In her book "Restless Souls and Shallow Graves," Rebecca McNutt explores the theme of unity in funerals, paralleling them with weddings. She suggests that both events serve as moments of gathering, though the former focuses on the transition to the afterlife. Funerals not only honor a person's life but also symbolize their connection to a spiritual existence beyond death, assuming the belief in such a presence.

This perspective emphasizes that funerals are not merely about sorrow, but also about bringing people together in a collective acknowledgment of loss and the shared experience of grief. The notion of unity extends beyond the physical realm, reflecting the beliefs and hopes that those left behind hold for their loved ones in the hereafter.