When the Japanese have funerals, they have two useful customs

First, they give koden, funeral money. This can be modest, maybe $20 dollars or so, but the amount can be highly variable depending on the relationship and the need. In most cases, people now have prepaid funerals, so they do not actually need the cash, but in general, the family at least does not have to worry about money at that moment. Of course, if there are survivors in need, one would up the amount.

Second, someone not too closely related to the family, perhaps a neighbor or acquaintance, will stay in the house during the funeral. Acquaintances may also stay in the houses of immediate family members who will obviously be at the funeral. The idea is, well, the houses should not be empty and dark, and these days, with obituaries and addresses immediately googleable, you do not want to be burglarized while at a funeral, as happened to this poor family.

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