[Vocabulary] Funeral or Memorial?

[Rock Girl]

What's the difference between funeral and memorial?

I mean if one passes away, I'd better to say "I'm going to his/her funeral/ memorial?"

thanks,;-)

 

[SoothingDave]

At a funeral, the body is there.

 

[Ouisch]

In the US, a funeral involves a religious service followed by the actual burial of the casket at the cemetery. A memorial is a gathering (sometimes religious, sometimes not) of friends and family of the deceased. There is no procession to the cemetery and no burial.

 

[Rover_KE]

It's the same in the UK, except that it's more usual to cremate the coffin at the crematorium.

Rover

 

[Rock Girl]

thank you all,
you're a great help!!! ;-)