Eastern Orthodox can be divided into several subcategories defined by ethnic, cultural and historic attributes. However, all Eastern Orthodox funerals are dominated by the idea that the deceased will be entering heaven or hell.

There are general guidelines governing the presentation of flowers for funerals conducted under this faith.

If you are to attend an Eastern Orthodox funeral service, it is best to wear formal dark clothing, preferably in dark navy or black. The service will have an open casket display, which attendees must go up to. Respects are paid to the deceased by bowing down in front of the casket and kissing the object that has been placed on their chest. This object is typically a cross.

Flowers may be sent to the location of the funeral service in the three days after the day of death and before the service. During these three days, the body will be on display. Sympathy flower arrangements appropriate for an Eastern Orthodox funeral are usually dominated by white flowers. If you are unable to attend the service, you may send flowers to the funeral home or to the home of the bereaved. You may also make a contribution to a charity or fund that has been selected by the bereaved.

Flowers are also required during the service. A single bloom is placed on the casket by each person in attendance.

Catholic funerals often vary in practices and customs. However, all ensure that the deceased enters heaven. Three fundamental parts exist: the Vigil, the Funeral Liturgy and the Rite of Committal.

The Vigil
This is more commonly known as the wake. It can be held as early as the morning after the deceased has passed away, or in the days following.

After the passing of the deceased, friends and family gather to reflect and express their condolences to the bereaved. It may include prayers, readings from the Scriptures, and a viewing (i.e. an open casket). Often, the Vigil is held at the home of the deceased or where the funeral Mass is to take place.

The Funeral Liturgy
This is the actual funeral service. The high points are the liturgy and the funeral Mass.

In moderation, sympathy flowers, especially freshly cut ones, are acceptable at a funeral Mass. Often, they are suitable for the Vigil as well.

The celebration of Mass is a key part of the funeral liturgy. It is important to remember that usually only Christian symbols are allowed on or near the casket, so. Modest, tributes,  standing sprays and wreaths are suitable as sympathy flowers. Common types of flowers used for such arrangements are roses, carnations and lilies.

The funeral Mass is then followed by the Final Commendation.

The Final Commendation is the prayer in which the people gathered commend the deceased into God’s hands. This will happen around the end of the funeral liturgy. Alternatively, it can be performed during
burial at the Rite of Committal.

The Rite of Committal
This last service is conducted at the final resting place of the deceased.

After the burial of the deceased, a reception may be held where refreshments are served. However, this varies widely and depends upon the family of the deceased.

After the Funeral
Sometimes sympathy flowers may also be sent after the funeral to the home of the bereaved. However, if in doubt, arrange to have them sent for the funeral Mass or Vigil.

416-FLORIST has provided funeral and sympathy flowers for years to several funeral homes in the Greater Toronto Area.

In the event the location of a funeral service is unknown, we can find out if it is taking place at one of the funeral homes we have listed here. We can also find out the time and date so that sympathy floral arrangements may be sent to promptly comfort the bereaved.

