White banner with a pale blue horizontal line across the center.

Pallbearer: An Honor and a Privilege

Serenity Funeral Home of Southern Utah • August 2, 2023

The term “pallbearer” comes from the Catholic faith. A pall is a cloth that covers the casket during a funeral mass. Regardless of whether the casket is modest or elaborate, the pall signifies that all are equal before God.

The pallbearers’ responsibility is to carry the casket when needed, such as in and out of the church and to the gravesite at the cemetery. The pallbearer is a position of honor and is usually reserved for family and close friends. Historically, pallbearers have been men, but this tradition is changing. Many women now participate in this honor. The term pallbearer is used interchangeably with the term “casket bearer,” which is more encompassing of all faiths.

Typically, six or eight pallbearers are chosen to carry the casket. Families may choose to expand this role and select “honorary pallbearers” to include additional family and friends. As its name implies, this is simply a position of honor, as they do not have the actual responsibility of carrying the casket.

If you are selected to be a pallbearer and are unsure of your role, don’t worry. Just prior to the funeral service, it is customary for the funeral director to gather the pallbearers together and provide detailed instructions.

Please contact us with any questions at (435) 986-2085. Our mission at Serenity Funeral Home is to help you decide how to honor your life or the life of your loved one. We have an experienced and caring staff and a beautiful, modern facility. We offer modest pricing to ensure you don’t have to compromise on quality when honoring the life of your loved one.

We are located just off Riverside Dr. at 1316 S. 400 E., Ste. A5, St. George, UT. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @SerenityFuneralSTG.

Submitted by W. Russell Atkin, Owner/Licensed Funeral Director

By Serenity Funeral Home of Southern Utah • July 22, 2026
According to CDC data from 1999 to 2014, more deaths occur on a Saturday than any other day of the week. A look at how causes of death vary by day.
By Serenity Funeral Home of Southern Utah • June 15, 2026
Delivering a eulogy is both an honor and a responsibility. What a eulogy should contain, how long it should run, and tips for writing and delivering it.
By Serenity Funeral Home of Southern Utah • March 24, 2026
“Re-grief” refers to the renewed experience of mourning a loss that was previously grieved. It is a normal and healthy process — grief is an experience, not an event.
By Serenity Funeral Home of Southern Utah • December 10, 2025
Looking for ways to contribute to your community this holiday season? Simple but effective ideas for volunteering your time, donating goods, and spreading cheer locally.
By Serenity Funeral Home of Southern Utah • September 9, 2025
Embalming has been practiced for thousands of years. In modern culture it serves three purposes — to sanitize, preserve, and present the body.
By Serenity Funeral Home of Southern Utah • August 12, 2025
“Blue Zone” is a term for geographic regions home to some of the world’s oldest and healthiest people. The five known Blue Zones and what their residents have in common.
By Serenity Funeral Home of Southern Utah • July 8, 2025
Dr. Alan Wolfelt writes that although everyone grieves differently, there are “six needs of mourning” everyone should encounter as they move through the grieving process.
By Serenity Funeral Home of Southern Utah • January 22, 2025
Why is a vault or outer burial container required by most cemeteries? The difference between sealing and non-sealing vaults, and what they protect.
By Serenity Funeral Home of Southern Utah • December 17, 2024
“Just throw me in a pine box.” A funeral director on why funerals do not have to be expensive to be meaningful, and the value of taking time to remember a life.
By Serenity Funeral Home of Southern Utah • October 8, 2024
Who had the most expensive funeral in modern history? The top contenders — and a reminder that your own funeral will cost a fraction of these.
Show More