For thousands of years, funerals have been how we express our beliefs, thoughts, and feelings about the death of someone we love. The funeral ceremony helps us acknowledge that someone we love has died. It allows us to say goodbye. It helps us remember the person who died and gives us a time and place to share those memories with others. It provides a social support system for everyone grieving the death. It gives us a focused time for us to think about the meaning of life and death. And it offers a sense of continuity and hope for the living.
As the choice for cremation has increased over the years, holding a memorial service rather than a traditional funeral has become more popular. Unlike a traditional funeral, a memorial service is a ceremony that takes place after the body has been buried or cremated. If cremation has taken place, the urn with the cremated remains may be present. Memorial services provide for more flexibility since they are not tied to a specific time or place, and can be held weeks or even months after the death.
Sometimes people choose to hold a memorial gathering (sometimes called a celebration of life) instead of a funeral, and family and friends gather to celebrate rather than mourn. Instead of placing the most focus on mourning the person's death, guests focus on celebrating the special life lived and the joy he or she brought into everyday living and into the lives of family and friends.