Amish Funerals and Beliefs - Part 1
As we find ourselves in the heart of Winter, we hope this newsletter finds you well and in good spirits. The New Year has brought us chilly weather and a reminder of the warmth that community and traditions provide. This past week, a large part of our Amish community braved the cold to attend a significant funeral in a neighboring community. The man, who owned a sawmill, had many friends and family spread across several towns. In light of this event, we thought it would be meaningful to share a glimpse into how death and funerals are viewed from the perspective of the Amish community.
The Amish community holds deep and profound beliefs about death and the afterlife. They believe that all men who have died will be awakened and raised up at the last day by the incomprehensible power of God. Repentance and forgiveness of sins are central to their faith, and they believe firmly in Heaven and Hell. These beliefs provide a sense of peace and purpose, guiding their daily lives and decisions.
When it comes to funerals, the Amish have a set of customs and rituals that reflect their commitment to community and simplicity. The funeral process usually begins with the washing and dressing of the deceased in clean clothes. This task is sometimes performed by the funeral home, but often the family takes part after the embalming has been done. The timeline from death to burial is typically three to four days, sometimes longer.
The funeral service itself is a large gathering, often attended by neighboring communities as well. A potluck lunch is brought in by the community, ensuring that the bereaved family is supported and nourished during this difficult time. The direct family is the last to view the body, and singing is a significant part of the burial service at the graveyard. One commonly sung hymn is "Good Night, My Loved Ones," found in the large book "Our Heritage, Hope and Faith."
Church leaders play a crucial role in the funeral process, leading in worship and preaching the sermon. The community comes together to support the bereaved family by providing food, meals, and even gifts and scrapbooks. Prayers are offered, and it is not uncommon for families to receive cards and tokens of sympathy.
Maintaining gravesites and cemeteries is a communal effort. Members take turns mowing and upkeeping the cemeteries. In some communities, the responsibility falls on whoever last hosted church services. The gravestones themselves are simple, usually bearing the inscription "In Loving Memory of:" followed by the name, birthdate, and date of death.
Children in the Amish community learn about death and funerals through real-life experiences, attending funerals, and teachings at church and home. Books and stories also play a role in educating them about these aspects of life.
Stories from Our Amish Basket Weavers
Here are a few happenings the families dedicated to weaving the beautiful baskets featured on AmishBaskets.com have shared with us this week.
The Mast Family
This week, the ice on the ponds came close to being ready for cutting, but the Mast family decided to wait a bit longer out of an abundance of caution. The community member who owns the saw has become more cautious after an incident a few years ago when the ice partially collapsed, causing his saw to get stuck and requiring a team of horses to pull it out. Meanwhile, the children enjoyed some ice skating while waiting for the perfect conditions for ice cutting. The Mast family is eager and hopeful that next week will be the right time to begin this annual tradition.
The Yoder Family
The Yoder family, like the other families, spent much of December busy with basketmaking. This week, they took the opportunity to clean out their chimneys and stovepipes, preparing for the colder weather. They also stocked up on firewood and started up their living room stove for extra warmth, a rare occurrence as they usually rely on the kitchen stove. To protect their firewood from the elements, they tarped the woodpile, despite only receiving a light dusting of the predicted heavy snow. The Yoders enjoyed the cozy warmth of their home, sharing stories by the fire in the evenings.
The Gingerich Family
The Gingerich family is trying a new method to fill their icehouse this winter. They purchased 90 square tubs and plan to fill them with water, letting them freeze before repeating the process until the icehouse is stocked. Early in the week, they took extra precautions by covering their shelves of canned goods in the basement with old blankets. Their walk-in basement opens to the North, and past experiences have taught them that sustained frigid winds can cause jars to freeze and burst. The Gingerich family is hopeful that their new approach will keep their icehouse well-stocked and their canned goods safe this winter.
"The right temperature at home is maintained by warm hearts, not hot heads."
— Amish Wisdom
