Tangi – Maori funeral practice

The tangi or tangihanga embraces the funeral rites accorded a person before the body is finally interred. The Maori belief is that the tupapaku (body of the deceased person) should not be left on its own at any stage after death. Hence people will gather to take the tupapaku from the funeral practice to the marae, or place it where it will lie in the company of people until burial. Family and friends may come and go from this place as they wish, or they may remain until after the actual burial.

All people, including relatives arriving for a tangi, will go through the usual karanga (the call of welcome) and mihi (greeting) procedures.

The coffin is left open, and people will touch the tupapaku. Speeches will be made directly to the tupapaku in the belief that the spirit does not leave the vicinity of the body until the burial.

http://www.griefcare.org.nz/options/tangi.html

Tania was only 28 when she passed away the day after Christmas last year. Just months after her father passed away. This is sad in so many ways. But I have to believe that their time on Earth had come to an end.
Neither had the traditional tangi. I have been to several since I have been married to my husband (who is Maori). They did have an open casket so people can say their goodbyes.

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- Margaret Mead