For various reasons, some families opt to go with an interfaith ceremony during their wake. This is common with people with more than one religious or cultural background from their parents, or those who have changed faiths, but still want to respect the wishes of their family. Interfaith funerals take parts from different religions to create a ceremony that is both spiritually enriching and religion-agnostic. Interfaith ceremonies are sometimes also referred to as adaptive ceremonies, because they vary from person to person.

Families of Multiple Faiths

When a loved one with more than one religious background passes, it is common for the family to have a funeral ceremony that reflects the rites and wishes of both faiths, as best as possible. During interfaith ceremonies, commonalities in the religions, such as candle burning or floral arrangements, are highlighted. Most religious groups have a large family meal or banquet after the funeral services, so this is also common when the religions of your loved one both have that as a custom. 

Cross-Cultural

Some ethnicities also have their traditions surrounding ceremonies for funerals. If your loved one had mixed ethnicities, they may have customs from one or more of their cultural backgrounds. This will vary based on the cultural backgrounds, but generally, religious beliefs are often rooted in the cultural specifics. 

Secular Families

Secular, or non-religious, services often shy away from religious specifics. Secular services are similar to traditional funeral services, except they do not talk of the afterlife or read from religious texts. Quotes from favorite authors might be read. A favorite song might be played or sung. Like most funerals, stories might be shared, and close family members may give eulogies. As with most other funeral customs, it is often appropriate to show support to the family through memorial charitable donations, memorial flowers, and meal preparation.

Preparing an Interfaith Ceremony

The focus of an interfaith ceremony should be on celebrating the life of the deceased, rather than the afterlife. Eulogies may include different customs based on different faiths. Prayers from one or more of the religions can be presented. Non-denominational prayers may also be read out. Songs may be played or sung. When planning an interfaith ceremony, consider looking for inspiration from different sources online. 

For over 50 years, Matthew Funeral Home has been serving the Staten Island community. We can help with almost every aspect of your loved one’s memorial service. Our family is here to serve yours, every step of the way.