Traditional Funeral Services

Visitation or Wake

A visitation or wake is an opportunity for guests to pay their respects to the deceased and their family. During a funeral service, you may not have this opportunity. The body is placed in a casket during the visitation and is either open or closed, depending on the family's wish. People frequently offer a brief prayer around the casket before expressing their condolences to each family member. If there are a lot of other guests, it's a good idea to say something basic to each family member, such as "I am sorry for your loss."

In some cultures, the family or relatives will hold a vigil every night for several days during the wake. The funeral home can personalize the visitation to be as unique as your loved one with a tribute video, items or displays that were important to your loved one, or simply pictures displayed. They will work with your family to design the perfect gathering experience.

The funeral ceremony's objective is to honor the deceased's life, reflect on the impact he or she had on those left behind, and say last goodbyes.  The funeral is usually held within a week of the death, although this may be extended if relatives are traveling from far away.

A traditional funeral service will typically last about an hour and will be officiated by a clergy member of your chosen religion. However, the funeral home will have life celebrants that lead services where clergy may not be chosen. The celebrants are trained in creating experiences that help start the healing process. It will be held at either a funeral home, church, or another place of worship. The funeral director will work with the family to design a service that honors their loved one with stories, music, or scripture.

A graveside or committal service is typically held immediately following the funeral service but it can also be a small intimate gathering of those closest to you. After the funeral service, there will be a procession to the burial site led by the funeral director. The pallbearers will carry the casket of the deceased while family and friends follow behind. At the burial site, there is a brief committal service before the casket is lowered into the ground. 

In the case of a cremation service, after the funeral ceremony. The family will gather at the crematory site if witnessing is available. The funeral director will place the casket into the cremation chamber and start the process. The family can choose to stay and watch or leave and return at a later time to retrieve the urn.