Exercise: Cultural Diversity in Funerals / Cultural Awareness To best complete this exercise, save the document to your desktop, fill in the information and answers to the questions, save and close it, then email it to: msfda@msfda.net. Once the completed exercise is received by the Association, you will be notified of your successful completion. No more than five (5) incorrect answers are allowed. If more than five (5) errors occur you will be contacted to redo the exercise. Upon successful completion and receipt of your payment to MSFDA, you will be awarded your continuing education certificate which will be emailed to the course participant. Name: Funeral Home: Email Address: Phone #: FD License #1/State: FD License #2/State: FD License #3/State: Academy of Professional Funeral Service Practitioner (APFSP) #: 1. In the Buddhist culture: A. The decedent is often dressed in ceremonial garments. B. Grains of rice or a gold coin are often placed in the decedent s mouth. C. The casket is surrounded with wreaths, candles and sticks of incense that burn during the viewing and funeral service. D. All of the above E. None of the above 2. In the Buddhist tradition, tables are used for incense that will burn throughout the viewing and service, and also for gifts of food. 3. As part of the committal service in a Buddhist service, once the hearse has reached the cemetery, a person will throw paper into the air until they get to the gravesite. This paper represents: A. Gemstones B. Virtues C. Money D. All of the above E. None of the above April 2014 (Format revised 2-2015) Page 1 of 6
4. Once at the gravesite, the Buddhist tradition is to burn the paper money and personal items until they turn to ash. 5. In the Chinese tradition, frequently there are various items placed into the casket, such as: A. Clothing B. Money C. Stock certificates D. Personal items F. None of the above 6. The two types of Chinese services are: A. Christian and Hindu B. Buddhist and Hindu C. Buddhist and Christian 7. A traditional Chinese burial will always conclude with a committal service. 8. In a Chinese burial, family members will toss the following into the grave: A. Flowers B. Hair ribbons C. Veils D. Armbands 9. It is customary for those attending a Chinese burial to linger at the gravesite. April 2014 (Format revised 2-2015) Page 2 of 6
10. Chinese services that conclude with cremation require that the family accompany the decedent to the cremator and the youngest child will often start the cremator. 11. Regardless of the type of Chinese service, all attendees are given an envelope containing: A. A dime, a stick of gum and a photo of the decedent. B. A quarter, a piece of hard candy and a thank you note. C. A penny, a mint and a pen. 12. Greek Orthodox services are similar to other Christian services however they will differ in the rituals performed during the visitation at the funeral home as well as the church. 13. During a Greek Orthodox visitation, the family will place an icon, sometimes a family heirloom, on the back right corner of the casket. 14. A Trisagion or Thrice-Holy service is: A. Derived from the prayer, Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. B. Served at the place where the deceased lies. C. Both A and B D. None of the above 15. In a Greek Orthodox funeral service, the casket is moved up onto the altar and then turned perpendicular to the altar. 16. At the conclusion of the Greek Orthodox committal service at the cemetery, it is customary that everyone passes by the casket and places a flower on the casket, which is typically led by the family. April 2014 (Format revised 2-2015) Page 3 of 6
17. A Jewish burial service is generally conducted 24-36 hours after death. 18. Rituals followed to prepare the body for a Jewish service and burial include: A. The Shomer or watchman stays with the deceased from the time of death until funeral and burial. B. The Chevra Kadisha will perform the Tahara or ritual bathing of the body. C. Both A and B D. None of the above 19. The Jewish tradition also calls for a simple wooden casket made with metal parts. 20. The ritual of K riah, or rending of the garment, is also performed during a Jewish funeral service. While this is an ancient custom where clothing is torn, today, people attach a black ribbon to the outside of their clothing. When people see the ribbon, it is a sign that the person is mourning. 21. The Jewish custom has the decedent s mourners accompany the deceased to their final resting place and: A. Recite the Kaddish prayer before the casket has been lowered. B. Recite the Kaddish after the casket has been lowered, but before the grave is filled. C. Recite the Kaddish after the casket has been lowered and the grave filled. 22. Shiva means seven and is the period of mourning immediately following the burial, with the day of burial counting as the first day of Shiva. April 2014 (Format revised 2-2015) Page 4 of 6
23. Korean funeral customs dictate that the funeral is generally held the third day after death. Prior to the funeral, which of the following DOES NOT occur in preparing the body: A. The body is washed with incense water and dressed in clothing that has been especially prepared for burial. B. The ears and nose are plugged with cotton. C. Coins are placed over the eyes and rice is placed in the mouth. D. Candles are placed around the casket and are burned throughout the service. E. A quilt is often placed over the body. 24. During a Korean funeral service, individuals will pay their condolences to family members, then bow to the picture of the deceased five times, and then bow once to the chief mourners. 25. During a Korean funeral service, a table or altar is placed near the casket to be filled with symbolic offerings such as: A. Fruit B. Rice/rice bowl C. Incense D. Boiled eggs 26. Muslim services are typically conducted within one to three days however it can be the same day as the death occurred. 27. In preparing the decedent for a Muslim service, which of the following is done: A. The deceased is shrouded in linens provided by the family. B. The shroud is tied at the head and feet with a piece of cloth from the same shroud. C. Generally an inexpensive cloth covers the casket. D. None of the above April 2014 (Format revised 2-2015) Page 5 of 6
28. In Muslim tradition, the casket is very often placed in front of the congregation and some sects will require the casket be placed on the floor so that people can walk all the way around it. 29. In the final disposition of a Muslim burial, mourners walk in front of or beside the casket and each person shares in filling the grave by pouring handfuls of soil into the grave. How many handfuls of soil are poured: A. Five B. Four C. Three D. Two Added note: The information contained in this course serves a general resource. Always check with the clergy or organization regarding any specific issues or restrictions related to the delivery of services, including removal, preparation, visitation and/or funeral service, etc. Thank you for participating in this online course. Be sure that all questions are answered. Once completed, save your exercise and email it as an attachment to msfda@msfda.net. Your exercise will be reviewed and the results will be emailed to you. Once the course fee is paid, a CE certificate indicating the successful completion of this course will be emailed to you directly. April 2014 (Format revised 2-2015) Page 6 of 6