T H E P R E S E N TAT I O N | M E M O R I A L G U I D E | M E M O R I A L G U I D E • P R E C O A Memorial Guide Details The Value of Funeral Service There are many facets to the value of the funeral service. It acknowledges that a life has been lived. It allows family and friends to remember and honor their loved one in a special way while serving as a central gathering place for family and friends to give emotional and physical support to one another. Funerals provide closure for all involved. It initiates the grieving process, confjrms the reality and fjnality of death, encourages mourners to face the pain of their loss, and express their thoughts and feelings. Finally, it helps survivors to better cope with their grief and enables them to move forward with their lives. There are several funeral service plans that can meet your individual budget needs. Remember, the funeral helps deal with the reality that a loved one has died. Often, when a body is present, it serves as a focal point for mourners and helps them acknowledge the reality of death. It provides a time and place to remember and talk about the life and death of a loved one. The funeral is an appropriate time to say goodbye, which is important in beginning the healing process. Explanations of Service Types The traditional funeral service is when your loved one is present. This can include a time of visitation prior to service day. The service itself can be held at a church, hall, funeral chapel or other location chosen by the family. The funeral service can consist of scripture readings, prayers, eulogies, tributes, sermon and music. After the service, there is a procession to the cemetery for a committal service. Some families request the interment service to precede the funeral service. There is often a reception in conjunction with the traditional funeral service, which allows friends and relatives to express their condolences to the family. Traditional funeral services can also be followed by cremation. Cremation is a form of disposition. It does not restrict you from having a visitation, open casket and a funeral service. A memorial funeral service is when the deceased is not present. It may take place at a church, hall, funeral chapel or other location chosen by the family. This is a time to remember your loved one through fellowship with friends and family. This process can be done with either form of disposition, earth burial or cremation. The committal service is a brief service at the gravesite after a traditional funeral service, but prior to the burial. This is where family and friends say their fjnal goodbyes. If the committal service is the only service, then it becomes what we call a graveside service, which can be accompanied by a prior visitation. 1
T H E P R E S E N TAT I O N | M E M O R I A L G U I D E | M E M O R I A L G U I D E • P R E C O A Memorial Guide Details Direct disposition is when there is no funeral ceremony. The deceased is placed in a refrigeration unit until the proper paperwork has been completed and the necessary permits are obtained. Then the body is placed in a cremation receptacle (container) and transported to a crematorium. Once the cremation process is complete, the cremated remains are placed in an urn and are ready to be buried, placed in a niche or taken home. The direct burial does not consist of a funeral service. Again, the deceased has minimum preparation and is placed in a casket and transported to a cemetery for burial. Caskets A casket is a key element in this process and a focal point for your family. There are basically two types of caskets: wood and metal. Do you have a preference? Hardwood caskets include a variety of species: mahogany, walnut, cherry, maple, oak, pecan, poplar and pine. Metal caskets — including those made from bronze, copper, stainless steel and steel — are known for their unique fjnishes. Bronze and copper are among the most durable and beautiful of the metals; both are naturally non-rusting. Stainless and carbon steel caskets come in a variety of grades, gauges, styles and fjnishes. Turn to casket book for selection. Burial Vaults or Grave Liners Most cemeteries require a burial vault or a grave liner to enclose the casket in a grave. The casket is placed in either a vault or a liner to prevent the ground from caving in. A grave liner, also called a “rough box,” is made of reinforced concrete and is lowered into the grave prior to burial. A burial vault is more substantial than a grave liner, and is usually gasketed. Most vaults are constructed of steel-reinforced concrete and are lined with other materials, including plastic, copper or bronze. Like some caskets, the vault may be sold with a warranty of protective strength. Let’s look at the selection of outer burial containers. Most people go with__________. 2
T H E P R E S E N TAT I O N | M E M O R I A L G U I D E | M E M O R I A L G U I D E • P R E C O A Memorial Guide Details Cremation Urns If your family member is planning a cremation service, then explain cremation urns. Urns, used for the permanent containment of cremated remains, come in a variety of sizes, styles and materials. In fact, there are urns to satisfy every taste, requirement and budget. You may select an urn from bronze, pewter, marble, granite, brass or from selected hardwoods. They are also available in porcelain, ceramic, stone, hand- blown glass and cloisonné. Urns range in size from single to multiple capacity, and in styling from the traditional book shape and classic Grecian design to novel creations and decorative art pieces. They can be personalized to depict an individual’s hobby or special interest. Some designs have a matching picture frame to display a photo of the individual being memorialized. Let’s take a look at the options that are available to you. Notification and Communication Transportation Many families would like to have a limousine to drive the family to the cemetery together. At the time of need, it is not a good time to drive. In addition, many families we serve today have children and family spread out over the entire country. The travel cost can be very high given the suddenness of a family death. Many family members can be placed in a fjnancial bind by purchasing airline tickets on the spur of the moment. Therefore, many of the families we help like to set a side some funds for travel and lodging. Most airline tickets can be purchased for approximately ______________ and hotels run about _______________ per night. 3
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