Expectations related to funerals are changing. Many
countries are experiencing a significant increase in
the number of cremations compared to traditional
burials. There are at least a few reasons for this
– the first is financial, related to the affluence
of societies (cremation is usually cheaper), and
the second is related to the availability of space
in cemeteries. There is a growing interest in
aquamation and terramation, although it still
represents a minimal percentage of all funerals.
Increasingly, clients expect at least some form of
personalization of the funeral, whether through
its setting or the personal involvement of the
family in decorating the coffin or urn. There is
also a growing interest in nonreligious funerals.
Families expect more environmentally friendly
funerals and cemeteries that are more for the living
than for the deceased (should resemble green
parks, conducive to reflection and meditation).
Digital solutions are everywhere. We use them in
the management of funeral businesses, but also
for the notifications of death and to celebrate the
memory of the deceased. Digital cemeteries are
also emerging – technology allows us to preserve
the resting place in memory, especially when the
funeral takes place in memorial forests or we
are scattering ashes. Most of us lead a digital life
every day, so it's not surprising that our death,
funeral, and mourning experience are also
becoming digital. Startups are offering emerging
interactive funeral ceremonies in virtual reality,
apps supporting the grieving process, and online
support groups. AI helps us write obituaries and
even brings the deceased to life based on their
previous recordings or preserved photos. The
topic of death has become more present in our
lives "thanks to" the pandemic, the climate crisis,
the war in Ukraine, the conflict in the Middle East...
We talk more willingly and with less taboo about
death, dedicating more attention to mourning and
psychological support during this time.
These are my observations, but what do
FIAT-IFTA members have to say?
In this issue of THANOS magazine, we pose the
question of changing funeral customs – what
matters the most: tradition or modernity? We
wanted to know the opinions, perspectives,
insights, and experiences of our members
regarding the changes in funeral customs and
what actions they are taking to meet the new
expectations of families. What do our members
say? You will find the statements below and on
the following pages of this issue of THANOS
magazine.
FUNERALS OF THE FUTURE
WILL WE KEEP OUR HUMANITY IN THE DIGITAL AGE?
By Katarzyna Supa, funeral innovation researcher,
editor-in-chief THANOS magazine
Photo: Jon Tyson on Unsplash
10
No. 104 – WINTER 2023 | THANOS MAGAZINE
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