Tina wrote:
Maybe your SIL thought this was less painful for people.

It's only  my personal opinion, but I think this would be very much harder for relatives. Having lost many family members and friends I know the importance of a funeral for closure - that time between the death of a close relative and the funeral gives me a feeling that Life is just marking time, but also a chance to come to terms with the difference there will be ever after. When the funeral is over, Life can continue, albeit differently. To have the funeral within a couple of days, or no funeral at all, would leave me in turmoil and would, I think, take me far longer to accept the death.

I hope I don't upset anyone with my words, just want to give an alternative POV.