Amish vs Mennonite Funeral — Key Differences Explained

Same Roots, Very Different Funerals

Amish and Mennonite communities both descend from the 16th-century Anabaptist movement. They share core beliefs in adult baptism, nonresistance, and separation from the world. But their funeral practices diverge sharply — in venue, music, the role of the funeral director, and even what the deceased wears.

The reason is the Ordnung. This unwritten code of conduct governs every Old Order Amish church district independently. Each district's Ordnung influences its specific funeral customs, so practices differ from district to district. Mennonite conferences, while more formally organized, also vary widely — from conservative groups that look almost indistinguishable from the Amish to progressive congregations that resemble mainstream Protestant churches.

Where the Funeral Happens

Old Order Amish: The funeral happens at the family home. The living room, workshop, or barn is cleared and set up with the church district's backless bench wagon seating. The casket sits in a first-floor room stripped of furniture. Large funerals can spill across three connected outbuildings, with multiple preachers speaking simultaneously.

Old Order Mennonite: The funeral is held in a meetinghouse — a spartan, unadorned building with separate entrance doors for men and women. The interior is divided by a low center wall, with men on one side and women on the other. No electric lights, no microphones, no heating beyond a basement furnace.

Modern Mennonite: Services take place in standard church buildings with pews, lighting, sound systems, and climate control. The setting is indistinguishable from a mainstream Protestant funeral.

Music and Liturgy

This is where the traditions diverge most dramatically.

Old Order Amish: No musical instruments. Hymns are read aloud or chanted in slow unison — never sung in harmony. The service language is Pennsylvania Dutch with scripture read in High German. The main sermon runs approximately one hour, delivered in a chanting sing-song cadence. No personal eulogy is permitted.

Old Order Mennonite: Congregational singing is central. The entire assembly sings in structured, four-part a cappella harmony from standard hymnals — unaccompanied but musically rich. Members view regular hymn-singing as lifelong preparation for funerals, where they must sing through grief. A brief tribute to the deceased may be permitted, framed as thanksgiving to God.

Modern Mennonite: Services may include instrumental music, choirs, soloists, and personal eulogies. The format is closer to a mainstream Protestant memorial service.

Burial Dress and Caskets

Old Order Amish: The deceased wears plain white burial garments. For a woman, this is her wedding dress — the white dress, cape, and apron preserved since her wedding day. For a man, a white shirt, trousers, and vest. The casket is a flat-lidded, unadorned pine box built by a local carpenter after the death occurs. No metal handles, no fabric lining, no padding.

Old Order Mennonite: The deceased wears conservative, dark-colored Sunday church clothing. The casket is plain, unvarnished hardwood with minimal hardware — similar to the Amish standard.

Modern Mennonite: Standard commercial funeral attire and caskets. Modest suits or dresses provided by the family. Caskets range from simple wood to standard commercial options.

Cremation

Old Order Amish: Strictly prohibited. The "dust to dust" doctrine requires the body to return to the earth whole.

Old Order Mennonite: Highly discouraged. Earth burial is the expected standard.

Modern Mennonite: Permissible. Some congregations have columbarium walls for urn placement. A memorial service follows cremation.

Post-Funeral Food

Amish: A massive communal lunch for up to 1,000 guests, served cafeteria-style in the cleaned workshop. Standard menu: egg noodles in chicken broth, 600+ cold ham and cheese sandwiches, potato salad, fruit pies, and cupcakes. During viewing evenings: Hobo Stacks (layered ground beef, beans, rice, corn chips, cheese).

Conservative Mennonite: A light meal called Faspa served in the church basement — zwieback (double-tiered yeast rolls), raisin bread, cold cuts, local funeral cheese, and platz (flat fruit cake). Butter but no jam, keeping the meal simple and appropriate for mourning.

Modern Mennonite: Standard reception or potluck, similar to mainstream church fellowship meals.

The Role of the Deacon

In participating Amish and Old Order Mennonite districts, the deacon often serves as a logistical contact for the funeral — coordinating bench transport, managing the viewing schedule, reading the obituary, and helping oversee mutual aid that may cover funeral costs. The bishop handles the spiritual authority: sermons and the graveside committal.

In modern Mennonite settings, a professional pastor typically manages both roles, often alongside a commercial funeral director.

Cemetery Practices

Many Amish cemeteries are flat fields with small, generally uniform headstones arranged in chronological order — not family plots. Graves are hand-dug by church members. No flowers, no landscaping, no ornate markers. Some Swiss Amish communities use unmarked wooden stakes that decay over time.

Conservative Mennonite cemeteries are similar in simplicity. Modern Mennonite congregations may use standard commercial cemeteries with conventional headstones.

Why the Differences Matter for Planning

If you're coordinating a funeral for someone who was part of one of these communities, knowing which tradition you're working within prevents serious missteps. Sending flowers to an Amish funeral, requesting a eulogy at an Old Order service, or assuming instrumental music is acceptable at a conservative Mennonite gathering — each of these would create discomfort for the grieving family.

The Amish & Mennonite Funeral Guide covers the specific customs for each subgroup — Old Order Amish, Swartzentruber, Beachy, Old Order Mennonite, conservative Mennonite, and modern Mennonite — so you can match your planning and behavior to the actual traditions of the family you're supporting.