Traditional Funeral Services

The Basics of a Traditional Funeral Service

Traditional funeral service include:

Visitation

This is often called a viewing or a wake. Guests come to pay their respects to the deceased by viewing their casketed body and spending time with the grieving family. A visitation can occur at any time before the funeral service.

Funeral Service

This event commonly takes place at the funeral home, a church, or at the graveside. It can include music, the reading of literary or religious passages, a eulogy, prayer, and the singing of hymns.
 

Committal Service

If the family plans to bury the deceased, this stage involves the vehicle procession to the cemetery and gravesite for the burial service.
 

Funeral Reception

Many choose to host this post-service gathering (or repast) at a reception hall. This is considered a time to share memories, laughter, and support.
 

A funeral service, whether traditional or more modern (memorial service or celebration-of-life), has two functions: to acknowledge the death and lifetime achievements of an individual and to bring grieving family members and friends together in support of one another during this difficult time.

If you are interested in making funeral arrangements for a loved one, we invite you to call us at 937-848-6651 to begin.

Online Sources:

Rostad, Curtis, "The Basics of Funeral Service", Indiana Funeral Directors Association, 2014