Types of Services
Why Have a Funeral?
“For thousands of years, funerals have been how we express our beliefs, thoughts, and feelings about the death of someone we love. The funeral ceremony helps us acknowledge that someone we love has died. It allows us to say goodbye. It helps us remember the person who died and gives us a time and place to share those memories with others. It provides a social support system for everyone grieving the death. It gives us a focused time for us to think about the meaning of life and death. And it offers a sense of continuity and hope for the living.
Funerals may be about the person who died, but they are for the living. A good funeral puts you on the path to good grief and healthy mourning.”
– Excerpt from Dr. Alan Wolfelt “Why is the Funeral Ritual Important?”
Types of Funeral Services
Whether traditional or more modern, all funeral gatherings serve a purpose. They are an integral part of celebrating a meaningful life. They bring the grieving together in support of one another.
Visitation
Also called a viewing or wake. Guests are invited to acknowledge the deceased and give support to the grieving family. A visitation can occur at any time before the funeral service. A casketed body or an urn with the deceased’s ashes may be present.
Funeral Mass or Funeral Service
A Funeral Mass or Funeral Service takes place at a church, with services led by ordained clergy. The service may include music, literary or religious passages, a eulogy, and prayer. A casketed body or an urn with the deceased’s ashes are present.
Life Story (Celebrant) Service
This service is held at the funeral home. A certified celebrant will help you create a meaningful ceremony and lead the service. All the funeral directors at Bartolomeo & Perotto Funeral Home are celebrant-trained.
Committal Service
If burial is chosen, a committal service entrusts the deceased to their final resting place. Prayers with words of farewell are a part of this ceremony. This service is often associated with Orthodox or Catholic tradition.
Memorial Service
This type of service can take place at a church or the funeral home. At a Memorial Service, the body or ashes are not present. The service may include music, literary or religious passages, a eulogy, and prayer.
A Look at Traditional and Cremains Graveside Services
Maybe you’ve never been to a graveside service. View these short films for better understanding.
Traditional Burial
Cremains Burial
How Do I Honor a Life?
Designing a life celebration service can be a daunting responsibility. With years of experience, our funeral care team will be with you every step of the way to help.
