Mennonite (Amish) Funeral Rites

Question 1

A denomination of evangelical Protestent Christians who settled in the United States in 1683 in Pennslyvania.

• Spread to Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, and Kansas.
  
  • Exception: Old Order Amish- move westward.
• Adjust to practices in new environments.

Answer 1

Mennonite or Amish Denomination

Question 2

• The Mennonite church
• Conservative Amish
• Old Order Amish
• Church of God in Christ
• Old Order Mennonite
• Reformed Mennonite
• Mennonite Bretheren Church
• Mennonite Bretheren in Christ
• Defenseless Mennonites
• General Conference of Mennonites
• Hutterian Bretheren
• Krimmer Brueder Gemeinde

Answer 2

Major Bodies of Mennonites and Amish

These are Distinguishable in Name Only

Question 3

Known for their extreme conservative view.

• Most widely known body
• Separation of church and state
• refusal to take oaths
• Refusal to take up arms against others
• Protest of slavery

Answer 3

Mennonite Church and the Old Order Amish

Question 4

• Ministry consists of Bishops or Elders, ministers who are pastors, or evangelists and deacons who take charge of congregations in the absence of the minister or Bishop.
• Death often occurs in hospital or deceased’s residence. Few occur in nursing homes (due to strong family committments).
• Family or experience with local customs will guide the funeral director as to the appropriate time to notify the clergy.

Answer 4

Notification of the Clergy

Question 5

• No specific requirements or restrictions from the church.
• Specific circumstances surrounding the particular death, the length of illness, whether or not the deceased had been under a physician’s care, and whether or not an autopsy is to be performed, would all be factors affecting possible restriction of the removal from the place of death.

Answer 5

Removal of the Remains

Question 6

• No specfic restrictions
• Embalming is acceptable

Answer 6

Preparation of the Remains

Question 7

• White underwear and stockings
• Casket is family’s choice. In some areas the “coffin” is still used.
• Dressed in long gown, the top (or exposed) portion resenbling a shirt with a pleat instaed of buttons. Alternatively, a white shirt, white trousers, and a white vest. (men)
• Long white gown and a white cape. (women)
• Sons may be responsible for dressing fathers, dughters for mothers.

Answer 7

Dressing and Casketing the Remains

Question 8

• Visitation for friends and neighbors may be held for one or two days prior to the service. May take place in a residence.
• If at church, a procession from home to the church is traditional.
• Funeral procession with a horse drawn hearse (or wagon), with the family and friends following in horse drawn buggies, the standard means of transportation for them today.

Answer 8

Pre-Service Considerations

Question 9

• At church or deceased’s residence
• If the congregation is largly from a German background, the service may be conducted in German.
• More conservative groups- men seated on one side of the church with the women and young seated on the other side.

Answer 9

The Funeral Service

Question 10

• Procession may be by automobile or horse drawn equipment.
• Coffin may be placed in a traditional outer enclosure for burial or in some instances a rough wooden box.
• After this, family returns to the church or residence for a meal.
• Particular branch determines type of service held.

Answer 10

The Committal Service