The Significance of Pallbearing
Being a pallbearer is a tremendous honor and a serious responsibility. Whether you choose to appoint friends and family to the task of pallbearing for a loved one, or you choose professional pallbearers working at the funeral home, your loved one deserves to be in caring and capable hands as they’re
brought home to final rest.
The History of Pallbearing
Long ago, our ancestors would shoulder the responsibility of carrying their deceased loved ones to the church graveyard, sometimes walking miles in a procession. The funeral march became a tradition at that time, with music and choreography serving to celebrate and honor the life of the deceased. Now, communities are larger, and the casket is commonly borne to the cemetery by a hearse rather than on foot. But the spirit of the funeral procession lives in, and pallbearers continue to play a necessary role.
A pallbearer is someone whose duty is helping to carry the casket during a funeral service. Pallbearers may help load and unload the hearse as the body is brought from the funeral home to the chapel and again for the burial. They may carry the casket at waist height, at the shoulder, or with the help of a special trolley called a bier.
How Many Pallbearers Are There?
The number of pallbearers in a funeral service depends largely on the preference of the family. An average casket has three handles on each side, plus one at the front and back, so there are usually six to eight pallbearers. However, there can be as few as four, and there can be additional honorary pallbearers who march alongside the casket without shouldering its weight.
Who Can Be a Pallbearer?
Traditionally, pallbearers were most commonly strong young men capable of carrying a heavy casket over a long distance. They were usually close friends or extended family of the deceased, although immediate family members could also take on that duty.
Now, there are no limits on who can serve as pallbearers. Women and people of any age can help to carry a loved one’s casket. However, it can be both a physically and emotionally demanding duty. Pallbearers must arrive early and be capable of lifting and carrying the casket, sometimes over uneven terrain, and retain their composure while moving in sync with the other pallbearers.
Going Home in Style
An alternative to having friends and family serve as pallbearers is to use professional pallbearers provided by the funeral home. This is common in African American funerals, particularly in the South, but it’s become more commonplace throughout the rest of the country. Depending on the family, this might be a unique way to celebrate the life of a loved one with formality and flair.
Immaculately dressed professionals carrying a casket in a stylish, coordinated march convey great honor and dignity to the deceased and allow friends and family members to focus on their mourning rather than anxiety over serving that role.
Pipkin Braswell can provide pallbearers for your loved one’s service, or help you arrange for your loved ones to manage the task themselves. Let us know what would best help you celebrate your loved one’s life, and we will arrange a fully customized service to honor them and meet your family’s needs. Reach out at (303) 996-0869 with questions or to begin planning your loved one’s funeral.
