There is an abundance of decisions at hand when a loved one dies. Most importantly, we must plan for the timely disposition of the body after appropriately commemorating the life that was lived.
A traditional funeral service is with the body present. Traditional funeral services are usually planned within a few days of death, and unfortunately, sometimes in great haste.
A memorial service (where the body is not present) can be delayed as long as you want, to meet the convenience and needs of the family, and perhaps those the family desires to attend. Scheduling the service into the near future, say two or three weeks, permits out-of-town guests to find less costly travel arrangements (e.g., to take advantage of the 14-day advance booking discount on airline tickets). By not feeling pressured to have a service right away, there is time for thoughtful planning.
Multiple services may be appropriate in some situations. For example, you may decide to hold a simple graveside service for the immediate family at the cemetery, and a memorial service immediately after, or later. Or one service may be held for co-workers and another for the local community and friends.
Our funeral directors will be glad to assist with ebvery aspect of your arrangements and service planning, whether you decide to use the funeral home for the service or some other place.
The time-honored rituals of traditional in-ground burial are an important step in the process of saying farewell, and healing from the sense of loss and bereavement. Families turn to us to help them plan this important form of tribute because they have always found peace in services we provide, and confidence in the kindness we offer.
When you choose traditional burial, there are commemorative choices appropriate for every family tradition, and every budget. These may include a memorial service, family gathering, services at the gravesite, and many others. When you enhance these services with “special touches” that personalize the funeral, you recall old memories, create new ones, deepen the meaning of the tribute, and help the healing process begin.
As we listen carefully to your wishes, we help you select from the many forms of tribute made possible by today’s contemporary funeral traditions. We welcome your questions and inquiries at any time.
The Funeral Service has three rites: the visitation, the service, and the interment. Each rite is separate and distinct. However, together they create a powerful and necessary means of expression.
The Visitation
The visitation allows the family an opportunity to view the deceased. The families see the reality of death and admit to its presence. This is the first step to accepting death and beginning the healing process. The visitation is also a time when the community is invited to share experiences about the deceased. This part of the ritual is so crucial to both the family and the community because it forces discussions about the things that are often swept under the rug. In this way, we do not experience this crisis alone. Instead, we celebrate the life of our loved one with the community. The visitation rite also provides a socially acceptable time to grieve and express very strong emotions: a healing time for the living.
The Service
The service is a time of affirmation of a life lived. It is a time for memorialization. It provides a time for religious and spiritual recognition. The service is a ritual for the deceased. Throughout time, we have honored the dead by offering thoughts and prayers. A service ritual is intended to strengthen as well as test our personal spirituality.
The Committal
The final rite is the committal service. The committal service, the actual burial or cremation, is a symbolic demonstration that a relationship has ended. When you turn away from the place of final interment, it is a realistic but traumatic moment. It is, however necessary to recognize that we must say goodbye and turn to the future. The committal rite should not be avoided nor should it be faced alone. It is important that you and members of the community are able to share freely the expressions of sympathy and sorrow at the committal service.