Modern Day Death Rituals

       Last week I touched on an essay by Patricia Goldey that discussed the traditions that take place in Portugal when someone dies. These rituals served as past and present traditions. This week I researched based on a website I had found called SPN Funeral Plans LDA. This website lays out the steps that one would take when a loved one dies.

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       It begins by distinguishing between an at home death and one that occurs in a hospital. When someone dies at home, if they have been recently seen by a doctor then that doctor would need to be notified and would come to remove the body. If the deceased had not been seen by a doctor then the police would need to be informed and they would come to remove the body from the home. In either case, unless foul play was suggested, the body would be taken to the Tanatorio, or the funeral parlour.

       Once the body is taken to the funeral parlour and the next of kin is notified (assuming they didn't already know) the family begins discussing funeral arrangements with the Tanatorio. They would meet with the director and fill out a Contract that establishes what is to happen to the body. The decision must be made between burial and cremation. Several questions would be asked at this point because if the ashes were to be tossed into the wind or buried, they would require two different types of urns. After a burial process is decided upon either the family or the Tanatorio would arrange the funeral service.

       Other details involved in the planning of the service include the cancellation of the deceased's passport, arranging for flowers or monetary donations, organizing a niche in the cemetery for the body to be placed into, and arranging for the payment to be received by the funeral parlour. The Tanatorio handles the arranging of the niche and can handle the ordering of flower arrangements. The family is required to handle monetary donations and making sure the parlour receives its payment.

       Once the funeral is arranged and taken care of the family is responsible for notifying the appropriate organizations and individuals of the death. These people require death certificates to be sent to them and these certificates must be signed by a judge. Death certificates can be obtained at the Civil Registry which is found at the Court Building. If any additional death certificates, beyond those that are originally allowed, are needed then the family must request them from the Civil Registry again.


       This website was useful in understanding the steps that are taken in Portugal today when someone dies and a funeral needs to be planned. The SPN Funeral Plans LDA is a company that was formed by a group of professionals. This website is clearly a promotional tool to help expand their business. Funeral plans can be applied for on the website and there is a hot line number to instantly connect you to a someone from the business. Despite the propaganda that this site uses, I felt like it was a worthwhile site to include in my research because it is a first hand source into what the funerary practices of Portugal are today. The fact that its a professional group of people who developed the site also made it seem more credible in my opinion.


Picture 1 - SPN Funeral Plans LDA header image from website http://www.spnfuneralplans.com/media/images/spn-header2.jpg

Source - SPN Funeral Plans LDA. "Death Procedures." SPN Funeral Plans LDA. http://www.spnfuneralplans-portugal.com/deathprocedures.html (accessed 9-27-13).