The Value of Funeral Services...
The purpose of a funeral service is to provide a way of commemorating a life and drawing together friends and family members so that they can support each other as they share memories. Although different religious communities have created set formats or rituals that they follow in conducting funeral services, there really is not a right or wrong way to do a funeral.
The most important thing to keep in mind when creating a service or commemoration is that it should be reflective of the person who has died. While religious elements may play a part, it should also include stories about the person's life that help everyone recapture and revisit their own memories. Sometimes this is best accomplished by having friends or family members share their reflections as part of the service. Some people personalize the service with special music. Others bring in pictures to have at the service. Sometimes favorite things that belonged to the deceased are integrated into the ceremony such as golf clubs, paintings, or even a motorcycle.
The goal is to give a true sense of who this person was. There is nothing wrong with telling funny stories about the person who died; a funeral recognizes the sad event of death, but can include humor.
Whether or not an open casket is part of the ceremony is an individual family choice. The main reason that we have any "viewing", is because that allows people to have a physical presence to focus on when saying goodbyes. A funeral helps people begin to complete their relationship with the person who died, and sometimes seeing the body helps.
The value of the service depends on how it is constructed. Our family attempts to create funerals that leave families and friends feeling very lucky that the deceased was part of their lives; the music, the stories, the whole nature of the person being well integrated into the service that it captures just who they were.
Traditional Services:
Many people want to have a traditional funeral service complete with embalming, viewing, and ceremony the following day with burial at the local cemetery. While there is no law in California which requires embalming, most families ask that we do so in order to view the loved one.
Often a preference of casket, prayer cards, and music are expressed during the arrangement conference. Other details such as flowers, clergy, death certificates, obituary, and casket bearers are decided at this time. We will coordinate such details in time for the service.
One Day Service - Some families want the convenience of having a viewing, funeral, and burial all in the same day. The one day service works well for survivors who have to travel a distance, have a small family, or simply don't want the process of an evening viewing. What ever the preference, we can accommodate.
Graveside Service - A simple farewell for a loved one - usually a public or private ceremony at the cemetery just prior to burial.
Memorial Service - A memorial service can be religious or secular, with or without the body present. Though they are often held at our funeral home, memorial services can also take place in other meaningful areas. More than one memorial service may be held, particularly if friends and relatives located in different parts of the country are unable to travel to one location.
The most important thing to keep in mind when creating a service or commemoration is that it should be reflective of the person who has died. While religious elements may play a part, it should also include stories about the person's life that help everyone recapture and revisit their own memories. Sometimes this is best accomplished by having friends or family members share their reflections as part of the service. Some people personalize the service with special music. Others bring in pictures to have at the service. Sometimes favorite things that belonged to the deceased are integrated into the ceremony such as golf clubs, paintings, or even a motorcycle.
The goal is to give a true sense of who this person was. There is nothing wrong with telling funny stories about the person who died; a funeral recognizes the sad event of death, but can include humor.
Whether or not an open casket is part of the ceremony is an individual family choice. The main reason that we have any "viewing", is because that allows people to have a physical presence to focus on when saying goodbyes. A funeral helps people begin to complete their relationship with the person who died, and sometimes seeing the body helps.
The value of the service depends on how it is constructed. Our family attempts to create funerals that leave families and friends feeling very lucky that the deceased was part of their lives; the music, the stories, the whole nature of the person being well integrated into the service that it captures just who they were.
Traditional Services:
Many people want to have a traditional funeral service complete with embalming, viewing, and ceremony the following day with burial at the local cemetery. While there is no law in California which requires embalming, most families ask that we do so in order to view the loved one.
Often a preference of casket, prayer cards, and music are expressed during the arrangement conference. Other details such as flowers, clergy, death certificates, obituary, and casket bearers are decided at this time. We will coordinate such details in time for the service.
One Day Service - Some families want the convenience of having a viewing, funeral, and burial all in the same day. The one day service works well for survivors who have to travel a distance, have a small family, or simply don't want the process of an evening viewing. What ever the preference, we can accommodate.
Graveside Service - A simple farewell for a loved one - usually a public or private ceremony at the cemetery just prior to burial.
Memorial Service - A memorial service can be religious or secular, with or without the body present. Though they are often held at our funeral home, memorial services can also take place in other meaningful areas. More than one memorial service may be held, particularly if friends and relatives located in different parts of the country are unable to travel to one location.