Funeral vs. Celebration of Life
Funerals vs. Celebrations of Life
Funerals
and celebrations of life
have much in common. Each is a gathering of people who share a common loss.
A funeral is more rooted in tradition, while a celebration of life is more informal.
Both serve to do three things:
- Help the bereaved family, and their community, publicly acknowledge the death of one of their own
- Support the grieving family by surrounding them with caring friends, co-workers, and neighbors
- Honour the memory of the deceased
Those things are achieved in very different ways as follows.
The Funeral
Traditional funerals are composed of three activities, the visitation, the funeral service and the committal service performed at the graveside
The Visitation
Held prior to the funeral, often the night before but sometimes on the same day, the visitation (or viewing) is a time when people come to support the family and, more importantly, pay their respects to the deceased. This often involves stepping up to the casket to view the body; either, in the company of a member of the surviving family, or on your own.
The Funeral Service
Commonly held in the funeral home or at a church, the traditional funeral service is led by an officiant, most commonly a pastor or a non-denominational celebrant. This individual follows a funeral order of service which includes: the singing of hymns, invocations, Bible readings and prayers led by the officiant.
The Committal Service
This takes place at the cemetery, after a slow and respectful automobile procession from the place where the funeral was held. The committal service ends when the casketed remains are lowered into the ground, and final prayers are said.
Celebrations of Life
While a funeral has more to do with the orderly and often spiritually-defined event, a celebration of life is more concerned with telling the story of the deceased. Celebrations of life are just that: a time when people come together to celebrate the unique personality and achievements of the deceased without the more formal and traditional funeral service.
Celebrations of life are a memorial event which blends some of the formal and some of the informal together into a hybrid event. The blend is totally up to those tasked to organize the event.
Celebrations of life are commonly held after the individual's physical remains have been cared for through burial or cremation. There is much more time available to plan the event. This allows you to make optimal decisions about how you would like to celebrate the life of someone you dearly loved.
Are You Undecided?
We have years of experience listening, brainstorming and advising families how they can best pay tribute to a beloved family member. We are happy to guide you in your choice between a funeral and a celebration of life. We will explore your funeral service options with you in detail, taking all the time you need.