Understanding the Type of Funeral Service that Arizona Funeral Homes Can Help You Plan
Many types of funeral services and ways to honor the deceased exist and funeral homes in Arizona can help you plan one. Did you know that there is no right or wrong way to have a funeral? Grief is a personal experience and cannot be adequately measured. People grieve in many ways so funerals that honor a loved one are likely to be vastly different. Arizona funeral homes can help you plan a funeral service that is fitting for the deceased as well as the family members and friends who are left behind. A funeral can be the right opportunity to share the best memories of your deceased loved one. While there are no real rules to follow, there are some basic guidelines to understand for facilitating the planning.
Traditional Funeral Services in Funeral Homes in Arizona
A traditional service is typically held in the presence of the deceased's body - with in a closed or open casket. A clergyman typically presides and the funeral service is held quickly, within a few days of death. There is a visitation time frame before the funeral service is held inside one of the Arizona funeral homes or even a nearby church. If the deceased was of a specific denomination, the religious service typically follows the tenets of that faith. There may be scripture readings, hymns sung and even a eulogy prepared. A procession from the funeral to the gravesite often follows where a committal service is performed as the final part of the entire funeral.
Funeral Homes in Arizona Can Lend a Hand with a Memorial Service
A memorial service is a little different from a traditional funeral service. In this case, the deceased's body is not present although if cremation was done, the cremated remains may be. Arizona funeral homes can take care of the final disposition of the deceased for you and it may be accomplished before or after the memorial. In fact, a memorial service can happen days, weeks or even months after death.
Funeral homes in Arizona can help you arrange a religious or non-religious memorial which can be held in their establishment or even a chapel. Memorials may even be in another location such as a private home, outside or even a rented facility. Memorial services can serve in place of a funeral service or even in addition to one. For instance, you might have Arizona funeral homes handle the funeral service in the town or city where the deceased lived and died while a memorial service could be scheduled at another time, perhaps in the community where they lived at another time in their life.
Committal Services at Graveside
A committal service is typically an addition to a traditional funeral service or memorial. This type of service can be planned with the assistance of funeral homes in Arizona and is held at the gravesite before burial of the casket or urn (if cremated) or in the chapel area of a crematorium before cremation commences. When the deceased is to be in a casket and buried in the cemetery, the committal service is typically held right after the funeral service. If cremation is the choice of final disposition, the committal service may not happen until such time as the ashes are scattered, buried in a cemetery or placed in a columbarium.
Arizona funeral homes can facilitate this type of service, especially if you wish to have more ceremonial aspects incorporated. If you or the deceased did not have a church, the funeral director or specialist can help find clergy to conduct any religious aspects. You may wish to choose someone to play music or share stories of the deceased. Maybe you want everyone to place a flower on the casket or grave as a final goodbye.
Funeral Homes in Arizona Can Mix Elements of Different Services
Because there are no wrong ways to honor your deceased loved one's life, perhaps you could have the funeral specialist help with creating a new type of service that incorporates elements of other types. Instead of having a traditional funeral service, have an affirmation of life service instead. The deceased body can be present or not and the service could have religious elements along with a positive, personalized celebration of the deceased's life.
Regardless of the service you choose to hold in honor of the deceased, Arizona funeral homes will also ensure that state laws are followed as well. For instance, did you know that embalming or refrigeration is needed after the first 24 hours after death? In addition, if public viewing is wanted, embalming may be required by funeral homes in Arizona. The choice of cremation requires a special permit issued by the local medical examiner. And while a casket, liner or vault is not required by the state, if you plan cremation, the deceased must be transported in a rigid, leak-proof container. And how does the deceased get from the place of death to one of the Arizona funeral homes of your choosing? The funeral director or specialist handles this detail for you.
You may also require assistance in filing and obtaining copies of the death certificate for any legal issues that may arise when dealing with the deceased's affairs. While many things could be handled on your own, the time you spend doing them would be best used comforting family and friends and dealing with your own grief. Allow funeral homes in Arizona to help you as much as possible to make life easier so you can concentrate on honoring the deceased in a special way through a service or ceremony of your choosing.
I found Heritage Cremation when I was calling funeral homes in the area to make cremation arrangements for my brother. The cremation cost was a big concern for me and compared to the other funeral homes I found Heritage Cremations had the best price and the most compassionate staff. I was a bit worried because the cremation services price at Heritage Cremation was so much less than the other cremation services I was quoted, but I have to say the cremation service was beautiful. Visitors actually complimented me on the cremation service, and the kindness of the staff at Heritage Cremation. 
