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Have individuals come to you asking how to navigate the overwhelming process of funeral preparation in the midst of their grief? What happens when the family’s views vary on the best funeral process? Should there be an open casket? In current Western society with its amalgamation of cultures and funeral practices, questions such as these can present confusion for the grieving and those supporting them. Awareness of a variety of funeral and memorial rites can inform and support the grief process. With improved information, families are able to make choices that allow the bereaved to receive support from meaningful symbols, familiar traditions, and the broader community. “By honoring the life of the deceased in community, grieving people connect with each other, provide support to their co-mourners and tell each other the stories of how life has been transformed ” (p. 65). William G. Hoy’s purpose in writing Do Funerals Matter? The Purposes and Practices of Death Rituals in Global Perspective “is to assist in acknowledging the need for those [funeral] rites and understanding them ” (p. 3). In the 10 chapters in this 208-page text, Hoy examines such topics as funeral practice history, common symbols, value o