Yes, funeral services can be held on Sundays. However Sunday funerals are rarer for Christian based faiths, especially for Catholics. Conversely, Jews are more likely to have funerals on Sunday because they avoid having funerals on their holy day, and so delay them until Sunday.
While weekend funerals might be more convenient for guests, some funeral homes and cemeteries are closed, and others charge extra fees. Also, religious officials who officiate funerals, such as ministers or priests, are typically occupied with their congregations on Sundays.
In the United States, funerals are most often held on weekdays, typically late in the morning or early in the afternoon.
Key Takeaways About Sunday Funerals
Sunday funerals may be more convenient but make sure to check a few things first:
- If you are wanting to have a Catholic or other church based service, can this be scheduled with your chosen venue and clergy?
- If there will be a burial, does the cemetery open at all on Sunday, and does its hours fit with your plans for the funeral service.
- Check additional charges from the funeral home (and cemetery if relevant), as it can cost up to $2000 extra for a Sunday service.
Downsides to Funeral Services on Sundays
Some Cemeteries are Closed on Sundays
Certain cemeteries do not allow burials to take place on Sundays at all. In these cases you may still have the funeral service on Sunday but will have to wait until Monday to have the burial. It is rarer for funeral homes to not offer Sunday services.
It may be less convenient to split the funeral and burial services over two days. If cremation is planned for after the funeral service then this is not a problem.
Sunday Funerals Often Cost More
Funeral homes and cemeteries often charge more for Sunday funerals and burials. Many funeral directors and cemeteries are willing to offer services on a Sunday but with an extra fee and often with more restrictive hours. These charges should be laid out in their General Price Lists.
Additional charges for Sunday funerals vary but here is a range based on my research:
- Funeral home surcharge for Sunday funeral service: $500-$2000
- Cemetery surcharge for Sunday burials: $400-$600
Other service providers like florists or musicians may also have Sunday surcharges. Most funeral homes also have extra charges for funerals on a Saturday but it is generally less than for Sunday. If you plan to have a viewing on Sunday but the funeral on Monday there will also be an additional charge.
It’s Harder to Schedule Sunday Funerals at Churches
Funerals are harder to schedule around Sunday church services, which may be a problem if you want to have the funeral in a church. Churches are more likely to be available Sunday afternoons, but cemeteries are less likely to be open later in day to conduct the burial. Again, this is not a problem if cremation is planned.
Catholic Funerals and Sundays
In Catholic tradition there is no strict prohibition against having a funeral on most Sundays. However it’s less common due to the significance of Sunday as the Sabbath and a day for worship and the practicalities of scheduling with clergy. There are several Sundays where funerals are expressly forbidden by the church. Catholics cannot have funerals on Sundays falling on:
- Advent Sunday (the fourth Sunday before Christmas)
- Lent (includes all six Sundays before Easter)
- Easter Sunday
Because of these rules and practicalities, most Catholic funerals are on days other than Sunday.
In areas where there are a high number of Catholics, for example the North East of the USA, Catholic traditions also become more general cultural traditions. In these areas Sunday funerals are less common even outside the Catholic faith.
Other Religious Perspectives
In addition to Catholicism, other religious perspectives can influence the decision to hold a funeral on a Sunday:
- Protestant Christian: Protestant Christians may have differing views on holding funerals on Sundays depending on their specific denominations, like Anglican, Baptist, Lutheran, Methodist, Presbyterian, or others. In general, funerals are not prohibited on Sundays. However, the practicalities of fitting a funeral service in with regularly scheduled services needs to be considered.
- Jewish: Traditionally, Jewish funerals are not held on the Sabbath, which begins Friday at sundown and ends Saturday at sundown. Sunday is not a sacred day for Jewish people, so Jewish funerals can indeed be held on Sundays. Jewish funerals are actually more common on Sundays because of the avoidance of the Sabbath.
- Muslim: Islamic funeral customs require that the burial take place as soon as possible after death, ideally within 24 hours. There is no specific restriction against holding a funeral on a Sunday.
- Buddhist: There is no specific prohibition against holding a Buddhist funeral on a Sunday. The focus is on guiding the deceased through the afterlife and ensuring a smooth transition to their next rebirth.
Can you Have Cremation on a Sunday?
Yes you can have a cremation on a Sunday as long as the facility allows it. In practice, most crematoriums are closed Sundays and those that can open will likely charge additional fees. There are also additional charges for rushed cremations. Remember that state laws require a waiting period of between 24-72 hours from death until cremation.