Funeral homes are businesses that specialize in burial and funeral services. Additionally, some may provide a place for mourners to gather before or after funeral services are performed. Some funeral homes even provide memory tables which feature photos or physical objects associated with deceased.
Funeral homes may be privately-owned or part of a large chain. Most funeral homes must provide price information over the phone and send out itemized price lists.
Memory tables
Families may choose to display personal memorabilia at visitations or funeral services that is meaningful to the deceased, such as photos, trophies, medals, tools from hobbies or clothing items that reflects who they were – on memory tables at visitation and funeral services. This could include things such as favorite hats or clothing items that help guests connect with them more directly.
Mourning services play an integral role in helping family members remember their departed loved ones as they truly were and allow others to understand more fully how life of a deceased has shaped him or her, making eulogies more personal and emotive.
Some families also provide a book of memories as an outlet for mourners to express their thoughts and emotions with the deceased’s family. Some funeral homes also offer memorial DVDs featuring visual images and music to allow mourners to access this valuable form of communication with them after death.
Add an interactive element to your event by setting up a station for attendees to write down special memories on paper for you to keep and cherish. This could be placed alongside memorial materials like Condolence Books and Memory Jars on a table.
Releasing butterflies as an act of respect for a loved one is an exquisite and unique way to honor them. A symbol of transformation and renewal, butterflies can add hope, beauty, love and hopefulness into a funeral or memorial service – or be kept as mementos in the home or garden forevermore.
Music
Music plays an integral part in helping mourners express their emotions after someone has passed. It can serve as both background or theme during funeral services; some families even choose to have musically skilled family or friends perform at these ceremonies.
When selecting funeral songs, it is essential to keep in mind the person whose funeral you’re planning. Consulting a funeral director may also prove useful; they have experience planning funerals and may have suggestions. Many families also record their loved one’s service so they can listen back later on.
New Orleans jazz funerals have long been a tradition. Accompanied by a brass band and featuring a parade master adorned with large sashes, black hats, and decorative parasols; onlookers join in and sway along; many participants are local residents familiar with both neighborhood culture and its traditions.
Luther Vandross’ classic “You Were There” is an emotional tribute to fatherhood, offering listeners an opportunity to recall childhood moments spent with their own. Celine Dion’s Titanic song also offers comforting reminders that even after loved ones have passed on, their memory lives on in perpetuity. Another popular funeral song includes Robbie Williams’ Angels which is beloved by many listeners.
Readings
Readings are an integral component of funeral and memorial services. Readings allow mourners to honor your deceased loved one’s beliefs and values while providing comforting words about their personality and outlook on life. Readings also serve as a basis for writing eulogies or tributes; whether it’s poetry, scripture passages, prayer requests or song lyrics readings can make lasting impressions that won’t soon be forgotten.
When choosing readings, make sure they resonate with both your loved one and family members. For example, if they were avid readers you may wish to choose readings from their favorite book; or if religious they may wish for passages from their bible verse or prayer. There are numerous options available – take the time to select ones which mean something meaningful to all involved.
Before the funeral, practice reading aloud aloud so you can warm up your voice and make sure it can be heard throughout the room. Furthermore, this practice session should help make sure that you do not become overly emotional when reading aloud.
Warming up your voice requires various strategies, including neck rolls, lip trilling, pulling big grins and yawning. Singing scales or saying tongue twisters is also useful; such techniques could prove particularly helpful if delivering a speech or reading at a funeral service.
Caskets
Caskets are among the most expensive purchases you will make when planning a traditional funeral service with burial. Caskets come in various materials and styles, from simple metal to elaborate wood; many even feature soft interior linings to provide comfortable resting space for bodies. You can personalize it further by including items important to your loved one such as trophies or sporting equipment; including photographs can help family members remember them fondly.
Not only should the style and color of your casket be considered, but its color should as well. Many families select one that evokes memories of their deceased loved one such as silver car ownership; such a casket can serve to highlight major interests and achievements through medallions placed upon it.
Before purchasing a casket, it’s wise to compare prices of various models. Funeral homes must provide you with a price list in advance so you can compare and select the most cost-effective casket. Inquire as well about whether their policies include discounts for pre-planning or provide Pre-Need trust accounts that allow you to save money; or whether direct cremation might be better as this avoids viewings and funeral services altogether.
Urns
Many who opt for cremation wish to scatter their loved one’s ashes in an emotional place that holds significance to them, such as on a favorite hiking trail or lake they enjoyed spending time at. Other options may include interment in an appropriate cemetery family plot or columbarium. Deciding what will become of your ashes can help determine the type of urn you purchase.
Urns can be made of various materials such as bronze, aluminum, ceramics, glass or wood and come in various styles, sizes and prices depending on its style, color and level of craftsmanship. Engraving costs an extra fee.
Some urns are designed for home use and range from small containers that hold only part of the ashes to picture frames containing an ash chamber behind photo sleeves; prices typically range between $150 and $400.
Companion urns are designed to hold the cremains of two people at once. They come either in oversize containers that accommodate all cremains or side-by-side containers that share bases; many urns come engraved with names, images or even life well lived poems that pay a fitting tribute. Some urns made of marble or other luxury materials add significantly to cost; alternatively online retailers often sell cheaper alternatives.
Memorials
A memorial service is an effective way to commemorate your loved one. You can host it anywhere – funeral home, church or at home. A service might include ceremonies, music and readings about their life, plaques, photos or statues as remembrance tokens and so forth. A memorial service can help ease grief following their loss.
Funeral homes are subject to the “Funeral Rule,” a federal regulation. According to this regulation, funeral directors must provide you with a paper price list and discuss options available to you, including their associated costs and merchandise or services. However, unlike in previous decades, they don’t need to post their prices online which presents problems given how often funeral shoppers search online.
Funeral homes may charge additional fees for services not legally required of them, such as selling you flowers or obituary notices that you purchased yourself. They might also tack on an “upfront cash advance fee” in order to cover their expenses when buying items such as urns and caskets for you – making a list will allow you to keep costs down while also helping with comparison shopping more easily.