Frequently Asked Questions
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Why is having a funeral or ceremony important? Throughout human history, and around the globe, people have gathered together to acknowledge the death of a member of the community. No matter who the deceased was, a funeral ceremony is the one (and sometimes the only) opportunity for everyone to come together to acknowledge their death, recognize the community's shared loss and share the burden of grief.
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What is the difference between a funeral and celebration of life?
Visit this link to learn more about the many different ceremony options people consider when a loved one has died.
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What do funerals and other ceremonies all have in common?
Funerals and other ceremonies all serve to do several things:
- They help us acknowledge that someone we love has died.
- They allow us to say goodbye.
- They help us remember the person who died and gives us a time and place to share those memories with others.
- The provide a social support system for everyone grieving the death.
- They give us a focused time for us to think about the meaning of life and death.
- They offer a sense of continuity and hope for the living.
These ceremonies may be about the person who died, but they are for the living. A good funeral puts you on the path to good grief and healthy mourning.
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How much does a funeral cost?List Item 2
There is no direct answer to this question. The cost is based on the services and products selected, whether it be in advance or at the time of a death. Planning a funeral is not familiar to many people and we understand there may be an apprehension about discussing it, but we will make every effort to make it easier for you to discuss.
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Who should be invited to a funeral? It's a lot like asking 'who should be invited to a wedding': people who would want to be there. A person's role at a funeral is two-fold: one, they are there to demonstrate support for the bereaved family. Second, funeral guests are there to tend to their own sorrow; to begin to come to terms, in the safety of a shared collective experience, with the death of someone they held dear. While it's not common to send out invitations to a funeral (generally, the service details are published in the newspaper or online, and those who wish to attend, do); it does make a certain amount of sense to reach out to certain individuals by phone, email, or social media to ensure they are aware of the service date/time (and express your desire for their presence). When preparing the guest list for a funeral service, you should both listen to your heart and use common sense. You know the people that mattered most to your loved one, as well as those who mattered least. Whatever you do, don't invite more people than the venue can comfortably handle.
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How can I best prepare my children to attend a funeral? When asked this question, we like to tell people it's best done with honesty and awareness. Let them know basically what they can expect. Advise them there will be people there who will be sad and may cry openly; tell them there will be time for some people to stand up and talk about how much they loved the person (but they won't be required to do so). Let them ask all the questions they need to ask, reassure them you'll be right next to them throughout the experience. Never force them to go to a funeral, and always give them the opportunity to change their mind about attending.
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How long is a funeral service? Simply put, "it depends on the service". Just as no two movies or novels are the same length or cover the same emotional ground; no two end-of-life ceremonies are the same.
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Why have a service if I'm going to be cremated?
Cremation is an alternative to burial. The decision of disposition does not dictate what precedes it.
