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Funeral and Memorial Services
By Budda Oliver
Funeral and memorial services play a vital role in the
grieving process following the loss of a loved one.
These services provide a way to come to terms with our
loss. It is also an opportunity to receive support from,
as well as to provide support to friends and family.
Some may not have had this experience yet, or are now
experiencing it for the first time. If this is the case,
one may not know what to expect at these types of
services, or what will take place. There are many, many
diverse cultures, traditions, and religions; and there
are just as many types of funeral and memorial services.
Every memorial service is as unique as the individual it
is meant to remember.
Visitation
The visitation is most commonly held at the funeral
home, or, less commonly, at a family-member's residence.
Sometimes called a "viewing" or a "wake", the visitation
is meant to give the friends and family of the deceased
an opportunity to meet and gather to support one
another. The visitation is most normally held either the
day before the funeral, or a few days before and is held
for a few hours. It is not uncommon to have multiple
visitations during the week of the funeral. Sometimes, a
visitation will be held for a couple hours, then a break
for dinner, etc, and then held for a couple more hours.
Funeral/Memorial Service
As mentioned earlier, there are many various types of
funeral and memorial services. This is where the
deceased's background, religion, culture, and personal
traits come into play most predominantly. Typically,
most cultures and religions in the United States will
hold the funeral services in the funeral home, or at a
church, synagogue, etc. Sometimes, the funeral services
will be held firstly at the funeral home, and then moved
to the church. After the memorial, the attendees will
drive in procession to the cemetery or burial site,
although this is not always performed.
Burial Service
Sometimes the graveside service, or interment, is all
that is performed, with the memorial service included.
Other times, the bereaved will arrive at the burial site
after the funeral service. In either case, this is where
the final service is performed, and there is a final
service, prayer, and/or military honor, etc. Afterward,
the deceased is interred, or the ashes are scattered, or
are given to the family.
Mr. Oliver is a marketing agent for Morrissett Funeral
Home. The Richmond Virginia based funeral home provides
funeral and cremation services. For more information on
their funeral home in Richmond Virginia please visit
their website. |
