A funeral is a service where a casket and the body of the deceased are present, and they are brought to the cemetery or crematory following a ceremony. A memorial service is a service where a casket and deceased are not present. Instead, there may be photographs or other belongings of the deceased set out on display to provide a sense of personality of the individual. With a memorial service, burial or cremation may have already taken place and the wishes of the family may be that they only want to remember the deceased as they were.
Funerals and Memorial Services are for the living, they are, indeed a celebration of someone's life. A funeral or memorial service is a important step in helping the bereaved overcome their grief and it gives family and friends the opportunity to honor a loved one and a chance to say goodbye. A large formal public visitation is a common request but it is not always necessary or required. There may be a small gathering instead which can either be public or private with a opened or closed casket. The funeral can immediately follow this gathering or visitation or can take place the next day. Funeral services are as unique as one's imagination allows. It can be simple or elaborate, religious or secular. Music, readings, life stories and poetry can be added to personalize the event to both reflect on and celebrate the life that was lived.
Funerals or Memorial services can be held at your home, at our funeral home, church, or cemetery.
Cremations
One of the greatest misunderstandings about cremation is that many people believe that choosing cremation means limiting your options. Actually, there are many options available with cremation.
With cremation, many families hold some type of service whether public or private. A funeral or memorial service can take place before or after the actual cremation takes place. When a service occurs before cremation, you may choose to have visitation or a small gathering which can be private or public, with an opened or closed casket. If the services follow cremation, an urn containing the cremated body takes a place of prominence instead of a casket.
If burial of the ashes in a cemetery is not preferred after cremation takes place, there are several meaningful and creative ways to carry out the disposition of cremated remains. Family members may take a portion of or all of the remains in various keepsake urns to take home. Scattering the cremated remains is a option that can be done at sea or a favorite place of the deceased by the funeral home or family and is allowed in most areas. Many families wait until the surviving spouse passes away and then both urns are buried together.
Personalization
We realize and understand the importance of Personalization when celebrating a life. With details being so important to families, we have created a variety of ways for you to add your special touches and memories to our service including:
- Memory Tables
- Picture boards
- Personalized Prayer Cards
- Music Arrangements
- Online Obituaries and Guest Books
Caskets, Burial Vaults, & Urns
We have a large in house selection room of casket, urns and vaults.
- Caskets
Caskets are made of Bronze, Copper, Steel or Wood. They can be personalized to one's desires.
- Vaults
In most areas of the country, no state or local law make you purchase a container to surround the casket in the grave. However, it is a requirement by most cemeteries so the grave will not sink. Burial Vaults or grave liners are made of concrete or concrete lined with either, bronze, copper, fiberglass or stainless steel.
- Urns
Urns are made of Wood, Bronze, Copper, Steel, Marble, or Granite and come in many styles and shapes. The selection of products, merchandise, and services is the decision of the family making arrangements.
