Countryside Funeral Home & Crematory

What is a Memorial Service?

Unlike a traditional funeral, a memorial service is a gathering where a casket is not present (although the urn with the cremated remains may be on display). A memorial service can be held weeks or even months after the death, which has benefits for family living abroad.

A memorial service can be held in a church, the funeral home, a community hall, or somewhere of importance to the deceased and family. There is usually music, selected readings, and a eulogy. Memorial services can be further personalized as a celebration of life.

Memorial Service Ideas

Our experience has demonstrated that many families today want more than a traditional funeral. This can be done by bringing more of the personality and lifestyle of the deceased into the arrangements. By displaying photographs or staging the event around a favorite pastime, a memorial service can become more personal and meaningful.

If a personalized memorial service suits the needs of your family, we suggest you consider the following questions:

  • What did your loved one like to do?
  • What was he or she like as an individual?
  • What was their profession and how did that shape their life?
  • Was your loved one spiritual?
  • Were they proud of their culture or ethnic background? 

Why a Memorial Service?

Rather than opting to do things "the same old way," many families today often decide to celebrate the life of a loved one. Funeral service professionals see this change as one of the contributions to social change made by Baby Boomers. The National Funeral Directors Association notes, "As baby boomers age and find themselves having to plan funerals for loved ones and themselves, they are making funeral choices based on values that are different than previous generations. Baby boomers see funerals as a valuable part of the grieving process and are seeking ways to make them meaningful." If you would like to explore funeral ceremony for a loved one that is more engaging and personally meaningful, a celebration of life may be the perfect concept to build on.


Ask About Memorial Services

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