There is no procession to a cemetery or crematorium afterwards. Let's explore five major types of funerals, so you can decide what's right for you or your loved one when the time comes. The lack of ceremonial services also cuts down on overall funeral costs, but the cost of the cemetery plot should be taken into account when figuring total expenses. Because there is a viewing, typically the body will be embalmed. A Single Funeral Service is when the Service is held entirely at one place with the committal service incorporated. Often, direct burial happens when the family does not live near the decedent. Types of Services. See below for more details on each of those types of funeral services. Usually, the family scatters the ashes into the wind, at a location that was especially important to the deceased. People sometimes call wakes visitations or viewings. In the United States, there are many different types of funeral services. But you may choose to have the remains transferred into a permanent urn (the facility serving you will be happy to do this for you). The term viewing is often used interchangeably with wake and visitation, but it does have an official meaning all its own. To learn more, call us today at 609-383-9994. Having a visitation encourages you to openly and honestly mourn the death. For more information on wakes, including etiquette and expectations, please see here. Friends and family may sing or play songs in memory of the deceased, and someone may also deliver a eulogy. A traditional funeral service includes a viewing or visitation, a formal funeral service (at the funeral home, local church of location of your choice) and the necessary automotive equipment, such as a hearse to transport the body to the funeral site and cemetery. Cremation. The traditional funeral service is still the most common type of funeral ceremony held in many parts of the country. Most funerals are followed by a gathering of friends and family. This occurs when all details about the Funeral are shared with the general public. Traditional funerals are the most expensive way for handling remains and a goodbye ritual. Funeralocity helps you find and compare funeral homes in your area so you can select the type of funeral service that best fits your needs. There may also be a funeral reception or repast for family and friends of the deceased to come together after the burial. Because loved ones are committing the deceased back to the earth, this intimate service is also called a committal service. A wake is the solemn service usually occurring just before the funeral. You want them to be honoured in a way that reflects their life, which means you’ll need to find the right kind of service that best suits them. There are numerous possibilities when it comes to choosing a funeral service. A graveside service often follows a traditional funeral, but sometimes may be the only service a family chooses. The beauty of memorial services is that they do not have to occur within a certain time frame following a death. If a family prefers this method to a chapel, then a memorial service is held in the crematorium. A memorial service is usually held after the deceased is buried and there is no viewing or visitation. Funeral homes conduct different types of cremation. Something as personal and meaningful as commemorating the life of a loved one shouldn’t be restricted. Friends and family will remember you invited them and often stay more available to you in the months that follow the death. Christian and Muslim types of funeral services are bit similar as they are believed in the same God. For example, U.S. President Calvin Coolidge’s committal service contained the following: Sometimes a family desires to bury their loved one, but does not plan a funeral or other formal ceremony. Non-religious funerals. Funerals exist for the living; for survivors who suffer the loss of a loved one. Let Serenity Funeral Home of Pleasantville, New Jersey help with your funeral arrangements. Also known as a “full service” funeral, traditional funerals tend to be the main package offered by most funeral homes. Traditional funerals usually include elements such as prayers, eulogies, readings, and music. Single Funeral Service . They can occur a day after interment or inurnment, a year later, or whenever. Non Denominational or Denominational Funerals. Sympathy Gifts Delivered: 5 Thoughtful Gifts to Send to Those Who Grieve, Grief Counseling: Your Options for Help & Support, What Is a Death Knell? The ceremony itself is usually similar to a graveside or committal service. Use zip code for more precise search results, Use exact address for more precise search results, Transparent pricing for all funeral and cremation providers, Compare all of your options from the comfort of home, Access to valuable end of life information, Competitive financing and insurance options. What you need to know about funerals, cremation, grief, & more. Trends have also influenced funerals, e.g., green burials and crowdfunded funerals have recently grown in popularity. Taking a few extra days can often help the bereaved family ensure they select the funeral home and the funeral services which best meet their needs and which best memorialize… That’s why we offer customizable funeral services. The funeral home simply buries the casket. The funeral ceremony is held in a Church or Chapel and is followed by a cremation or burial at a cemetery of your choice. A graveside service is a funeral service that occurs at the cemetery, where family and friends pay their final respects before the casket is lowered into the ground for burial. We recommend only the best products and services, and we abide by all FTC regulations. It is very similar to a traditional funeral, with the exception being that the body or cremated remains are not present. Some families prefer funeral services in a place of worship or a funeral home chapel, incorporating religious readings and music. Direct burial tends to be an affordable funeral option as embalming of the body isn’t necessary and a simple box can be used for burial instead of an expensive casket. There are a number of ways to hold a funeral service where the focus is on being kinder to the environment. Green funerals. In this article, we hope to shed some light on 10 of the most common types of funeral services and related events in the English-speaking world. The decision on when to hold the funeral is entirely at the discretion of the bereaved family. A funeral service follows the viewing/visitation and is held at a funeral home, church, or other event space. Traditional services often include a viewing before the ceremony; this can be arranged immediately before the ceremony or in the days leading up to it. Attended Funeral Service: This type of