Acting as a pallbearer is regarded as a role of privilege, honor, and respect at funerals. You should feel honored to carry the coffin or casket of someone’s loved one — it’s a duty that not many people will have in life. Being selected as a pallbearer means that the family trusts you.
The pallbearers will carry the coffin or casket to the final resting place for the deceased person, and it takes 4, 6, or 8 people to carry a coffin. Pallbearers have to move coffins or caskets between different places — from the funeral home to the hearse, and from the hearse to the church or crematorium.
It may sound simple from a distance — you lift and move forward. However, you will be carrying with other people, so you will have to synchronize your movements, lift the weight without causing injury, and so on.
How is your physical health? Have you had any recent neck, shoulder, knee, or back injuries that carrying the casket may aggravate?You shouldn't accept carrying the coffin if you're risking your health — it could lead to unpleasant accidents in the middle of the ceremony and even cause injury to the other pallbearers.
You lift the coffin or casket together and carry it on the shoulders, and lower it together with your hands under the coffin or casket. A shoulder carry looks more impressive, but it will put more strain on the shoulders and upper arms. If the ground is uneven and slippery, carrying the casket on shoulders is safer too.
It's also wise to plan out the lifting — see that the pathway is clear, above your head and underfoot. Avoid slippery areas, low-hanging doorways, uneven ground, and steps. Pallbearers must have similar heights too, with shorter people going at the foot end of the coffin or casket and taller people at the head end.
It's the deceased's body that you have to lift and carry — together with the coffin or casket itself — and the latter can be very heavy. It can weigh up to 180kg, in which case six or eight people will be needed for carrying the coffin or casket.
You should always walk slowly, as it's both respectful and practical. If you're taking too large steps, one of the pallbearers may not keep up. The foot end always comes first, not the head. The coffin or casket should always have the foot end towards the driver — it's a symbolic step reminding us of a person walking, and it reduces the body's risk of purging. Always maintain the head raised so that fluids are kept down
It's difficult but crucial — mainly for aesthetical reasons, and so you don't tread on someone else's toes. Simply copy the pallbearer in front of you, moving as and when they're moving. If you're at the front of the casket, pay attention to the person leading (the priest or funeral director). While climbing or descending stairs, maintain the casket as level as you can — and ensure that nothing on top of the casket, such as flower arrangements, will fall.
The clockwise movement has a symbolic meaning — reminding us of the moving of life, resembling the clock turning and time passing. Plus, if all pallbearers know they always rotate clockwise, there will be no misunderstanding when having to turn during the service.
You should hold the handle with just one hand when carrying the casket — you may only use both hands when picking up or putting down the casket. Holding the handle with both hands is awkward and inefficient. Use the hand closest to the casket and change regularly with the pallbearer on the opposite side for a comfortable carry.
Most of the time, the funeral conductor will tell you exactly what to do. If you don't know what to do, it's better not to do anything. Pay attention and wait for the signal without getting nervous. Stay still and only move when instructed — you don't want to add an unpleasant moment to the funeral. It's emotionally draining as it is.
Carrying the casket is a big responsibility, but you shouldn't stress too much. You will have other people helping you, and the risk of dropping the casket is relatively low. Even if a handle comes off, the other pallbearers will be there. Tripping or falling when carrying the casket will rarely happen — trust your team and breathe.
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