Page 7 - Perry FH
P. 7
television show with funeral scenes life of the deceased
may naturally prompt the discussion • Allow friends and family to say their
with your own loved ones. Talk about last good-byes
what you liked or didn’t like about • Provide closure after the loss of a
the services you saw or attended. loved one
• Tell your children or loved ones that • Allow friends to console the family of
because you care for them so much, the loved one
you don’t want to burden them with
difficult decisions when you’re gone. So what is a funeral? In general terms, a
Tell them you’ve made your own funeral is a gathering of family and friends
final arrangements, and give them a after the death of a loved one that allows
written record of what they are. them the opportunity to mourn, support
• Make your funeral and cemetery each other and pay tribute to the life of
plans with us and then wrap a copy the deceased. It often consists of one or
of your contract and wishes in a gift more of the following components:
box, and present it to your children.
• Make it a family affair. Schedule an
appointment with your chosen funeral Burial Plans
home or cemetery provider and invite When considering final arrangements
your children along to participate for yourself or a loved one, one of the
in the selection of services, funeral first decisions you might make is whether
merchandise and cemetery property. you prefer burial or cremation. This
decision often influences other important
Whether you’re sharing plans for your considerations, such as elements of the
own final arrangements with loved funeral service and type of cemetery
ones, or encouraging loved ones to property.
make and share their plans with you, the
conversation about planning ahead is an
important one that every family should Funeral Service
have. While no one wants to think about A formal or informal ceremony or ritual
their death or the death of a loved one prior to burial, a funeral service often
any sooner than they must, having the provides a sense of closure to family and
conversation in advance alleviates the friends. Although your faith or culture
need for potentially more unpleasant or may dictate some elements of a funeral
difficult conversations in the future. service, you may want to personalize
other elements of the service. At a funeral
Funeral Arrangements service, a casket or urn is present, though
you may choose to have the casket open
Whether you’re planning for yourself or or closed.
for a loved one, the funeral service is
one of the most important elements of Held the night before or immediately prior
a person’s final arrangements. With the to the funeral service, the visitation - also
opportunity for great personalization, called a wake or a viewing - provides a
the funeral service can truly reflect the way for friends and acquaintances to pay
uniqueness of the life it honors. respects and offer condolences to your
family. As with the funeral service, you
Regardless of whether you or your loved may want to decide if you want an open
one have opted for burial or for cremation, or closed casket should one be present.
the funeral or memorial service fills an
important role. It can:
• Honor, recognize and celebrate the
Perry Funeral Home, Inc. - Page 7
