Funeral traditions begin before the individual dies. Death is considered a part of life, and people who are terminally ill or aging reach out to the church for support. When someone dies, loved ones —family and friends, neighbours, and church members— need space to grieve, to remember the deceased, and to give thanks to God for their loved one’s life. A church funeral service is an important part of the grieving process. We at Mount Olivet do not have extremely strict rules about what is or isn’t allowed at a Lutheran funeral, so traditions can vary. We welcome you to have a conversation with our pastor about how best to honour your loved one. For more information, please contact the pastor via church office.