Traditional Funeral Services

The Basics of Traditional Funeral Services

Traditional funeral services include:

• Visitation: This is often called a viewing or a wake. Guests come to pay their respects to the deceased and family by viewing their casketed body and spending time with the grieving family. A visitation can occur at any time before the funeral service.
• Funeral Service: This event commonly takes place at the funeral home, a church or place of worship, or at the graveside. It can include music, the reading of literary or religious passages, a eulogy, prayers, and/or remembrances from family and friends.
• Committal Service: If the family plans to bury the deceased, this stage typically involves the vehicle procession to the cemetery.
• Funeral Reception: Many choose to host this post-service gathering (or repast) at a reception hall, church or their own home. This is considered a time to share memories, laugh, and support each other.

A funeral service, whether traditional or more modern (memorial service or celebration-of-life), has two functions: to acknowledge the death and lifetime achievements and passions of an individual and to bring grieving family members and friends together in support of one another during this difficult time.

If you are interested in making funeral arrangements for a loved one, we invite you to call us at 502-863-3550 to begin.