When someone we love passes away, there is often very little time to think, yet many decisions arrive all at once. Which rites to hold, where to have the wake, whether to bury or cremate, and how to honour a person’s faith are questions that can feel overwhelming in the middle of grief. Our team at Ang Brothers has walked beside Singapore families for more than 40 years, and we have learned that clear information brings a great deal of calm.
There is no single correct way to say goodbye. The right service is the one that reflects your loved one’s beliefs, your family’s wishes, and what you are able to manage. In this guide we explain the common types of funeral services in Singapore so you can weigh your options with confidence, whether you are planning ahead or arranging everything within a day.
Most funerals in Singapore follow the customs of a particular faith or community. Each tradition has its own rites, prayers, and length of wake, and our role is to prepare everything so the family can simply be present.
A Buddhist send off usually runs over three, five, or seven days, with monks or a chanting group leading prayers that guide the departed toward a peaceful rebirth. Families often prepare an altar, offerings, and vegetarian food for guests. We handle the setup, the coordination with the temple or chanting group, and the encoffining, so the household can focus on paying respects. You can read more on our Buddhist funeral services page.
Taoist rites are rich in symbolism and often vary by dialect group, whether Hokkien, Teochew, Cantonese, or Hakka. Priests perform rituals to help the soul on its journey, and there may be paper offerings, chanting, and specific customs on the final day. Because the details differ from one family to another, we take time to understand your dialect traditions before we begin. Our Taoist funeral services follow these customs closely.
A Christian funeral centres on a service of worship, with hymns, scripture, prayers, and a eulogy, often led by a pastor from the family’s church. The tone is one of comfort and hope. We coordinate with the church, arrange the wake, and prepare the hall so the service flows gently. See our Christian funeral services for what we cover.
A Catholic send off often includes a wake with prayers such as the rosary, followed by a funeral Mass at the parish church before the burial or cremation. We work alongside the parish and help the family observe each part of the rite with reverence. You will find more on our Catholic funeral services page.
Families of the Soka Gakkai tradition hold a service centred on chanting, led by fellow members rather than clergy. These send offs are usually simple and dignified, and we prepare the space and logistics so members can focus on the chanting and on supporting one another.
Not every family follows a religion, and a send off without religious rites can be just as meaningful. A free thinker service places the person’s life at the centre, with photographs, music, and words from family and friends. We help you shape a ceremony that feels true to who they were.
Some families prefer to forgo a wake entirely, either because their loved one wished for something quiet, or because relatives are few or spread across the world. Direct cremation is the simplest option, where we care for your loved one and proceed to cremation without a formal wake. It is gentle, private, and keeps arrangements light during a tender time. Our direct funeral services start from $1,400, and we can still arrange a small gathering later if the family wishes.
After a cremation, families choose a resting place that feels right for them. There is no need to settle this on the same day, and we are glad to talk through what each option involves.
Many families place the ashes in a niche at a government or private columbarium, giving relatives a fixed place to visit during Qing Ming and other occasions. We help with the booking and the installation.
Sea burial scatters the ashes in the waters off Singapore, a peaceful choice for those who love the openness of the sea. We arrange the boat, the permits, and a short ceremony on board.
Arranging a funeral, or not sure what to do next? Message us on WhatsApp or call 9871 8388. We answer at any hour.
Singapore also offers a dedicated garden for inland ash scattering, a serene setting among greenery. We guide you through the booking and accompany the family on the day.
Singapore is home to many families with roots and relatives overseas. When a loved one passes away far from home, or when someone here is to be laid to rest in another country, repatriation brings them where they belong. Our team manages the embalming, the documentation, the embassy coordination, and the airline arrangements from start to finish. You can learn more about our funeral repatriation services.
A wake is the time when family and friends gather to pay respects, share memories, and keep company with the departed before the final rites. In Singapore it usually lasts three to five days, though this varies by faith and by family. The venue depends on where you live and how many guests you expect.
For those in public housing, the void deck is a familiar and practical setting close to home. We apply for the space, set up the tentage, tables, and altar, and manage it around the clock.
A parlour offers a private, air conditioned hall with comfortable facilities, well suited to larger gatherings or to families who prefer an indoor setting.
Some families hold the wake in a landed home or a spacious apartment, keeping their loved one close in familiar surroundings. We adapt the setup to the space available.
No two families are the same, and no guide can capture every wish. Whatever tradition you follow and whatever your budget, we shape the arrangements around you, and we explain each cost clearly before anything is confirmed. A full wake with rites and catering starts from $5,388, and we are always ready to adjust the scope to suit your needs. Our fully inclusive funeral packages bring everything under one roof, so you make one call rather than many.
There is no need to have every answer at once. Once you call us, our team collects your loved one, secures the paperwork, and sits with you to explain the options at your pace. Many families settle the main decisions within a few hours, and we adjust the plan as we go.
Because land is limited here, most families choose cremation, after which the ashes rest in a columbarium niche, at sea, or in the inland scattering garden. Burial is available at Choa Chu Kang Cemetery, though graves are subject to an exhumation policy after a set number of years. We help you weigh both against your faith and your family’s wishes.
Costs depend on the faith, the venue, the number of days, and the rites involved. As a guide, our direct cremation starts from $1,400, while a full wake with rites and catering starts from $5,388. We always give a clear written quote before anything is confirmed, with no hidden charges.
Yes. We arrange free thinker and non religious send offs that celebrate a person’s life through photographs, music, and shared memories, without any religious rites. The ceremony is shaped entirely around your family.
A Buddhist funeral centres on chanting and merit to guide the departed toward a peaceful rebirth, and is usually more restrained. A Taoist funeral involves priests performing rites that vary by dialect group, with paper offerings and more elaborate ceremonies over several days.
Most Chinese wakes run for three, five or seven days, guided by prayer cycles and by the time relatives need to gather. Odd numbers of days are traditionally preferred.
Whatever your faith, budget, or wishes, our team is here to guide you with patience and care, at any hour of the day or night. Speak with us through our contact page, or call or WhatsApp our 24 hour hotline at 9871 8388 for a warm, obligation free conversation about how we can help.
If you need help, we are here at any hour.
Speak to us about arranging a funeral. No pressure and no obligation, just clear answers and immediate help.
Speak to us now. No pressure, no obligation, just clear answers and immediate help.