In Toronto:
Bates and Dodds Funeral Home : 931 Queen St. W., Toronto, Ontario.
Bernardo Funeral Home, Dufferin Chapel : 2960 Dufferin St., Toronto, Ontario.
Bernardo Funeral Home, Albion Chapel : 855 Albion Rd.,Toronto, Ontario.
Cardinal Funeral Home, Bathurst Chapel : 366 Bathurst St.,Toronto, Ontario.
Cardinal Funeral Home, Annette Chapel : 92 Annette St.,Toronto, Ontario.
Cardinal Funeral Home,Earle Elliott Chapel:715 Dovercourt Rd.,Toronto,On.
Delmoro Funeral Home,Beverly Hills Chapel :61 Beverly Hills Dr.,Toronto,On.
Demarco Funeral Home, Keele Chapel : 3725 Keele St.,Toronto, Ontario.
Demarco Funeral Home, Kipling Chapel : 2058 Kipling Ave.,Toronto, Ontario.
Eternity Funeral Home: 1491 Danforth Ave., Toronto, Ontario.
Giffen Mack Funeral Home, Danforth Chapel: 2570 Danforth Ave., Toronto, Ontario.
Giffen Mack Funeral Home, Lawrence Chapel: 4115 Lawrence Ave. E., Toronto, Ontario.
Heritage Funeral Home: 50 Overlea Blvd., Toronto, Ontario.
Highland Funeral Home: 3280 Sheppard Ave. E., Toronto, Ontario.
Highland Memory Gardens Funeral Home: 33 Memory Gardens Lane, Toronto, Ontario.
Hogle Funeral Home, Mimico Chapel : 63 Mimico Ave., Toronto, Ontario.
Hogle Funeral Home, Wignall Chapel : 62 Longbranch Ave., Toronto, Ontario.
Humphreys Funeral Home, A.W. Miles Chapel : 1403 Bayview Ave., Toronto, Ontario.
Ingram Funeral Home, Cheung On Chapel : 1055 Gerrard St. E., Toronto, Ontario.
Ingram Funeral Home, Wing On Chapel : 665 Spadina Ave., Toronto, Ontario.
Jerrett Funeral Home, St. Clair Chapel : 1141 St. Clair Ave. W., Toronto, Ontario.
Jerrett Funeral Home, Yonge St. Chapel : 6191 Yonge St., Toronto, Ontario.
Jerrett Funeral Home, Kennedy Chapel : 660 Kennedy Rd., Toronto, Ontario.
Kane Funeral Home, R.S. Kane Chapel : 6150 Yonge St., Toronto, Ontario.
Lynett Funeral Home: 3299 Dundas St. W., Toronto, Ontario.
McDougall & Brown Funeral Home,Kingston Rd.Chapel:2900 Kingston Rd, Toronto,Ontario.
McDougall & Brown Funeral Home,Eglinton Chapel:1812 Eglinton Ave. W, Toronto,Ontario.
Miller A. Roy Funeral Home: 1695 St. Clair Ave. W., Toronto, Ontario.
Morley Bedford Funeral Home : 159 Eglinton Ave. W., Toronto, Ontario.
Murray Newbigging Funeral Home: 733 Mt. Pleasant Rd., Toronto, Ontario.
Newediuk Funeral Home, Kipling Chapel : 2104 Kipling Ave., Toronto, Ontario.
O’Connor Bros Funeral Home : 1871 Danforth Ave., Toronto, Ontario.
Ogden Funeral Home, Sheppard Chapel : 4164 Sheppard Ave. E., Toronto, Ontario.
Ogden Funeral Home, St. Clair : 646 St. Clair Ave. W., Toronto, Ontario.
Paul O’Connor Funeral Home : 1939 Lawrence Ave. E., Toronto, Ontario.
Pine Hills Chapel Funeral Home : 625 Birchmount Rd., Toronto, Ontario.
R. S. Kane Funeral Home : 6150 Yonge St., Toronto, Ontario.
Ralph Day Funeral Home : 180 Danforth Ave., Toronto, Ontario.
Ridley Funeral Home : 3080 Lakeshore Blvd. W., Toronto, Ontario.
Rosar Morrison Funeral Home : 467 Sherbourne St., Toronto, Ontario.
Ross Craig Funeral Home : 1357 Queen St. W., Toronto, Ontario.
Ryan & Odette Funeral Home : 1498 Dundas St. W., Toronto, Ontario.
Scarborough Funeral Home : 2966 Eglinton Ave. E., Toronto, Ontario.
Scott Funeral Home, Weston Rd. Chapel: 1273 Weston Rd., Toronto, Ontario.
Sherrin Funeral Home : 873 Kingston Rd., Toronto, Ontario.
Simple Alternative Funeral Home, North York Chapel: 275 Lesmill Rd., Toronto, Ontario.
Speers Funeral Home : 2926 Dundas St. W., Toronto, Ontario.
Trull Funeral Home, Yonge St. Chapel : 2704 Yonge St., Toronto, Ontario.
Trull Funeral Home, Danforth Chapel : 1111 Danforth Ave., Toronto, Ontario.
Turner & Porter Funeral Home, York Chapel : 2357 Bloor St. W., Toronto, Ontario.
Turner & Porter Funeral Home, Roncesvalles Chapel: 436 Roncesvalles Ave., Toronto, Ontario.
Turner & Porter Funeral Home, Butler Chapel : 4933 Dundas St. W., Toronto, Ontario.
Ward Funeral Home, Weston Rd. Chapel : 2035 Weston Rd., Toronto, Ontario.
Washington & Johnson Funeral Home : 717 Queen St. E., Toronto, Ontario.
Wing Sung Funeral Home : 508 Spadina Ave., Toronto, Ontario.
York Cemetery Chapel Funeral Home : 101 Senlac Rd. , Toronto, Ontario

MARKHAM:
Chapel Ridge Funeral Home : 8911 Woodbine Ave., Toronto, Ontario.
Dixon-Garland Funeral Home : 166 Main St. N., Toronto, Ontario.

RICHMOND HILL:
Elgin Mills Chapel Funeral Home : 1591 Elgin Mills E., Toronto, Ontario.
Marshall Funeral Home : 10366 Yonge St., Toronto, Ontario.

THORNHILL:
Hong Kong Funeral Home, Jerrett Chapel Funeral Home : 8088 Yonge St., Toronto, Ontario.
York Family Funeral Home : 8088 Yonge St., Toronto, Ontario.

WOODBRIDGE:
Demarco Funeral Home : 8003 Weston Rd., Toronto, Ontario (130 Jevlan Dr., Toronto, Ontario.
Fratelli & Vescio Funeral Home : 8101 Weston Rd., Toronto, Ontario.
Ward Funeral Home : 4671 Hwy 7, Toronto, Ontario.

AJAX:
Accetone Funeral Home : 384 Finley Ave., Toronto, Ontario.
McEachnie Funeral Home : 28 Old Kingston Rd., Toronto, Ontario.

PICKERING:
Simple Alternative Funeral Home : 1057 Brock Rd., Toronto, Ontario.

OSHAWA:
Armstrong Funeral Home :124 King Street East, Oshawa , Ontario
McIntosh Anderson Funeral Home : 152 King St. E., Oshawa, Ontario.
Oshawa Funeral Service Funeral Home : 847 King St. W., Oshawa, Ontario.

WHITBY:
Town Funeral Home : 110 Dundas St. E., Toronto, Ontario.

MISSISSAUGA:
Banisasia Funeral Home : 3263 Derry Rd. E., Toronto, Ontario.
Newediuk Funeral Home : 1981 Dundas St. W., Toronto, Ontario.
Scott Funeral Home : 420 Dundas St. E., Toronto, Ontario.
Simple Alternative Funeral Home : 1535 South Gateway Rd. , Toronto, Ontario.
Skinner & Middlebrook Funeral Home : 128 Lakeshore Rd. E., Toronto, Ontario.
Turner & Porter Funeral Home, Peel Chapel : 2180 Hurontario St., Toronto, Ontario.

BRAMPTON:
Andrews Community Funeral Home : 8190 Dixie Rd., Toronto, Ontario.
Scott Funeral Home : 289 Main St. N., Toronto, Ontario.
Ward Funeral Home : 52 Main St. S., Toronto, Ontario.