Funerals are an important part of the healing process. They are a special time for friends and relatives to gather, pay tribute and share memories after someone they love has passed on. Above all, funerals allow us to:

• Come to terms with the reality of death;

• Share in the remembrance of a life lived;They are a time to remember;

• Show mutual support for family and friends;

• Say goodbye;

• Begin to make the transition from life before death to life after death.

FUNERAL FUNDAMENTALS

The Funeral Ritual

The funeral ritual itself is comprised of many elements. These different elements are organized to give each person touched by the loss a time to grieve, reflect and begin to heal.

The Visitation

• Sometimes called "the wake";
• A time for family and friends to see their loved one for the last time and truly begin to come to terms with the reality of death;
• Casket can be open or closed;
• Viewing is a personal and cultural choice.

The Funeral Ceremony

• Sometimes called "the reflection", "eulogy", “tribute” or "remembrance";
• A personal reflection from one or several people on the life of their loved one can be held in a place of worship or in the chapel of the funeral home.

The Procession

• Sometimes called "the motorcade”;
• An orderly transportation of the deceased to their final resting place;
• Symbol of mutual support; public honoring of the death.

The Farewell

• Sometimes called “interment", "entombment", “committal” or "scattering ceremony";
• Brings finality to the funeral ritual;
• Family and friends gather at the resting place to offer their final private thoughts to the loved one .

The Gathering

• Sometimes called "the celebration" or "the reception";
• An occasion for the family to say thank you to friends who shared in the funeral ritual;
• A time to offer condolences and show mutual support;
• Can take place anywhere the family chooses;
• Allows for the beginning of the transition to life after death.

Burial or Cremation?
Choosing the method to care for your loved one after death is a personal decision, and in some cases, a religious or cultural one. Whatever your preference, we encourage you to consider including each of the elements in the funeral ritual as they are an integral part of the healing process from moving from life before death to life after death.

TYPES OF FUNERAL SERVICES

The most common types of funeral services for both burial and cremation are:

Burial:

1. Complete Funeral Service

• Friends and family are invited to visit the funeral home to pay their respects to the deceased and offer condolences to the family.
• Visitation provides time for sharing and remembrance and is followed by a funeral ceremony at a place of worship or in our chapel.
• Following the funeral ceremony, the deceased is transported to the cemetery where he/she is placed in their final resting place.

2. Graveside Service

• Friends and family are invited to visit the funeral home to pay their respects to the deceased and offer condolences to the family.
• Visitation provides time for sharing and remembrance and is followed by a funeral ceremony at the cemetery or mausoleum.
• Following the funeral ceremony, the deceased is placed in their final resting place.
• Graveside service can also be arranged without visitation

3. Memorial Service

• Family and friends are invited to a ceremony for sharing and remembrance of the deceased at a time either before or after the deceased has been placed in their final resting place.
• Free from the presence of a casket, a chapel or an alternative site can be arranged with photographs and personal items from the home.

Cremation

1. Complete Funeral Service

• Friends and family are invited to visit the funeral home to pay their respects to the deceased and offer condolences to the family.
• Visitation provides time for sharing and remembrance and is followed by a funeral ceremony at a place of worship or in our chapel.
• Following the funeral ceremony, the deceased is transported to the crematory for cremation.
• Following the cremation, arrangements are made with the family for the return of cremated remains and a committal service where the deceased is placed in their final resting place.

2. Memorial Service

• Family and friends are invited to a ceremony for sharing and remembrance of the deceased at a time either before or after the deceased has been placed in their final resting place.
• A chapel or alternative site can be arranged with photographs and items from the home.