Funeral or Memorial Service? Texas Funeral Homes Can Help You Plan
Whether a loved one dies unexpectedly or you knew it was coming, you have some decisions to make and funeral homes in Texas can help. Do you choose cremation followed by a memorial service or go the traditional route that your grandparents did which might include a public visitation? Both options serve the same purpose - to honor the deceased - but are carried out in different ways.
Texas Funeral Homes Can Arrange a Traditional Funeral
The traditional way involves a funeral service which starts by calling one of the funeral homes in Texas. They handle transporting the body from the place of death whether it is a hospital or nursing home to the funeral establishment. Next, the deceased is washed, disinfected and often embalmed, especially if a public wake or visitation takes place. Texas funeral homes will tell you that providing friends and family the opportunity to see the deceased once more can aid in accepting the death as well as the grieving process.
Visitation often happens the day before the actual funeral service which may then take place inside the funeral home or even a church or chapel. Funeral homes in Texas can organize the funeral service which could include a eulogy, perhaps a clergy-assisted service and even music. The next step in this funeral tradition is a procession from the service to the cemetery for a burial committal service at graveside. Texas funeral homes can also assist in the planning of a small reception, either back at the funeral establishment or another location.
The primary benefit of having a full traditional service arranged by one of the funeral homes in Texas is closure. Theoretically, surviving friends and family know that a loved one has died but they may not fully accept it until they see the deceased housed within a casket before burial. The need to grieve and comfort others is important as is celebrating the deceased's life after the funeral with an informal gathering.
A Memorial is Another Service that Texas Funeral Homes Can Arrange
Just like a traditional funeral service, a memorial also is a celebration of the deceased's life and a time for friends and family to gather together in honor of them. However, there is no body present for the memorial service. Funeral homes in Texas can arrange a casket burial for your loved one quietly without a public wake or visitation. This scenario is sometimes the best choice when there are no close family and friends that can attend at the last moment.
Memorial services can be held in a church, the funeral or crematory chapel, an event hall or some other appropriate location. A memorial can be planned by you along with the assistance of your choice of Texas funeral homes a few days after death to even weeks or months later. It is especially a good fit if cremation is chosen as final disposition.
With direct cremation, a personal, private viewing can be arranged without embalming needed. Funeral homes in Texas can place the cremated remains in a decorative urn of your choosing or simply in the standard disposable container the crematory provides. It depends on your plans. You can put together a scattering ceremony along with the memorial service; in this instance, the standard disposable container is appropriate. Texas funeral homes can also help you locate a columbarium to house the cremated remains; in this instance, you would want to choose an urn.
Funeral homes in Texas can assist in other aspects of memorial planning. If you want to play a slide presentation honoring the deceased, the funeral establishment can rent the equipment necessary to play it. The same thing applies to any special music as well. Because there is no body present, a collage of photos and other memorabilia could be created in honor of the deceased's life. There is no right or wrong way to conduct a memorial service.
There is an advantage with a memorial as opposed to a traditional funeral service. The cost is lower because your choice of Texas funeral homes would not have to embalm the deceased. In addition, there are no costs associated with a public viewing. And if cremation was done as opposed to a quiet casket burial, there would be no charge for a casket, burial plot or grave liner or vault.
Funeral Homes in Texas Offer You Different Perspectives
The bottom line is what would make you and your family and friends deal with death better - a traditional funeral service or a memorial. Of course, your available budget is another factor. Texas funeral homes provide many benefits and one of them is helping you dissimilate which option would best suit you. Remember, final disposition - a casket burial or cremation - is simply how the body is handled. Funeral homes in Texas will tell you that sentiment means more so choose the funeral option that will help you and your family and friends deal with grief the best and offer comfort.