Talk as a family beforehand (when possible): making it clear that you don’t want money, jewelry, or personal belongings in the coffin prevents conflicts and guilt later.
If it’s already happened and things have been placed in the coffin, don’t live in fear: focus your energy on what does help: prayer, service, charity, and family support.
At the wake, avoid turning the farewell into a “museum of belongings.” A dignified farewell is sober and humane.
If the family has doubts, the wisest course of action is to consult a trusted religious leader from their community.
Instead of spending money on objects to “bury,” consider doing something better: helping someone in need in memory of the deceased. This comforts the living and honors the one who has passed.
Saying goodbye to a loved one isn’t about “equipping” them for the afterlife, but about accompanying them with faith and letting them depart unburdened. What sustains the soul isn’t material possessions: it’s prayer, love, mercy, and hope. And what heals the living is not clinging to things, but learning to let go peacefully.
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