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A Jehovah’s Witness funeral is very similar to a Christian funeral in terms of customs and practices. The main difference between the two services is that a Jehovah’s Witness funeral lasts only about 15-30 minutes, which leaves little room for extended readings, songs, or prayers. One of the main concepts of a Jehovah’s Witness funeral is to keep the funeral as simple and straightforward as possible since they value modesty. Funerals are not opportunities to show off wealth or extravagance in the Jehovah’s Witness faith, so purchasing large and loud flower arrangements or lavish and expensive caskets are frowned upon.
The funeral can take place at any location such as a funeral home, the family’s home, graveside, or in the Kingdom Hall. The service will be led by the Congregation Elder, who will lead those attending in a small speech regarding the deceased. A prayer, a song, and a reading can be done, but these will generally be shorter to respect the brief nature of the funeral.
Once the talk given by the Congregation Elder and the other readings are finished, the body is buried or the urn taken away. Overall, Jehovah’s Witness funerals are brief affairs that focus on simplicity and modesty.
Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that death is permanent and that with the death of the body, comes the death of the soul. (This is in contrast to Christian beliefs where the body might die, but the soul remains intact.) They do not believe in an immortal body or an immortal spirit and believe that death is the end of all things. They also believe that many individuals will be brought back to life in a paradise.
Jehovah’s Witnesses do believe in resurrection of the soul, however. A select few (144,000) of Christ’s most faithful followers will be chosen to rule alongside him. Jehovah’s Witnesses do not believe in Hell but do believe in Heaven.
A Jehovah’s Witness funeral should generally take place within a week of death.
A Jehovah’s Witness funeral can be open or closed casket, this depends on the preferences of the family or of the individual. There are no rules in favor or against open or closed casket funerals for Jehovah’s Witnesses.
There are no prohibitions against cremation for Jehovah’s Witnesses, especially since they believe in the resurrection of the spirit. The body is not required for resurrection and is not necessary for entrance into the Kingdom of Heaven; cremation is an acceptable form of disposition for Jehovah’s Witnesses.
Embalming is the process of preserving a body and temporarily delaying the natural decaying process so that the body can be viewed by mourners. Jehovah’s Witnesses can be embalmed, which is often required (not by law) or highly suggested for an open casket funeral to occur.
A Jehovah’s Witness funeral is a brief and condensed affair, usually lasting only 15-30 minutes. Jehovah’s Witnesses focus on simplicity and modesty in their funerals, and do not believe that the dead are conscious. In deference to the Bible’s teaching, Jehovah’s Witnesses do not partake in wakes, anniversaries of death, or anything lavish when related to a funeral.
Flowers are acceptable at a Jehovah’s Witness funeral, as long as they are simple and modest arrangements. Large and extravagant arrangements should not be sent to a Jehovah’s Witness funeral, nor should anything that could come across as Pagan.
The dress code is generally to wear what feels comfortable and what is presentable or respectful.
It is not required that you are a Jehovah’s Witness in order to attend a Jehovah’s Witness funeral. Anyone can attend and are welcome, their beliefs do not factor into it. If you feel nervous about attending a Jehovah's Witness funeral while not being of that religion, it may be worth reaching out to the religious leader or speaking with friends or those knowledgeable about the faith to put your mind at ease. Additionally, learning about what to expect (by reading content such as this article!) can help you feel more prepared.
If you’ve been tasked with planning a Jehovah’s Witness funeral and are looking for a quick way to invite friends and family, you can easily send out funeral announcements with an Ever Loved memorial website. Memorial websites allow visitors to leave their memories and condolences, RSVP to events, contribute to a fundraiser, and much more.