3 Tips to help you prepare for a hospital funeral, funeral ceremony, hospital discharge process, and advantages

After the death of a loved one, many families face the challenge of arranging a funeral. With the change in funeral culture, there is a new funeral service called “Home Delivery”, which as the name suggests, means direct delivery from hospitals or public mortuaries. This is not only affordable but also shortens the funeral time, and has become a new choice for families in Hong Kong. In this article, we will discuss in depth what is “discharge from hospital” and the advantages and disadvantages of this mode of funeral. At the same time, we will provide you with three important steps to help you prepare for the funeral and handle the related documents.

Is it good to have Hospital Funeral

When families are choosing a hospital funeral service, they often ask if it is a decent option. However, the location and price of the funeral do not directly represent the quality of the hospital funeral service. The most important thing is that the family can afford the cost and at the same time, the funeral can be properly organized, so as to send off the deceased with peace of mind. There is no best service, only the most suitable undertaker.

Hospital Funeral Process

1. Remains identification, cleansing and changing of clothes The family will first claim the body at the mortuary of the hospital. The body will be cleaned, dressed and made up to ensure that the deceased leaves the hospital looking his or her best. This step is usually handled by a professional funeral service provider to ensure that all details are properly arranged.

2. Farewell Ceremony and Funeral

   Next, the family can hold a simple farewell ceremony in the hospital chapel. The process includes viewing of the body, casket covering and funeral. The whole process is usually completed within half an hour for the convenience of the family, relatives and friends.

3. Proceed to Crematorium or Cemetery

   Finally, the deceased will be taken to the crematorium or cemetery for cremation or burial. This step is usually arranged by a licensed funeral service provider to ensure that all the procedures are carried out smoothly, so that the family does not have to worry about the details that follow.

Religious Ritual Options for Hospital Funeral Service

• Christian and Catholic Rites

  In Hong Kong, Christian and Catholic services are the more common choices for hospital funerals. Both the Christian Sabbath and Catholic Farewell Ceremony can be conducted in the hospital chapel.

• Taoist and Buddhist Ceremonies

  Taoist and Buddhist rituals can also be performed at discharge funerals. These ceremonies usually include a simple chanting of sutras and a path-opening ceremony to pray for the deceased's peace and tranquility on the other side of the world.

• Non-Religious Ceremonies

  For families with no religious beliefs or who do not wish to have a religious ceremony, there is the option of a non-religious ceremony. This type of ceremony is usually more personalized and can be arranged according to the deceased's preference, such as playing his/her favorite music, displaying photographs, and so on.

Advantages of Direct Hospital Funeral

• Shorter time

  Direct Funeral Service in Hospital allows family members to complete most of the funeral procedures in the hospital, reducing the hassle of traveling to and from the funeral parlors, which is especially suitable for families with time constraints or mobility problems.

• Affordable

  Compared with traditional funeral parlors, the cost of a hospital funeral is relatively low, which reduces the financial burden on the family.

• Free Hospital Chapel

  In most public hospitals, there are dedicated chapels for families to conduct simple religious ceremonies and farewell activities. These chapels usually have a capacity of 10 to 20 persons and provide a private and solemn environment for families and relatives to say goodbye to the deceased in a peaceful atmosphere.

Notes on Direct Hospital Funeral

Prohibition of Incense and Candle Burning

Due to safety concerns and space constraints, hospitals generally prohibit the burning of joss sticks or joss paper indoors. Families can choose to use the joss sticks or joss paper outside. This arrangement is not only in line with the modern concept of environmental protection, but also makes the farewell ceremony more simple.

How much does a hospital funeral cost?

Reasonable Charges for General Packages

The charges of hospital discharge packages usually range from $12,800 to $17,180. Most of the packages include basic services such as casket, funeral hearse, etc. However, some low-cost packages may not include cremation fee and death certificate. However, some low-cost packages may not include cremation fee and death certificate, for which family members have to pay extra.

3 Points of Attention for Funeral Preparation

1. Do not measure service quality by price

   Some practitioners in the market offer low prices to attract customers, but the actual services provided are not comprehensive enough and families may have to pay more to organize the funeral properly.

2. Find out whether the hospital provides a venue for the deceased's funeral.

   Not all public hospitals in Hong Kong provide solemn venues for family members to use. In order to avoid any gap between the funeral venue and the family's expectation, it is recommended that the family should make detailed enquiries with the hospital beforehand.

3. Eligibility of Funeral Service Providers

   Families should verify whether the service providers are qualified as there are only 136 licensed undertakers of burials in Hong Kong. Mistaking others may cause unnecessary losses to the family.

What kind of people are suitable for a funeral?

Families may refer to the following examples to assess whether it is appropriate to hold a hospital funeral service for the deceased:

• Case (1):

  Deceased: Mr. Chan

  Age: 90

  Religion: Christian

  Attendance: 15 persons

  Conclusion: Suitable for hospital funeral service.

• Case (2):

  Deceased: Mr. Leung

  Age: 85

  Religion: Christian

  Attendance: 30 persons

  Conclusion: Due to the large number of people, it is recommended to choose to hold the resting ceremony at a funeral parlor or a church.

Disposal of Ashes

Upon completion of the funeral service at the hospital, family members can choose traditional cremation or earth burial, as well as garden burial and scattering of cremated ashes at sea, which are promoted by the FEHD. These options not only save land resources, but also reduce the burden on the environment, making the farewell of the deceased more environmentally friendly.