Many people are now choosing to be cremated after death, but this leaves their loved ones with questions about the proper steps to take for the funeral service. Normally, the main difference between a cremation funeral service and a casket funeral service is the absence of a casket and body.
Also, a cremation service does not need to be held by a certain time period. This gives the loved ones some time to plan the funeral service, which can be quite helpful.
Time and Location of the Funeral
Normally, funerals are held in funeral homes; but when planning a cremation funeral, a person can pick just about any location to hold the ceremony. Because an urn can travel anywhere with ease, unlike a casket, a person can plan the ceremony to be in the deceased’s favorite place or at the home of a loved one.
If the deceased was of strong religious faith and attended a church, you may opt to have the memorial service at the church with fellow worshipers. This kind of memorial can mean a lot to the congregation if the deceased was well known throughout.
If the deceased was not religious, and you do not want to hold the ceremony in a home or building, you can always take the ceremony outside to a calm, beautiful location that the guests will appreciate.
Setting the Tone for the Funeral
After you have decided on a time and place to hold the funeral, you will have to decide who you would like to speak, and sometimes, who you would like to come. While it may be customary to let anyone come to the funeral who would like to, it’s not essential.
If you would like people to speak at the funeral, besides yourself, then you will first have to choose someone to write the main eulogy. Asking a person who knew the deceased well is ideal, as they can give an accurate and heartfelt eulogy that everyone will appreciate. Other people can also be approached to speak if they would like to. Knowing how many people are going to speak can help you organize the length of the funeral and plan any events you would like for afterwards.
Also, do not be afraid to decorate the venue where the ceremony will be held with items that represent the deceased, as that can allow guests to connect with the deceased on a deeper level. For instance, if the deceased loved candles, then you can have each guest light a separate candle in memory of the deceased. The candles will then be a part of the ceremony.
Memories for the Guests
Most funeral services consist of handing out programs and prayers for the guests to take home. Making these programs personal to the deceased, rather than standard prayers and pictures, is an excellent way to really make the ceremony about them. You may have a certain song that the deceased enjoyed printed out in place of the prayer, or you can have a picture that really represents the person that the deceased was. The guests will cherish this type of keepsake long after the funeral is over.
Another idea for a keepsake, besides the program cards, is bookmarks that guests will keep. You can print a picture on one side and a saying, prayer, or poem on the other. You can also print the date of birth and death on one side.
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