Taoist Funeral Services in Singapore
A Taoist wake arranged with the correct rites, in the right order, by people who coordinate this every week — from priest arrangements and chanting to the Guo Fan bridge-crossing ritual. A lower-cost Direct Cremation option is also available if a full wake isn't needed.
At a glance
- Taoist Funeral Package
- $7,680 (parlour/home)
- Void Deck Taoist Funeral
- $8,480
- Direct Cremation
- At $1,380
- Response time
- Within ~1 hour (normal traffic)
- Priest
- Vetted panel of experienced Taoist priests (Sai Kong)
- Key ritual
- Guo Fan bridge-crossing ritual
- Embalming
- Minimum 3 hours before return to wake venue
- Final-day ceremony
- Approx. 3.5 to 4.5 hours, wake to return
Compare all our funeral packages →
Taoist Funeral Package, Void Deck, or Direct Cremation
Not sure which suits your family? A free discovery call can help you decide — see the full range of Singapore Taoist funeral packages
Taoist Funeral Package
A complete Taoist wake at a parlour or your home, with priest coordination and chanting rites.
- Taoist priest (Sai Kong) coordination
- Chanting rites & paper offerings
- Guo Fan bridge-crossing ritual
- Altar setup, fresh flowers, cortege & hearse
Void Deck Taoist Funeral
Everything in the Taoist Funeral Package, arranged for a void deck wake — including town council coordination and full tentage.
- Town council coordination, fully handled for you
- Tentage — chairs, tables, lighting & air coolers
- Everything in the Taoist Funeral Package
Direct Cremation
A dignified, no-wake cremation or burial for families who prefer a simpler farewell, or need to move quickly.
- Collection of deceased
- Coffin & transfer to crematorium or burial ground
- Taoist priest available on request
Specific temple requests or unusual venue conditions may affect pricing slightly — call us for an exact quote.
Priests we work with
We coordinate with a small, carefully vetted panel of experienced Taoist priestsof of various dialects across Singapore, chosen for their familiarity with the specific rites your family requests and their ability to work to the tight timelines a wake demands.
Because we return to the same priests consistently, timing and coordination on the day tend to run smoothly — there's no back-and-forth over unfamiliar arrangements, and no risk of a priest being unavailable at short notice, since we always have more than one experienced option on hand. Working closely with the same priests also allows us to get a better rate for chanting which allows us to pass on this savings to the final consumers.
Why families choose Farewell Funerals
Package prices across Singapore funeral providers tend to sit in a similar range — so price alone rarely tells you who's right for your family. What matters more is the funeral director guiding you through it: someone you feel comfortable with, who explains each step clearly and is reachable when you need them. We'd encourage you to reach out to us for a a free, no-obligation discovery, so you can find out more and see if we're the right fit.
-
✓
Dedicated & experienced
Our team of funeral directors manage your arrangement personally from the first call through to the final rites — you're never passed between unfamiliar staff.
-
★
Premium Mercedes limousine hearse
Our specialty — a premium Mercedes limousine hearse is included in every wake package at no additional cost, where many providers charge about $600 extra for this upgrade.
-
✓
Transparent, all-inclusive pricing
The price we quote is the price you pay. We have a sales form with the itemised breakdown to safeguard all parties.
-
✓
Rapid response, 24/7
We're reachable any hour of the day and can usually be at your side within about an hour of your call.
What happens during the wake
Taoist funeral rites follow a set sequence over the course of the wake. Here is what our families can typically expect:
-
1
Opening rites & chanting. The priest performs opening rites and scripture chanting to begin the wake, calling on deities for the deceased's passage. The deceased's soul is usually also called 招魂 during the encoffining process. The ritual to "buy water (买水)" will be done as well. Deceased usually arrives separate from the coffin and will be invited to stay in the coffin after.
-
2
Paper offerings. Joss paper, paper houses and other paper effigies are burned as offerings, a traditional practice believed to provide for the deceased in the afterlife. Family members typically would have folded paper monies to burn together with the house. If the family did not manage to fold the paper monies, they can opt to buy folded paper monies instead.
-
3
Guo Fan bridge-crossing ritual. The priest leads the Guo Fan, symbolically guiding the deceased's spirit across a bridge toward the afterlife, with family members following in procession. A physical bridge used as a prop may or may not be present.
-
4
Home cleansing ritual. The priest will usually visit the residence of the deceased to carry out a cleansing ritual. Once this is complete, the newspaper covering reflective surfaces and the red paper covering household deities can be removed.
