Actually Hand ninjas generally don't actually die, their bodies turn to ash but they're reborn (at which time they can die again but turn to ash immediately like Obi-Wan) which is what Gao was telling/foreshadowing with Fisk later when they were talking about Nobu's 'death', that his people were preparing him for what came next. Uh, if it was just a funeral there would have been no big ceremony or whatever.

I heard an interview with Peter Shinkoda recently and they asked him whether he was coming back in S2 and he said he couldn't say yet coz obvs the season is still filming and although he hasn't been called in yet, he still could be, and he wouldn't be able to confirm nor deny because Marvel no likey when their people start spilling secrets. IIRC that interview is on the Defenders Podcast.