Etiquette changes as generations change and as technology changes. The prevalence of mobile phones in society now impacts funerals as well. Civil celebrants almost always request at the start of each service that phones are switched to silent for the duration of the funeral. Mourners are embarrassed when a phone rings out during the service. Regrettably, it does happen.
Research by Co-operative Funeralcare in the UK found that even though funerals topped the public's list of the most unacceptable times to use a phone – ahead of driving, at the cinema or during a wedding – two out of five people said they would not turn off their device while attending one.
Of those, three out of ten would set it to silent, and one in ten would refuse to turn the sound down or turn it off.
One in 16 people admitted to having received a call, text or email message by accident while one in six people had seen someone at a funeral "frantically trying to turn off their phone that has started ringing." Research was carried out among 2,000 men and women funeral attendees aged 18 and above.
With the increasing number of smart phones, other mourners use their phones as cameras and for updating social media. Recently when our vintage horse drawn hearse from the 1800s was used at a funeral at Williamstown, most of the mourners came out at the end of the service armed with their smart phones to take photos of the hearse! You may be surprised how often people take photos at funerals.
Often children and grandchildren of the deceased will use phones and other mobile devices to update social media during or after a service. Online memorials are updated with tributes to the deceased.
The use of technology can add to the occasion of a funeral but it can also detract from it. A ringing phone is virtually never appropriate, but there may be times when using your phone for other features may help make the funeral more memorable or include others. Some families have used their mobile phone to Skype or FaceTime with overseas family members so that they can be involved in the service.
Remember to assess the occasion and determine whether others attending will be offended by the use of mobile phones. This is the most important thing to take into account.
Of those, three out of ten would set it to silent, and one in ten would refuse to turn the sound down or turn it off.
One in 16 people admitted to having received a call, text or email message by accident while one in six people had seen someone at a funeral "frantically trying to turn off their phone that has started ringing." Research was carried out among 2,000 men and women funeral attendees aged 18 and above.
With the increasing number of smart phones, other mourners use their phones as cameras and for updating social media. Recently when our vintage horse drawn hearse from the 1800s was used at a funeral at Williamstown, most of the mourners came out at the end of the service armed with their smart phones to take photos of the hearse! You may be surprised how often people take photos at funerals.
Often children and grandchildren of the deceased will use phones and other mobile devices to update social media during or after a service. Online memorials are updated with tributes to the deceased.
The use of technology can add to the occasion of a funeral but it can also detract from it. A ringing phone is virtually never appropriate, but there may be times when using your phone for other features may help make the funeral more memorable or include others. Some families have used their mobile phone to Skype or FaceTime with overseas family members so that they can be involved in the service.
Remember to assess the occasion and determine whether others attending will be offended by the use of mobile phones. This is the most important thing to take into account.
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