Funeral Procession

Being part of a funeral procession can be a great honour, but it can be intimidating if you’ve never been a part of one before. Here you’ll find everything you need to know about funeral processions in Australia, including what they are, what typical funeral procession etiquette is, and what you need to know if you’re going to be part of one.

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What is a Funeral Procession?

You’ll typically find a funeral procession formed as a family follows their loved one from a funeral home or family home to their final resting place. Many funeral processions are an important part of a funeral and planned out beforehand, with a set path from A to B.

Typically, the hearse will lead the procession, followed by the family and close friends in their vehicles. Upon arrival at the ceremony location, the funeral director will lead the procession on foot.

Sometimes a funeral procession will be referred to as a funeral cortege.

What Is Funeral Procession Etiquette?

If you’ve been invited to join a funeral procession, it’s good to know what’s expected of you. While most processions are fairly straightforward, there are a few things you should know before the day.

Arriving early on the day will ensure you’re prepared for the procession. Sometimes the family will set an order of cars for the procession, or provide other information about parking or the route.If the family has provided the route for the procession before the day, checking it will make it easy to follow the procession and ensure you don’t get separated.

Finally, remember to keep an eye on the road. While funeral processions drive slowly and have right of way when it comes to traffic lights, it’s easy to get caught up and make a mistake when you’re driving very close to the car in front.

What do I do if I need to drive past a funeral procession?

While the road rules for funeral processions differ from state to state, it’s generally accepted that you shouldn’t drive through or interrupt the procession. Depending on where you are, you can be fined for this. Funeral processions generally have right of way on the roads, which means they can ignore red lights and other similar road rules. Drive carefully and safely and remember to give way, and the funeral procession will pass through.

If you can safely pass a funeral procession, it’s respectful to keep music and noise to a minimum and reduce your speed slightly while passing.

I'm Planning a Funeral Procession, What Should I Do?

While your funeral director will usually plan the funeral procession for you, you’re welcome to plan it yourself as well. Here are the things you need to remember:

Plan out your route. This can be straight from the funeral home to the funeral service, or it could include a stop along the way. Many people choose to drive past or stop at locations that are special to their loved one.

Set a time for the procession. Is it happening right after the initial ceremony? Before the ceremony? Maybe after morning tea? Setting a time will help things run smoothly throughout the whole day.

Plan an order for vehicles in the procession. Some families prefer to have family up front and friends behind, but you’re free to choose.

Let people know what the plan is. Write up the plan and map out the route in Google maps for people to look at before the day. While your funeral director can coordinate people on the day, everything goes a lot smoother when people know what’s happening beforehand.

Contact Kingston Funerals

If you have any more questions about funeral processions, talk to the team at Kingston Funerals. With more than 25 years of professional experience, we can help you plan out a funeral and procession to remember your loved one in a way that will honour their memory.