Are Sombre Funerals Dying Out?

The British funeral has transformed from being sombre to a celebration of life.

19:22 17 June 2015

Death – it’s one of the most predictable things in life which used to be mourned but has now transformed into a celebration of life. 

 

Instead of family members and friends crying, today’s funerals increasingly rejoice the memories of the deceased triumphs, relationships, and even their favourite songs. 

 

A recent survey conducted by ICM found that 54per cent of the 2,000 people surveyed prefer to have their funeral to be a “celebration of life” with 48per cent saying that they want it to incorporate their favourite hobby, colour, football team or music. Because of this, crematoriums are now equipped with audio visual systems that allow video clips to be played during funerals. 

 

Celebrities are among those who are leading the way in this transformation. Actress Lynda Bellingham’s funeral was planned as an “all-singing, all dancing knees-up” while Sex Pistol’s Svengali Malcolm McLaren’s funeral had 200 strong party singing along the Sid Vicious’s version of My Way. In the United States, Joan Rivers’ funeral was opened by the New York City Gay Men’s Chorus performing a series of Broadway show tunes.