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Funeral Service Options

This page gives an overview of the funeral and memorial service options that may be available to consumers. They involve differing levels of oversight by a funeral home and can enable for varying degrees of involvement for family members and loved ones.

Funeral Services

The general, traditional definition of a "funeral service" is one in which the body of the deceased person is present, whether that be in a casket or similar vessel. These services may take place in a church, community center, or other setting, as is desired by the family and facilitated by a funeral home.

Image by The Good Funeral Guide
Image by The Good Funeral Guide

Memorial Services

Generally, memorial services are ones in which the body is not physically present or in which the body is present as cremated or hydrolyzed remains. Celebration of life ceremonies, vigils, and similar types of receptions that often occur in addition to funeral services would qualify as examples of memorial services, as would urn services. While the body is not physically present at these services, they may or may not still be facilitated by a funeral director, if the family chooses.

Home Funerals

Home funerals are usually family or community-led endeavors that occur in the decedent's home, an assisted living facility, a hospital, or other residential space. In certain cases, family members or loved ones may choose to consult with a funeral director in planning the service but, in certain states, a family member or loved one may file paperwork that designates the person to act as a funeral director. Conducting a home funeral involves several responsibilities, up to and including:

  • Planning and carrying out after-death rituals or ceremonies, including bathing, dressing, and laying out the decedent for home visitation of his/her body

  • Preparing the body for burial or cremation;

  • Filing paperwork, such as the death certificate and burial transit permit;

  • Transporting the deceased to the location of burial or cremation;

  • Facilitating the final disposition (such as digging the grave at a natural/green burial)

(Funeral Consumers Alliance)

Graveside Services

Graveside services may be conducted at the conclusion of or in addition to other end-of-life services--including funeral services, memorial services, and home funerals--or they may occur instead of these while drawing on similar rituals. They occur at the place of disposition--usually a cemetery or related location--and often immediately precede burial. Following graveside services, families and loved ones often choose to conduct a reception at the cemetery or at another location, sometimes immediately following the service or on another date. 

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