Does a Jewish funeral always have to take place on the day of death or even within 24 hours?

The rule or general custom which should be followed is to schedule a funeral to take place without ‘undo’ delay after the demise. Therefore, because most chapels make it possible to make these arrangements most funerals are held on the day following a death. There are circumstances that may nevertheless prevent quick interment which may not be avoided or overcome. The most common are: Sabbath or Traditional Holiday restrictions ~ Waiting for a mourner, as is defined by Jewish Law, to arrive for the funeral ~ A cemetery not permitting same or next day burial due to union contract limitations or management rules ~ A medical facility or medical examiner not issuing the required death certificate or transfer documents on time ~ The additional period of time required for interstate shipping from a place of death or to the place of burial which may even be overseas ~ The inability to locate the legal next of kin or an executor/executrix of a Last Will and Testament to authorize and take ...  more