Although cremation has many options, the 3 primary choices include:

Option 1: Traditional visitation and funeral followed by cremation.  Many families want a traditional visitation and funeral where the body is viewed in a casket followed by a funeral service in their church or in our funeral home.   Often clergy encourage families to spend time with the body of the deceased so they can come to terms with the death of their loved one (obtain closure).  We handle all details including care of the remains, newspaper notices, printed materials, flowers, church, and even the funeral lunch if the family desires.  After the funeral, the deceased is taken to our crematory for cremation.

Option 2. Cremation with a memorial service in the funeral home or another location.  This choice includes a gathering time for family and friends in the funeral home or church with the cremation urn present culminating with a memorial service (celebration of life).  The contents of the urn are the deceased and become the focal point or meaning for the memorial service.  We prepare a special video presentation of the deceased where a flat panel monitor is placed next to the urn during the visitation and funeral.  By doing so family and friends can enjoy seeing their loved one throughout different times in their life. This is far better than using a framed photo next to the cremation urn during the visitation and funeral.  Evening is the most convenient time for most people to attend a memorial service because close friends of the family (especially co-workers) are not working at that time.  In fact, 60% of the people who come to pay their respects never knew the deceased. - they know members of the family and want to be there to offer their support.  Our funeral home is commonly used for the memorial service because most churches are not available in the evening. Although individuals have every right to choose cremation, the decision to have a memorial service is often made by the surviving family because they must decide for themselves how to work out their grief.  A few individuals demand their family have absolutely no service thinking this will save their family cost and sadness.  These demands may lead to anger and frustration, particularly if some family members feel they need to stop and commemorate the life of someone they loved so dearly.  The decision to have a memorial service is a crucial one, because it can never be done over again.  It should be talked over by every member of the family so no one feels left out.  Cremation cannot take place for 48 yours following the death (state law) so there is ample time to think this through carefully.

Option 3. Basic cremation.  This option is used less than the others because it involves no memorial service or tribute to the person who died.  Individuals considering this choice need to be open (sensitive) to the needs of what their grieving children may want and the support they may need from their friends at the time of your death.