-
5
Ancestral tablet prayer. After the cremation or burial has concluded, the priest typically follows the family to where the ancestral tablet will be placed, for a short closing prayer.
A typical timeline
Every case is different, but here's an honest picture of timing, based on how our arrangements usually run:
Response time
If traffic is clear, we can usually arrive at the place of passing within about an hour to assist your family. During peak-hour traffic this may take a little longer — please bear with us, as our team is doing everything possible to reach you quickly.
Embalming
After body collection, embalming typically takes a minimum of three hours, depending on the size of the body and how it responds to the process, before the body is sent back to the wake venue — provided the tentage has already been set up.
Tentage setup
Tentage setup can sometimes take longer than expected, particularly during busy periods such as the seventh month or when many families are holding wakes at the same time.
Final-day ceremony
The final day's ceremony typically takes about 3.5 to 4.5 hours in total — from the time our staff arrive at the wake to assist, through to the time family members return to the wake venue after cremation or burial.
What families say
The priest and the team already knew the order of every rite, right down to the Guo Fan. We just had to show up and follow along. We are thankful for this.
Taoist funeral FAQs
How much does a Taoist funeral cost in Singapore with Farewell Funerals?
Our Taoist Funeral Package is priced at $7,680, all-inclusive, for a wake at a parlour or home. A Void Deck Taoist Funeral is priced at $8,480, all-inclusive, including tentage and town council coordination. A lower-cost Direct Cremation option is also available at $1,380 for families who don't need a full wake.
What Taoist priests do you work with?
We coordinate with a small, vetted panel of experienced Taoist priests (Sai Kong) across Singapore, chosen for their familiarity with the specific rites your family requests and their ability to work to a wake's tight timeline.
What is the Guo Fan bridge-crossing ritual?
The Guo Fan is a bridge-crossing ritual performed by the Taoist priest, symbolically guiding the deceased's spirit across a bridge toward the afterlife, usually accompanied by family members following behind in procession.
What are paper offerings and joss paper burning used for?
Paper offerings — including joss paper, paper houses and other paper effigies — are burned during the wake as a traditional Taoist practice believed to provide for the deceased in the afterlife.
Do you perform a house cleansing ritual?
Yes. The priest will usually visit the family home to carry out a cleansing ritual. Once this is done, the newspaper covering reflective surfaces and the red paper covering household deities can be removed.
How quickly can you respond after a death in the family?
In normal traffic conditions we can usually reach the place of passing within about an hour. During peak-hour traffic this may take slightly longer, though our team moves as quickly as possible.
How long does embalming take?
Embalming typically takes a minimum of three hours, depending on the size of the body and how it responds to the process, before the body is returned to the wake venue — provided the tentage has already been set up.
Other funeral services
Farewell Funerals coordinates funerals across every major faith tradition in Singapore. If a Taoist wake isn't what your family needs, we also arrange:
-
Buddhist Funeral Services
Temple and monk coordination, chanting rites and altar setup.
-
Christian Funeral Services
Church service coordination across denominations.
-
Catholic Funeral Services
Parish priest coordination and Requiem Mass arrangements.
-
Free Thinker Funeral Services
Secular, personalised services for families without a religious rite.
-
Soka Funeral Services
Soka Gakkai rites and gongyo coordination.
-
Baby & Infant Funeral Services
Gentle, private arrangements for the loss of a baby or infant.
-
International Repatriation
Bringing a loved one home, or sending them abroad.
-
About Farewell Funerals
More on our team, our story, and how we work with families.
Further reading on funerals & cremation in Singapore
For official guidance alongside our own advice, these government resources cover the administrative side of arranging a funeral in Singapore:
-
Arranging a Funeral in Singapore — MyLegacy@LifeSG
Government guidance on funeral wake permissions, venue options and required documentation.
-
Managing a Cremation Booking — MyLegacy@LifeSG
How cremation slots are booked at NEA-managed and privately managed crematoria, including temple-run facilities.
-
After-Death Facilities & Services — National Environment Agency
Official information on cremation, burial and columbarium services managed by NEA.
-
Farewell Funerals Blog
Guides and articles on funeral planning, Taoist rites and grief support from our team.
Speak with our team about a Taoist funeral arrangement.
Whatever the hour, our team can talk you through priest coordination, timing, and the right package for your family — no obligation.