What Is A Pallbearer Pallbearers Stepping

pallbearers stepping

krikasue

April 10, 2020

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pallbearers stepping

July 26, 2012 by

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// ]]>Being asked to be a Pallbearer at a funeral is an honour and a very important task. Below we have outlined what Pallbeaer duties involve as well as what you should wear.  The Funeral Director will be there every step of the way to help and instruct you.

A Pallbearer is someone who helps carry the coffin of a deceased person as part of the funeral process.  It is an honour to be asked to be a Pallbearer and the coffin is usually carried by family members, close friends or close work colleagues.

How many Pallbearers are needed?

There are usually six pallbearers, the number will vary depending on the age of the deceased.  The Funeral Director may ask more than six people to make themselves available depending on the length that the coffin will be carried to rotate and ease the burden.  Traditionally men carry the coffin, however, in some instances it has been known for women to carry the coffin for a short distance.

Duties of a Pall-Bearer:

It is indeed an honour to carry a coffin for a family member and it is also a very important duty. If you are asked to be a pallbearer, below provides the main duties involved.

• To arrive at the Church at least a half hour before the Funeral so that the Funeral Director can provide instruction.

• The Pall-Bearer will take instruction from the Funeral Director who will go through all of the details including where they should sit during the Funeral Service.  The Funeral Director will also align people of similar stature to ensure the burden of weight when carrying the casket is equally divided.  The Funeral Director will agree with the family the appropriate route to the Church and at what point the coffin should be carried.

• The Funeral Director will walk ahead of the coffin and will periodically hault the procession to rotate pallbearers depending on the length of walk.

• The Pallbearers will also carry the coffin to the deceased’s final resting place after the Funeral service.  It is worth noting that a coffin is usually heavy so make sure that you feel up to the job, if you feel that it may be too heavy let the Funeral Director know so that he can rotate with someone else.

• Traditionally a coffin is carried on the shoulder of the Pallbearer.  Again, the Funeral Director is there every step of the way to ensure everything is done properly.

• It is worth remembering that coffins are very heavy, so if you have any back problems or medical conditions preventing you from carrying the coffin, please let the Funeral Director know, he will be able to organise someone else.

What should a pallbearer wear?

All eyes will be on the coffin and pallbearers so it is important to dress appropriately.  What you wear will depend on the lifestyle of the deceased e.g. if the deceased was a biker the family may want you to wear some of the biker gear.

If you are asked to be a pallbearer you should usually wear a smart suit, traditionally a black suit with black tie and white shirt are worn.  Most Funeral Directors will have spare black ties if you don’t have one.  If you don’t have a black suit you might consider hiring one for the day.  If you cannot afford to hire or buy a black suit just wear a smart dark trousers, sports jacket, white shirt and black tie.

Depending on the time of year e.g. summer you might not need a jacket.  It is also important that you have gripped shoes in the winter especially if there is snow to avoid slipping.