When it comes to planning a funeral service for your loved one, many families have the responsibility of making those kinds of decisions unless pre-planning arrangements were made in advance. Often, funeral practices are determined by religious and cultural traditions, the costs related to a funeral service, and personal preferences of the deceased or the family planning the funeral. All of this is taken into consideration when you sit down with one of our Funeral Directors at Roper & Sons in Lincoln, Nebraska. For the purpose of this blog, we are going to focus on planning a “traditional” funeral.
Every family is unique and that includes the elements they want included in a traditional funeral. Generally, a traditional funeral can cost more because you are receiving many services provided by the funeral home including embalming and dressing the body, the use of the funeral home for the viewing and/or service, the use of vehicles to transport the family to the burial if you choose not to use your own, and the use of the funeral home for the gathering after the service. The costs for the casket, cemetery plot or crypt, and other items and services will be additional costs to consider.
A funeral can range from being elaborate or simple, to private or open to the public, to being held in a church or at a funeral home. You may decide to include a viewing or visitation, and decide if the casket will be open or closed. Another decision you will be asked to make will be about transporting your loved one to the cemetery or burial site, and whether the body will be buried, entombed or cremated.
Our funeral directors will work with you to determine the type of service you want and how much you want to spend, and then identify the goods and services available to best fit your financial needs. Our goal is to ensure that each family has various options to choose from when it comes to celebrating the life of their loved one with a traditional funeral.
Elements of a Traditional Funeral Service
Visitation
A visitation or viewing allows people to pay their final respects to the deceased and the family. It is typically held the day prior to the funeral service. During the visitation, your loved one will be placed in the casket you have selected, and is either open or closed according to the family’s wishes. This is a very informal event, and most often those in attendance will spend a few minutes by the casket and then offer heartfelt condolences to members of the family.
A visitation may be held at a church, at the funeral home, or at a public venue.
Funeral Ceremony
At the funeral ceremony, family and guests come together to respectfully remember the life of your loved one. This service can be held at a church or at the funeral home. If it is held at a church, certain religious aspects may be incorporated into the service, such as a mass. Once the service begins, there will often be a designated Officiate who may offer scripture readings and provide insight into the life of the deceased. Favorite songs may be sung during the service and family members or friends may say a few words. A eulogy is also given which encompasses the life and legacy of your loved one.
Committal
Following the funeral service, the family will travel to the cemetery where the body will be buried. Usually family and close friends attend the burial at the cemetery. Additional prayers and final words will be shared at this time. If military honors are involved, there may be a tribute performed by the Honor Guard.
Reception
The reception is the last part of a traditional funeral service. After the committal ceremony, funeral guests are often invited to a family member’s home, or back to the funeral home, for refreshments and conversation. It is a time for family and friends to gather together to express loving thoughts and emotions, as well as to celebrate the life that is no longer with them.
When planning a traditional funeral service, families have many options to choose from and Roper & Sons is here to assist you through this process. We understand how decisions may be difficult to make and that is why we will be by your side every step of the way.
Roper & Sons has several locations to serve families in Lincoln, Nebraska, and surrounding communities. Contact us at 402-476-1225 to schedule a funeral planning consultation.