A funeral ceremony, also known as a memorial service or a celebration of life, is a wonderful way to commemorate, celebrate, and honor the life of a departed loved one. A funeral may provide comfort and calm to individuals in mourning, as well as bring people together to participate in the sadness of loss and the joy of knowing someone. The word "funeral" comes from the Latin funeralis, meaning "relating to burial," which is what ceremonies are meant to do. During these rites, memories are made of the deceased and thanks are given for the gift of life. Funerals help us deal with death and begin the healing process. They may be held anywhere from shortly after a person dies to many years later; however, this period is usually no more than 12 months. People have been burying their dead since the beginning of time, but only in recent history has medicine allowed for many deaths each year. Because of this increased rate of mortality, there has been a corresponding increase in the number of funerals that are held each year. In 18th-century England, for example, the average lifetime was 35 years so everyone died young enough to need a funeral. Today, the average American lifespan is 77 years so fewer people die before they can be remembered. Funerals are not the same for everyone. They can be private ceremonies with only close family members present or public events where many people come together to remember the deceased.