Whether you choose burial or cremation, a funeral service is a time for friends and family to gather to celebrate the life of a loved one, comfort one another, share memories and support each other. The type of ceremony you choose will reflect the uniqueness of your loved one and your own preferences.
In many cultures, funerals are an important way to honor the dead and help mourners process a loss. A funeral is a structured event that includes music, readings from literary or religious passages and a eulogy. It also typically includes a vehicle procession to the cemetery or churchyard and a committal service at the graveside.
Most families have a funeral service before the graveside service or memorial service, and it is common to include a visitation, a funeral mass, and a wake. The visitation is a chance for guests to see the casketed body of the deceased, and it may take place at a funeral home, a church, or the home. The funeral mass is usually led by a priest or chaplain and includes scripture readings, prayers and hymns. After the mass, a eulogy is delivered by a close friend or relative.
A graveside service is a short ceremony that takes place after the funeral or memorial service at a cemetery or mausoleum. Depending on your wishes, you may hold a service that is religious or non-religious and you can invite as many people as you like. The graveside service is a chance for family and friends to gather around the grave or mausoleum, and it is often followed by a post-service gathering at a reception hall where food and drinks are served.
If you choose burial, your funeral director will arrange an arrangement conference with you to discuss the services and merchandise that you would like to purchase. The arrangement conference can be held at the funeral home, your home or, in some instances, over the telephone. Your selections will be documented during the arrangement conference and you will receive an Itemized Statement that shows the costs of the merchandise and services you selected. This document also contains contractual language that legally obligates you to pay for your selections.
If you choose cremation, your funeral director will help you select an urn that represents the essence of your loved one and you can hold a graveside service at a cemetery or a memorial service at a location of your choice. You can choose to incorporate as much or as little religion as you like into your ceremony, but many families find comfort in having some level of spirituality present.