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What is a Funeral?

What is a Funeral?

A 'funeral' is an event or series of events that bring together family, friends and community to say farewell to a departed loved one. These events are shaped by traditions, faith, cultural background, life experience and many other factors. Funeral events are just as diverse as the individuals who have passed away.

What Makes a Funeral?

Funeral events are planned and shaped to give those that remain the opportunity to grieve and mourn but also to celebrate lives lived and now ended. 

Each funeral will have events that seek to bring people together in support of the family and each other. Often this may include the sharing of memories and stories, faith celebrations and possibly food and fellowship.

A funeral is a helpful part of the process of healing, restoration and change. 

Funeral Services in Our Area

Commemorative services today may include a traditional funeral or a memorial service or a less formal celebration of life event.

Traditional Funeral Services

Funeral services have two key purposes. To acknowledge the loss and the lifetime achievements of a departed loved one and to bring their grieving family and friends together in support of one another during this difficult time.

Traditional Funeral Services may include:

Visitation:

This is often called a viewing or a wake. Guests come to pay their respects to the deceased by viewing their casketed body and spending time with the grieving family. A visitation can occur at any time before the funeral service.

Funeral Service:

This event commonly takes place at the funeral home, a church or at the graveside. It can include music, the reading of literary or religious passages, a eulogy, prayer and the singing of hymns. 

Committal Service (Burial Service):

If the family plans to bury the deceased, this stage involves the vehicle procession to the cemetery.

Funeral Reception:

Many choose to host a post-service gathering (or repast) at a reception hall. This is considered a time to share memories, laughter and support. The reception is often at the funeral home or it could be at another location. Often this is a time that may include refreshments and possibly food of some kind.
A funeral service, whether traditional or more modern (memorial service or celebration-of-life), has two functions: to acknowledge the death and lifetime achievements of an individual and to bring grieving family members and friends together in support of one another during this difficult time.

If you are interested in making funeral arrangements for a loved one, we would invite you to call us to begin.
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