Funeral Services

What is the Purpose of a Funeral Service?

A funeral not only is a beautiful ritual for honoring and celebrating a life, it also helps loved ones on their grief journeys. By adding personal touches, the funeral can both capture a life story and help loved ones honor their memory.

Rituals are symbolic and meaningful activities that help a group of people to express themselves in important times. As one of the most ancient rituals in humanity, funerals are found in every culture, and they are essential for families and friends to learn how to navigate grief. Funerals can be deeply religious celebrations, or an event detached from any beliefs, but in any case, the service is mixed with music and readings and a sense of community.

Funeral services are important as they offer comfort and peace for people, providing a communal support system for mourners - a safe space where they can share their pain and love. It is also a source of hope, since the family can start their healing process knowing their loved one was honored in the best way possible.

There are many different ways to celebrate a life, and each can be tailored specifically to the individual being honored, as well as their family. If a loved one has passed, you may have questions as to what kind of service to have. You may want to understand the difference between a traditional funeral and a memorial service. Or, you may want to pre-arrange your own service to ease the burden for your loved ones and to help make sure it reflects your unique life.

What Happens at a Funeral?

Typically, a funeral includes a visitation, funeral service, burial or cremation, and a post-funeral reception. However, these traditions may vary depending on your religious and personal beliefs, and you can customize your service to create a truly unique funeral experience.

At the visitation, you may view your loved one, express your condolences to the grieving family, view any memorial displays or videos, and sign the funeral register book. The funeral service is typically at a church, funeral home, or another significant location. It may include a eulogy, scripture readings, prayers, memorial songs, and other meaningful tributes.

If you choose to bury your loved one, there also may be a funeral procession to the cemetery. After the burial or cremation, everyone may gather at the service location or another place for a post-funeral reception for a meal and sharing memories of your loved one.

Funeral Service Types

Funeral service is a broad term used to refer to several different funeral options. We listed the most common types of funeral service to help you make your choice:

• Traditional funeral service — This is a typical service with visitation, ceremony, and burial or cremation. It usually happens at the Funeral Home or at some religious place, like a church or a temple, and the deceased is present in an open casket. You also can choose to not have a visitation, but we encourage you to have one, as it helps everyone grieve their loss. 
• Memorial service —  Very similar to a funeral service, memorial services are held to honor the life of a loved one. However, the deceased’s body is not always present. Memorial services can be held after the person has passed, which allows family and friends more time to organize a meaningful ceremony. 
• Celebration of life ceremony — This option allows more room for creativity and may not always follow the traditional elements of a funeral service. It’s about family and friends coming together to share memories of their loved ones and what made them special. 
• Graveside funeral service — You can have this instead of or in addition to a traditional funeral service or celebration of life ceremony. 
• Direct burial or cremation — This wouldn’t include a visitation or service, but we encourage you to have a service, as it both honors your loved one and helps everyone grieve their loss. 

Funeral Personalization Ideas

There are many things to be taken into consideration when planning a funeral, especially if the family is looking for more personalized service. Here is a list of things one should consider when thinking of creating a unique funeral ceremony: 

• Readings: it can be a poem, a prayer, or a passage from your loved one’s favorite book.
• Music: It can be live or recorded, and although most families chose calm and religious songs, you can have any music you want at the service
• Eulogist: the person who will write and read a piece about the deceased.

Simple, yet meaningful details can create a more personalized funeral service for grieving family and friends. Some other funeral personalization ideas include:

• A decorated display table of a loved one’s prized possessions 
• Serving their favorite meal or famous recipe 
• Designing the service around a significant theme like a favorite hobby 
• Incorporating their favorite color into the service