Designing Your Funeral

There are two facets of the design process. First, we ask you to consider how you wish to honor and celebrate the life that was lived. When those important decisions are made, we will turn to the issue of how you wish to care for the physical remains.

• 

  How to Honor a Life

  It’s about bringing those you love together, at a time of loss. It’s a natural thing to do, and over time, has become a socially-expected practice. More importantly, a funeral or memorial service, whether traditional, or contemporary, is the first step in healing.

  You can have your service anywhere, and any way, you want. Your choices include the place of celebration, day of the week, and time of day; the musical selection, what prayers will be read or songs you’d like sung. We can arrange to have doves, butterflies, or balloons released at the close of the service. Keepsake gifts of wildflower seeds or a tree seedling can be given. We are here to help you create the most memorable and meaningful service to honor your loved one.

• With an Eye to Your Future

  We can help you come to the decisions that will meet your needs now, and in the future. After all, you will need to live with these decisions for a long time. Doing the right thing now can make all the difference in your peace-of-mind through the coming years. Contact us today to discuss your intentions.

• 

  Burial or Cremation?

  Your next consideration focuses on choosing between burial and cremation. Usually, people are clear on this point. In fact, your loved one may have told you, or someone else, exactly how they wish to be cared for. But it can be a hard decision for some families, especially when the wishes of the deceased were never clearly stated. If that is the case, please know we are able to help you come to the perfect decision for your loved one, and for you.

  Once you decide, the finer details come into focus. If you have chosen burial, then selection of the casket, vault and desired cemetery follows. Naturally, we are here to help you.

  If cremation is your choice, then you will need to make the next decision: whether the cremated remains will be placed in a mausoleum niche, buried on the cemetery grounds, or something completely different.

  In some communities, the option for a 'green burial' exists. If that is what your loved one would prefer, we will help you select an environmentally-friendly choice.

• What's Next?

  Now that we have given you the basics, it's time to reflect more on exactly what is appropriate for you and your family. If possible, gather everyone together to speak of their feelings and desires. While it is always a good idea to consider the preferences of the deceased, please remember that a funeral or memorial is an event for the living to facilitate the healing process.

  Still looking for inspiration? Speaking with a professional planner will help to clarify your thinking. You can reach us at (570) 823-4567 at any time.