WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AN ACTIVE PALLBEARER AND AN HONORARY PALLBEARER?
An active pallbearer is one who actually assists in the physical act of carrying the deceaseds casket. Active pallbearers may carry as many as four different times during the course of a funeral. (Out of the funeral home, into church, out of church, and to the grave at the cemetery.) Carrying the casket does require some degree of physical strength as some caskets can weigh 500 pounds or more. An Honorary pallbearer is one who, for various reasons, is not asked to physically carry the casket, but rather walk ahead of the casket in the procession, in honor of the deceased. Active pallbearers usually number from 6-8 people, but there is no limit as to the number of honorary pallbearers which may be used.
