What is a memorial service?
A memorial service is a ceremony given for the deceased without the body present. Wikipedia states: This may take place after an earth burial, donation of the body to an institution such as a school, cremation (sometimes the cremations are present), entombment, or burial at sea. Typically these services take place at the funeral home and may include prayers, poems, or songs to remember the deceased. Pictures of the deceased are usually placed at the altar where the body would normally be. According to eHow: Generally, memorial services are held several weeks or even months following the death, or sometimes on the first anniversary of the death. Consider a church setting for formality, or a community center, park, lodge or beach for a more informal gathering.
Much like a funeral, a memorial service celebrates the life of the deceased. The only difference is that there is no body present at a memorial service. In recent years, more and more people choose memorials, especially those whose loved ones have been cremated and remains have already been disposed. Often, in lieu of a body, there is a display of photos showing moments from the deceased’s life.
A memorial service is one which occurs after the body has either been buried or cremated. There is no set time gap between the disposal of the body and the service, and times can range from immediately following to a period of weeks. It is also not necessary for the memorial service to be held in the same town as the funeral, with access for mourners being the deciding factor.
