- Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the purpose of a funeral?
Funerals provide surviving family members and friends a caring, supportive environment in which to recognize the death of a loved one and to share thoughts and feelings about that person. Funerals are the first step in the healing process.
The ritual of attending a funeral service provides many benefits including:
-providing a social support system for the bereaved
- helping the bereaved understand death is final and part of life
-integrating the bereaved back into the community
- easing the transition to a new life after the death of a loved one
- providing a safe haven for embracing and expressing pain-reaffirming one's relationship with the person who died-providing a time to say good-byeIt is possible to have a full funeral service even for those choosing cremation. The importance of the ritual is in providing a social gathering to help the bereaved begin the healing process. What type of service should I have?
Only you can answer that question. The type of service conducted for the deceased, if not noted in a pre-plan, is decided by the family. The service is usually held at a place of worship or at the funeral home. The service may vary in ritual according to religious denomination or the wishes of the family. The presence of friends at this time is an acknowledgment of friendship and support. A private service is by invitation only where selected relatives and a few close friends attend the funeral service. A memorial service is usually a service without the body present and can vary in ceremony and procedures according to the family's community and religious affiliations.
- Can I personalize my funeral service?Most definitely, A funeral is a celebration of life. Funeral directors are happy to discuss all options and ensure your funeral is tailored to your wishes. It may be personalized in many unique ways.
What do funeral directors do?
A funeral director is a professional that provides competent and sympathetic support during the arrangement of funeral rites and the respectful disposition of the body of a loved one.
The funeral director is often a great comfort during a time when loved ones find handling all the details associated with death a difficult task. With dignity and a understanding of how to assist persons in grief, the funeral director gently guides loved ones through a tough period, allowing them to honor the deceased in a way that is proper and respectful.
- What is the purpose of embalming?The purpose of embalming is to preserve a dead human body from natural decomposition and to also restore a natural appearance. It is required whenever a body will be presented at a public viewing, when a body must be held without refrigeration, or whenever a body will be shipped on an airline. Embalming, along with other restorative techniques, can restore a body that has been ravaged by disease, decomposition, trauma, etc. to a more familiar and pleasing appearance. Also, embalming provides some safety benefit to the public as it significantly disinfects a body.
- Can I have a visitation period and a funeral service if cremation is chosen?
Yes. Many times families chose to have a visitation or funeral service with the body present and then have cremation take place after.