Funeral & Burial Choices

Understanding Funeral Services

Wikipedia offers a simple and meaningful definition of a funeral:

A funeral is a ceremony for celebrating, sanctifying, or remembering the life of a person who has died.

At its heart, a funeral is a time to honor a life lived and to support those left behind. It brings people together for remembrance, reflection, and connection—human sharing in its deepest and most meaningful form.

There is no single “right” way to hold a funeral. Every service should be as unique as the life it honors. You and your loved ones are at the center of every decision, and the choices you make help create a meaningful experience for family, friends, and all who attend.

For more information, we invite you to explore our Cremation Choices page to learn about options when cremation is selected, and our Honoring a Unique Life page for ideas on personalizing a service.

If you have questions or would like guidance, our funeral directors are always available to help you navigate your options with care and compassion.

 
Types of Funeral Services

Traditional Funeral

A traditional funeral typically includes a visitation and viewing at the funeral home, usually lasting 3–5 hours, on the afternoon or evening before the funeral service. Because the remains are present for public viewing, embalming is required. Friends and family gather during visitation to offer comfort and support.

The following day, a formal funeral service is held at the funeral home, a church, or as a funeral Mass in a Catholic church. The service often includes music, readings, reflections, and personal remembrances. After the service, a procession follows to the cemetery, where burial takes place in the ground or entombment occurs in a mausoleum.

Contemporary Same-Day Funeral

A contemporary same-day funeral is a simplified version of the traditional service. Visitation — typically 1–2 hours — takes place immediately before the funeral ceremony, often at the funeral home or church. After the service, the procession continues to the cemetery for burial. This option is often chosen by families expecting a smaller gathering.

Graveside Ceremony

A graveside service may be preceded by a brief visitation at the funeral home, lasting about an hour. The visitation may be private or open to the public. Following this, family and guests travel to the cemetery for a ceremony held at the graveside.



Some families choose to skip visitation altogether and gather only at the cemetery for a simple committal service.

Direct Burial

Direct burial involves burial at the cemetery with no visitation, viewing, or ceremony. This option is chosen by families who prefer simplicity or plan to honor their loved one privately at a later time.