I've noticed that too. Lately in my "completed" village,when I log back in to see how things are going, there are invariably one to several corpses lying waiting to be buried. The villagers then all line up and go "burying the dead". If you watch it on Map view it kinda looks like the whole village is paying their respects.
The last time I logged in there were 2 groups, the young'uns quickly moving to the task and then there was this very sloooww moving group of all the elders together. It was funny to think they all hang out on the beach telling stories,etc until I appear on the scene and then, grumbling, move to do their duty.