Funeral Service is the most popular. We hope that this article enlightened you on the differences between these 10 types of funeral services, ceremonies, and events! This means that the remains are often not present. Types of funeral service. This type of Funeral Service is invitational only at the family’s/arrangers discretion. Here are the ten types of funeral services: Let’s take a look at each of these in turn. Planning a funeral for a loved one can be a difficult time. We exist to to help you through this difficult time by providing the very best information and the best funeral products. A memorial service differs from a funeral service in that the body is not present. Following cremation, the funeral home or crematory returns the remains to the family, who may or may not choose to have a memorial service later on down the road. The cremated ashes are placed in an urn which can be buried below or above ground, scattered, or kept by the family. It is very similar to a traditional funeral, with the exception being that the body or cremated remains are not present. Following this, the family may host a reception or lunch in memory of their loved one. Funeral attendees gather at the gravesite for a ceremony led by a chosen officiant and as with traditional funeral services, there may be eulogy readings, prayers, and music (although a graveside service tends to be a shorter affair). We offer many types of services specifically for cremations, from cremation followed by services, to traditional cremation with a casket, visitation, and funeral service followed by cremation. Types of funeral services and ceremonies are many depending on the needs and requirements. Please note that this post contains affiliate links, which means that if you purchase something you see on our site we may receive a commission at no cost to you. Some families hold memorial services as a way to memorialize their loved ones, while others view memorial services as celebration of life events where family and friends of the deceased can gather in remembrance, share memories, and support each other in grief. Leading a funeral service is a big deal. A celebration of life is a unique ceremony unto its own. We can cater for many different types of funeral; from traditional multifaith and non-religious funerals to personalised and colourful services. Often a pastor will speak a few words of comfort (think “ashes to ashes and dust to dust”) or the funeral director may share a few remarks at the wishes of the family, but otherwise this service is usually fairly short and simple. It is fairly straightforward: at a viewing, the body is usually present to be viewed by mourners. Caskets can be very costly, and the display for the funeral service usually includes cloths, flowers, and other decorative items. However if cremation was the method of disposition, the urn containing the cremated ashes can be present during the memorial service. It is an informal time of release after the more formal elements of the funeral ceremony. You can make them held in place of worship, home, funeral place or any other location. We are here to guide you through the different funeral options for all traditions, cultures and beliefs. Here’s an overview of the different types of services that funeral providers offer. Although a funeral service and memorial service might include a committal service (also referred to as a graveside service), some people choose to solely do a committal service.A committal service is a brief ritual, often involving prayer. Memorial Service. The most common types of funeral services fall under these four basic categories: Traditional Full Service Burial. The funeral director themselves can take a number of steps to be more ‘green’ in the funeral … Let us know what your thoughts are in a comment below. For this purpose, most funeral homes have a crematorium or work in partnership with a crematorium. It can be difficult to keep them all straight in your head, or even to differentiate between the various terms. By clicking "I Accept", you agree that you read and agree to our Terms of Use, including our use of cookies. Required fields are marked *. Christians are also put the body of the dead person in the box and then bring him to the grave yard and buries him almost similar to the Muslims. Penner commits Coolidge’s body to burial. Direct burials are a more affordable option for the family that will not be having a formal funeral, but still wishes to have their loved one interred in a cemetery. It starts off with a viewing/visitation, where attendees can view the body and pay their respects to the family. A full service cremation includes a viewing or visitation, a funeral service and basic cremation services. Traditionally, wakes take place in the home, but many funeral homes now serve as venue. Scattering ceremonies can be simple or elaborate. Direct Burial. The funeral home obtains the death certificate and required permits, prepares the body, and arranges transportation to the cemetery for burial. Read more about direct cremation here. A Funeral Service can be conducted in any way that best suits the family and can be as simple or ellaborate as you wish. Similar to direct burial, direct cremation is a stand-alone event. Someone very close, such as a spouse, partner or child, might be too close emotionally. Who among your circle is best placed to do this? Sometimes, a family will choose this type of funeral with plans for a memorial service at a later date. Funeral services serve an important purpose. Embalming is unnecessary as there is no viewing/visitation, and a cardboard container can be used for the cremation process. Funeral services have evolved over the years due to changing religious and cultural traditions as well as shifts in social norms. Green and woodland funerals. With direct burial, there is no visitation, funeral, or even graveside service. Others prefer secular (non-religious) services in a public or private location. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. A casketed body or an urn with the deceased’s ashes are present. As mentioned above, people generally use the terms visitation, wake, and viewing interchangeably. All details about the funeral are kept unknown to the general public. Afterwards, the body is transported by procession to the cemetery/burial location and interred in the grave. The cremation usually takes place a day or two following the death, and the memorial service takes place sometime after – in some cases, weeks or months after the death. A hearse will transport the remains to the cemetery for burial immediately following the traditional funeral, if there is a casket. The emphasis is placed on visiting with grieving family and friends, so it’s going to be less formal than the funeral.