Service Options
Planning a funeral service can be a very difficult process for families who have just lost a loved one. But it is important to provide those who are grieving with a supportive environment in which they can begin to find closure, say goodbye, and come to terms with the loss. Gathering with friends and family gives everyone the opportunity to connect, share memories, offer words of sympathy, and create a lasting network of comfort and support as they start the journey toward healing.
Burial Services
Traditional Funeral Service with Burial
- In what has come to be known as a traditional funeral service, the body of the deceased is present during the visitation period. Visitation, also called a viewing, wake, or calling hours, allows family and friends to gather in a room with the departed loved one in an open or closed casket and say goodbye or offer their support and sympathy to the bereaved. The casket may be open or closed, depending on family preference or specific circumstances. Usually, a religious service would occur either during the visitation period at the funeral home or at a church or house of worship immediately following. The service is a ceremony which serves to celebrate, honor, and remember the life of the deceased. Whether traditional or unique, both the visitation and the funeral service can be personalized to reflect the individuality of your loved one.
Cremation Services
Traditional Funeral Service with Cremation
The biggest misconception about cremation is that there can't be visitation, funeral or memorial service. This is absolutely not the case. There are many options open to you when it comes to honoring your loved one's life. Ifcremation takes place immediately, a memorial service may be arranged or if a traditional funeral is desired, cremation would follow after the visitation at the funeral home or religious service. After the cremation and memorial services, there are a variety of choices for your loved one's final disposition:
- You can bury or entomb cremated remains. This can be in a family plot, a memorial site, a cremation niche or urn garden, or in a variety of other indoor and outdoor locations.
- Scattering allows you to spread your cremated remains in a memorial garden, a cemetery, over water, or across any other meaningful site. You also can choose to scatter some of the cremated remains and retain the rest in an urn for interment or another form of disposition.You should check for local regulations regarding scattering of cremains before doing so.
- Placing cremated remains in multiple urns allows family members who are separated by distance to each feel the comfort of the final resting place in a nearby location.
Memorial or Tribute Service
During this type of service, the body of the deceased is not present. Burial or cremation may have already taken place. We can help arrange a memorial service, either at the funeral home or place of worship that will be specific to the deceased's life. Photos and perhaps personal items of the deceased may be displayed along with selections of special music. A memorial service gives family and friends a time to come together and celebrate a life. Cremated remains may or may not be present.
Direct Burial / Direct Cremation
This occurs when there is no formal visitation at the funeral home.The body of the deceased is taken to the funeral home from the place of death and is either buried or cremated without visitation or religious service. A memorial service may still be arranged afterward.
Graveside Service
A graveside service would include burial or entombment of the body or cremains without prior visitation, with a religious or prayer service occurring at the time of committal.
