Whether you’re planning for yourself or for a loved one, the funeral service is one of the most important elements of a person’s final arrangements. With the opportunity for great personalization, the funeral service can truly reflect the uniqueness of the life it honors.
Regardless of whether you or your loved one have opted for burial or for cremation, the funeral or memorial service fills an important role. It can:
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Honor, recognize and celebrate the life of the deceased
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Allow friends and family to say their last good-byes
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Provide closure after the loss of a loved one
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Allow friends to console the family of the loved on
A funeral is a gathering of family and friends after the death of a loved one that allows them the opportunity to mourn, support each other and pay tribute to the life of the deceased. It often consists of one or more of the following components
VISITATION, WAKE OR VIEWING
Held the night before or immediately prior to the funeral service, the visitation also called a wake or a viewing provides a way for friends and acquaintances to pay respects and offer condolences to your family. As with the funeral service, you may want to decide if you want an open or closed casket should one be present
FUNERAL - MEMORIAL SERVICE - CREMATION
A formal or informal ceremony or ritual prior to burial, a funeral service often provides a sense of closure to family and friends. Although your faith or culture may dictate some elements of a funeral service, you may want to personalize other elements of the service. At a funeral service, a casket or urn is present, though you may choose to have the casket open or closed.
BURIAL
In addition to funeral services and the choice of burial or cremation, cemetery property is another consideration when you’re making final arrangements, either for yourself in advance, or for a loved one. Regardless of whether your choice is burial or cremation, permanent memorialization of your life and legacy is a lasting heritage for your descendants.