Yes, according to experts in grieving. Choosing not to have a funeral deprives loved ones of the opportunity to face and accept the loss, to grieve collectively, to share support and to draw strength from one another to help navigate the weeks and months ahead. In the words of a clinical psychologist specializing in grief, Harvard’s Christy Denckla, “Funerals are really fundamental to [. . .] how we mourn, to how we grieve, to how we reinforce social ties, to how we expand the social safety net in times of vulnerability and loss. And more fundamentally, they reflect what it means for us to be human.” Funerals exist because they serve several critical functions simultaneously, from giving us a time and place to feel and express our grief to providing a way to give and receive support and care. Funeral directors play an important role in explaining these factors when helping families decide what level of service they will need.