Losing a loved one is a difficult, emotional, and overwhelming experience — a time when comfort and support are crucial. That being said, when planning a funeral, it can be stressful trying to make the right decisions during such a vulnerable time. Thankfully, funeral homes offer a range of services to help ease this process and ensure your loved one is laid to rest in a respectful and meaningful way. In this blog, we’ll explore the services offered at a funeral home.
Traditional Funeral Services
Most funeral homes offer traditional funeral services, which can involve a visitation, memorial service, and/or funeral service where the body is present. A funeral home provides essential services like transporting the body, embalming, casketing, cosmetizing, dressing, and placing the body in the casket. Funeral directors will work closely with you to create a personalized service that will celebrate your loved one’s life and provide comfort to family and friends in attendance.
Cremation Services
For those who prefer cremation, funeral homes offer cremation services, which include the transportation of the body to the crematorium and assistance with paperwork and arrangements needed for cremation. Some funeral homes offer a viewing before cremation as well. The cremated remains are placed in an urn, and the funeral director can help with memorialization, including scattering, interment, or placement in a mausoleum.
Pre-Planning Services
Funeral homes also offer pre-planning services, which allow individuals to plan their own funeral service or cremation and make crucial decisions in advance so their family members don’t have to worry about it after they’re gone. The funeral director can help with selecting burial/cremation options, caskets, headstones, and other specific services, such as special music or videos to be played during the service.
Grief Support Services
Funeral homes also offer support and resources to families and friends who have lost a loved one. Grief support services can include follow-up meetings with a funeral director or a referral to grief counseling. The funeral home may also provide resources such as grief support groups, online grief support, or helpful literature to cope with loss.
Specialized Services
Some funeral homes may offer specialized services, such as religious and military funeral arrangements, transportation of out-of-town remains, or repatriation of remains from overseas. They may also offer customized services, like designing a unique casket or urn, designing flower arrangements, or arranging for dove or butterfly releases.
Contact a funeral home like Sims Funeral Home to learn more.
When my dad passed away, it was really a relief for our family. Although that might seem strange, he suffered with cancer for so long that we were really looking forward to him not being in pain anymore. We started thinking about everything we wanted to do for his funeral, but we didn't quite know where to start. After thinking about the prospect of his service, we finally decided it would be nice to choose a memorial that he would like. We worked with his friends and our extended family to create a great event, and I was amazed with how beautiful the service was.