Is it an honor to be a pallbearer?

Participating in a funeral as a pallbearer is a time-honored tradition and a sign of trust. It’s both an honor and a responsibility. After all, you have been asked to accompany a dearly loved person to their final resting place, which means the family trusts and values you.

Who should be honorary pallbearers?

An honorary pallbearer is one who is given special mention and recognition, but is not required to assist in carrying the casket. This honorary status is reserved for friends or relatives who are elderly, who otherwise could not bear the weight, or for others not chosen to be among the active, first six.

What is an honorary pallbearer?

An honorary pallbearer is a pallbearer that does not actively carry the casket at the funeral service. Depending on the family’s wishes, honorary pallbearers may or may not have reserved seating. It is customary for the honorary pallbearers to walk behind the casket being carried by the 6-8 active pallbearers.

How do you choose Honorary pallbearers?

It’s best to choose pallbearers who are reasonably hearty. If you do want to honor someone who may not be able to help carry, you can ask them to be an honorary pallbearer. They will accompany the casket without shouldering part of its weight. You can have multiple honorary pallbearers if you’d like.

How do you respond to being a pallbearer?

Thank you for providing this special & meaningful service to the family. They have entrusted the care and safety of their loved one to you by asking you to serve in the role of pallbearer. We will help you in every way to assume and carry out that role with all the dignity & respect it deserves and the family expects.

How do you say thank you for being a pallbearer?

To Pallbearer

1. Thank you for being a pallbearer for _____. You meant a great deal to him/her and your support was appreciated beyond words.
2. Thank you for serving as a pallbearer. You are a very special person to our family and your help was sincerely appreciated.
3. Thank you for serving as a pallbearer.

Do you list pallbearers at a cremation?

If you’re arranging a funeral for a family member who has been cremated, you may feel as though choosing pallbearers is unnecessary. Not only does serving in this role represent a major honor for each person you choose, but a procession that includes the cremation urn can be powerful.

Do you have pallbearers when someone is cremated?

Since there is no coffin to carry in when there is a cremation, pallbearers are not necessary at the service. However, some families appoint pallbearers to walk alongside one person who carries the cremation urn into the service as a symbolic gesture.

What is the difference between a pallbearer and a casket bearer?

Some traditions distinguish between the roles of pallbearers and casket bearer. The former is a ceremonial position, carrying a tip of the pall or a cord attached to it. The latter do the actual heavy lifting and carrying. Thirdly, pallbearers are carrying the casket to one’s final resting area after the funeral.

Should immediate family be pallbearers?

Pallbearers are usually close family members and friends. Siblings, adult children, grown grandchildren, nieces and nephews, close friends, and colleagues are all common choices for pallbearers. However, anyone can serve as a pallbearer.

What to say when someone asks you to be a pallbearer?

Can you have 8 pallbearers?

Pallbearers help to carry or escort the casket at the funeral. There are generally 6 to 8 pallbearers at a funeral, and you can choose anyone you’d like to serve as one.