memorial service
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memorial service
A ceremonial event held in honor and remembrance of a deceased person. It often takes place before the burial or cremation.
Familie und Freunde versammelten sich zur Trauerfeier in der Kapelle des Friedhofs.
Family and friends gathered for the memorial service in the cemetery chapel.
The word is made up of 'die Trauer' (grief, the feeling of pain over a loss) and 'die Feier' (celebration/ceremony). Here, 'Feier' does not mean a party, but a formal 'ceremony'.
Die Trauerfeier war ein würdiger Abschied.
The memorial service was a dignified farewell.
In connection with a memorial service, the verbs 'stattfinden' (to take place), 'abhalten' (to hold), or 'teilnehmen' (to attend/participate) are often used. You can also say 'zu einer Trauerfeier gehen' (to go to a memorial service).
Die Trauerfeier findet am Freitag um 14 Uhr statt.
The memorial service takes place on Friday at 2 p.m.
A 'Trauerfeier' (memorial service) is an important part of the culture of saying goodbye. It often takes place in a cemetery chapel and serves as a shared remembrance of the deceased person before the actual burial.
Für die Trauerfeier wurde die kleine Kapelle auf dem Friedhof geschmückt.
The small chapel at the cemetery was decorated for the memorial service.
burial / funeral
A Beerdigung usually includes the burial and often a Trauerfeier (memorial service) as well. Trauerfeier, by contrast, is the event for remembrance and saying goodbye; it can take place before or separately from the burial. For a purely commemorative event, Trauerfeier is therefore more precise.
Die Trauerfeier zum Abschied findet bereits am Donnerstag in der Kapelle statt.
The memorial service to say goodbye will already take place in the chapel on Thursday.
Die Beerdigung mit der Grablegung findet am Freitag auf dem Friedhof statt.
The funeral, including the burial, will take place at the cemetery on Friday.
