ABSTRACT
The grieving person's response to death is impacted by unique cultural and religious backgrounds. Different cultures are known for the various ways in which they express or repress their grief. Numerous studies have addressed the reality that having the opportunity to anticipate a death assists in the griever's adaption to the loss. Sudden, unexpected loss, obviously does not allow the griever any opportunity for psychological preparation. Decisions survivors make related to the experience of the funeral can either help or hinder the journey through grief. In spite of frequent criticism, funerals assist in both social and psychological reconciliation after a death. An individual loss seldom occurs in isolation. The death of someone loved often means the loss of financial security, the loss of one's long-time friends and perhaps the loss of one's community. The lack of a consistent, stabilizing support system typically results in a difficult, if not impossible, reconciliation process.
