Funeral, Memorial or Celebration of Life: Which One Is Right for You?
When someone passes away, there are several different types of services their family may choose to hold for them. Some of them, such as a funeral, are more religious in nature, while others, such as a celebration of life events might be secular and feel more like a party. It is important to know the differences between these services to help you decide which one is right for you and your family. Directors of funeral homes in Elk Grove Village, IL explain more.
Funeral Service
This is by far the most traditional type of service held. Funerals have been around for thousands of years and can be found in every culture. These services are religious in nature and most often officiated by a religious leader. When you attend a funeral, you will typically go to a church or funeral home although they can technically be held anywhere.
The service itself is a somber, quiet one. It is a time to gather with other members of the community to honor the deceased and their life. There will be an order of service that will most often include hymns being sung and passages and verses from the bible being read.
After the funeral, the body will be taken to the cemetery for ground burial. This ceremony may be public or private depending on the family’s preference.
Memorial Service
A memorial service is much like a funeral except that it may be more secular in nature. This means that instead of a religious leader acting as the officiant, that role may go to a family friend or community leader.
Also, these services are often held for those who have been cremated. In this case, the remains of the deceased may or may not be displayed in an urn in the room. Like funeral services, memorial services are most often held in churches or funeral homes but may be held anywhere the family would like.
These services are also more somber, quiet events that tend to follow an order of service including things like poems being read, eulogies being delivered, and music selections being played.
Celebration of Life Event
This type of service is a newer one and is growing rapidly. It is very different than a memorial or funeral service in that the overall mood is not somber, but rather, celebratory. These services feel more like a party rather than a quiet service.
These events may have an order of service like a funeral or memorial service, or they may have no order at all and be more of a free-flow event. They can be held in churches or funeral homes, but often they are held in locations like restaurants, public parks, community gardens, sports pubs, etc.,
Instead of being quiet services, these services may be louder and filled with laughter as friends and family gather at these services to celebrate their loved ones. Seeing people smile and hearing them recount stories and memories of their loved ones is common in these events.
If you would like more information about these services or other services provided by funeral homes in Elk Grove Village, IL, give us a call anytime as we are always here to help.
