What are my choices for memorial ceremonies?
Your options for memorial ceremonies are virtually unlimited. The ceremony may be public or private, formal or informal. It may be held at the funeral establishment, in church, at graveside, at some place of special significance, or a combination of the above. It may revolve around an open casket, a closed casket, the cremated remains, or a display of photographs or other memorabilia. And it may occur before the burial or cremation, days or weeks afterward, or both. Elements of a ceremony may include a religious service, vocal or instrumental music (perhaps favorites of the deceased), and readings of eulogies, prayers or poems. Individuals may be invited to share something they recall or treasured about the deceased. For a veteran, the survivors or funeral home may be able to arrange military honors, including honor guardsmen and the playing of Taps. For some religious and ethnic groups, being in attendance when the cremation takes places is important. Because it has its own crematory,
Your options for memorial ceremonies are virtually unlimited. The traditional funeral is a solemn contemplation of death and the afterlife. Today’s personalized services can permit a more expressive sharing of feelings. And they may focus less on mourning the death than on celebrating the life that was lived. The ceremony may be public or private, formal or informal. It may be held at the funeral establishment, in church, at graveside, at some place of special significance, or a combination of the above. It may revolve around an open casket, a closed casket, the cremated remains, or a display of photographs or other memorabilia. And it may occur before the burial or cremation, days or weeks afterward, or both. Elements of a ceremony may include a religious service, vocal or instrumental music (perhaps favorites of the deceased), and readings of eulogies, prayers or poems. Individuals may be invited to share something they recall or treasured about the deceased..
