Posts Tagged ‘funeral service’

If you’re planning the funeral of a loved one, you may come across a pamphlet or advertisement for a tribute video. Funeral videos are a way of creating an audio-visual tribute to the deceased through a series of photographs, images of favorite items, captions or titles, and music. Popular in recent years because of the blurring of the lines between the funeral industry and technology, video tributes are also a unique and beautiful way to provide a touch of personalization to the memorial service.  For more in depth funeral planning guidance, download our guide “7 Insider Tips You Need to Know Before Funeral Planning”

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Nine times out of ten, funeral plans call for a religious official or funeral home director to oversee the proceedings at a memorial service. Although there are no rules about who can or can’t officiate a funeral, it is usually best to have someone who can provide comfort without breaking down in the face of such a sudden loss.

However, this doesn’t mean that you can’t opt to officiate a funeral on your own. If you would like to feel a deeper connection to the funeral planning process, or if you have a history of public speaking and would like to ensure that the funeral has a personal touch that everyone can connect to, you may wish to be in charge of the service yourself. If this is the case, here are a few steps for planning the ceremony.

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One of the memorial service options that appears in almost all funeral plans, regardless of religious or personal preference, is the moment of silence. Defined as a period of silent contemplation (ranging from one to ten minutes), this time is used for everything from personal reflection and prayer to meditation. In funeral planning, it can be part of the decision-making process, memorial service, burial, ash scattering, or any other ceremony that comes with emotional weightiness.

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Funeral planning is one of the most personal and difficult things that anyone undertakes. It doesn’t matter whether it’s the funeral of a parent, a child, a brother, or a spouse—making the decisions that will lay your loved one to rest for all of eternity is something no one can be prepared to face.

Funeral traditions, those often somber practices that include ornate caskets, reverent music, and religious eulogies, exist to help those decisions become easier to make. There is a small measure of comfort to be derived from knowing that your loved one is following the same path that millions of people have traversed before.

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When it comes to funeral planning, the modern consumer has more options than ever before. From cremation and green burial to traditional interment, there is a ceremony for every type of person—and every budget.

Those hoping to reduce funeral costs even more—and to put the focus back on family—have one more option: the home funeral. Once the only way to say goodbye to those we love, a home funeral is exactly what the name suggests. Instead of having a memorial service at a funeral home and burying the deceased in a cemetery, the entire process takes place at home.

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It comes as no surprise for most people to discover that funeral planning traditions stem from the lives and viewpoints of older generations. The reason so many of the services offered through a funeral home are geared toward those with conservative views is that the largest percentage of their clientele is part of an aging population.

As Baby Boomers move to the forefront in terms of funeral pre-plans, and start organizing memorial services for their parents, themselves, and loved ones, there will be a shift away from many of the tried-and-true methods of the past.

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In an age when green funerals and funeral planning on a budget are on everyone’s lips, people are beginning to question the need for so many different containers and preparations for the disposal of a body. We researched into why natural burial, a solution in which very few preparations are made and the body is laid to rest directly within the soil of the earth, is one of the most common answers.

How Burial Works

Traditionally, the body of a loved one is embalmed before being placed in a casket, which is then lowered into a grave that contains a grave liner or vault. These various “layers” between the body of the deceased and the ground cannot stop the natural process of decomposition, but they do slow it down and also provide some comfort to families who wish to preserve their memories of the deceased.

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When most people talk about funeral planning, they assume that you (or your loved ones) live in a city where funeral services are readily available. All metropolitan centers and mid-sized cities have several funeral homes to choose from, usually in a variety of religious denominations. However, as towns get smaller and more rural, there is a chance that your town won’t have a funeral home, a cemetery, a crematorium, or any other type of facility that can help you with the funeral planning process.

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When funeral planning, today’s consumers are faced with a variety of choices. Eco-friendly or traditional burial? Cremation or interment? Pre-plan package or funeral insurance? All these choices mean that there can be a large research component when it comes to making decisions—especially if you’re looking for something that is unique, cost-effective, or better for the planet.

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Memorial gifts are a common way of demonstrating your grief and supporting a family member or friend as they move through their grief. The practice of offering a memorial gift (such as funeral flowers or an engraved memento) is one that has been increasing in popularity—and for more than just our human friends.

Losing a Pet

The loss of a pet can be as devastating as the loss of a human being, especially if someone has had their feline or canine companion for decades. For some people, moving on is as simple as finding a new four-legged friend; for others, it may be impossible to ever get over the death of a pet.

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