Memorial Service

People are deciding to have a memorial service instead of funeral services. The difference between a funeral and a memorial service is that the body is present at a funeral, whereas the body is not present during a memorial service. If you choose a memorial service, you will have a lot more time and flexibility to create a more personalized experience. Memorial services that focus on the interests, activities, and past times of the person who has passed away are becoming more and more popular. Consider the following criteria when planning a memorial service:

1. Location and Setting -- The Location can be as formal as a church or chapel or as informal as a park or the beach.

2. Time and Date -- Since you are having a memorial, you'll have more flexibility on the date.

3. Pick a theme or a purpose -- Consider loved one's hobbies or interests when planning your service.

4. Personalize the service -- There are many ways to personalized including memorial service programs, portraits, memory boards.

There are many resources available to help you plan your memorial service. Check the internet for many interesting ideas to help you plan the perfect service.

Also See: Celebration of Life Service

Cremation

Cremation has been around for many centuries. Today, many people are choosing cremation due to its cost-effectiveness and its environmentally friendly process. During the cremation process, the deceased placed in a combustible container and then into a special type of furnace for about three hours. At the end of that time, the resulting “ashes” are then placed in a container, or an urn, and given to the family.
There are many ways the resulting ashes can be disbursed. Ashes can be scattered, placed in an urn, or buried. There are also some very creative ways to keep the remains, such as incorporate ashes into memorial jewelry, paintings and ceramics.
Even if you have chosen cremation rather than traditional burial, that doesn’t mean there can’t be a service. A traditional funeral or memorial service can be held, complete with music, funeral poems, funeral programs, and other typical funeral elements. You can also have a non-traditional memorial services such as ceremonies is special locations like parks, the ocean, a marina or even a golf course. You can tailor the ceremony to reflect the interests of your loved one.
Cremation can be a much less expensive option, if you’re careful about which add-on services are chosen. Some of these add-on expenses include funeral casket rental for viewing the remains prior to cremation, headstones or grave marker expenses within a memorial garden, and fees to use a funeral home or church for a service. All of those may be very important to you, but remember that each time you utilize a service for viewing, transportation, memorializing and cremation of the deceased, there will probably be a cost associated with it. However, with careful planning and research, you should be able to plan for both cremation and final services that are affordable.
Also See:
Funeral Costs
Cost of Cremation
Scattering Ashes

Funeral Planning

Funeral planning can be an overwhelming task. It is can be difficult to make decisions during such an emotional time. Whether you're planning a loved one’s funeral or pre-planning your own, the process can be difficult if you do not know or understand your options. Begin by considering these four important questions.

1. What is your budget for the funeral or memorial service?
2. Do you want the body to be present at the funeral?
3. Will you have a religious or traditional funeral or a contemporary funeral or memorial service?
4. Which people will accomplish the many administrative tasks (such as creating funeral programs, selecting speakers for the service and writing obituaries) associated with funeral planning?

Answering these key questions will put you well on your way to planning the perfect funeral or memorial service that fits into your budget.

Funeral Planning

If you are planning a loved one’s funeral or pre-planning your own, the process can be much easier if you understand your options. Consider these four important questions.

1. What is your budget for the funeral or memorial service?
2. Will the body be present at the funeral?
3. Will you have a religious or traditional funeral or a contemporary funeral or memorial service?
4. Which people will accomplish the many administrative tasks (such as creating funeral programs, selecting speakers for the service and writing obituaries) associated with funeral planning?

Answering these key questions will put you well on your way to planning the perfect funeral or memorial service that fits into your budget. For more detailed information about funeral planning, see this funeral planning article.

Funeral Readings

Funeral Readings play a major part in any funeral or memorial service. Funeral readings help bring comfort to grieving mourners. Readings also help family and friends convey their feelings during this difficult time. Funeral readings can consist of a variety of sources. The most common funeral readings are:

• Funeral Poems
• Funeral Scriptures
• Funeral Prayers
• Famous quotes and sayings
• Original poetry

Readings are also included in funeral programs and other printed funeral documents. Readings can be found in everywhere, especially the internet where there are a variety of funeral reading resources.

Selecting a Funeral Program Template Design

These few questions will help you to create a memorial service bulletin template or funeral program template that fits your needs. Together, we will be able to offer those in attendance at the service a cherished keepsake of your loved one’s life.

1. What best matches your loved one’s personality? Simple, straight-forward, conservative (subtle shades of softer colors, such as pink and lavender) or wild and adventurous (splashes of red, purple, and orange).

2. Does you loved one have a favorite place that he or she enjoyed frequently, such as the beach, camping or gardening? Did he or she enjoy spring or fall? You can usually find a theme or design that depicts these places.

3. Is there a particular funeral poem, reading, or religious text that offers consolation to you or meant a great deal to your loved one? Often, personalized letters and notes are included in the funeral program.

4. If you wish to include a picture, do you want a recent photo of your loved one, or perhaps an older photograph such as a photo from a wedding, from high school, or the military?

5. Would you like to include family photos (such as photo collages) in the funeral program?

6. Did your loved one participate in a special hobby or hold a unique position of which he or she was particularly proud, and do you feel it may be appropriate to include such a theme in the funeral program template?

7. Do you wish to have a listing of special life events (e.g. graduations, marriages, military service/awards, jobs, volunteer service, and retirement) included in the funeral program?

8. Do you wish to have a listing of family members, both living and pre-deceased, included in the funeral program?

What is a Funeral Program

The funeral program (sometimes called a memorial service bulletin or funeral order of service booklet) is the printed document that outlines events in the funeral or memorial service and summarizes the life achievements of your deceased loved one. The family of the deceased usually prepares the information for the funeral program. The family may work with the funeral home or church to design the funeral program template, or they may use a company such as Elegant Memorials to create a customized funeral program template that can also serve as a keepsake.

The Funeral Program Template Layout

Funeral Program Cover:
The cover of the funeral program sometimes has a picture of the deceased, as well as their full legal name, date of birth, date of death, location and time of service, and a title for the funeral program (ex. “In Memory”, “Homegoing Celebration, etc.” "In Remembrance").

Order of Service:
The Order of Service is the next key section of the funeral program. This is the part of the funeral program that outlines the order of events for the service. The information in this section of the funeral program will be greatly effected by the cultural and religious beliefs of the deceased. If the service will is run by religious clergy, it may be best to contact your religious officiates. The funeral director will also have information, and may be able to provide you with a “typical” service outline for your funeral program. A typical Order of Service in a funeral program will contain the Prelude, Processional, Prayer, Song (Hymn of Comfort), Reading (Scripture, Poem, Prayer, Old Testament, and New Testament), Acknowledgments, Cards & Condolences, Obituary Reading, Eulogy, Final Viewing, Benediction, Recessional, and Interment location.

Obituary:
The funeral program will also contain a written obituary. The Obituary details the biographical highlights of the deceased person’s life. The obituary in the funeral program will detail where the person was born, where they lived, any information about their spouse, children and other information such as hobbies, and personal stories will be shared. It is important that the information in the obituary is reviewed to include accuracy of dates and names.

Surviving Family Members:
The immediate family members mother, father, sisters, brothers, should be listed first. Secondly, the immediate family, Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, In-laws, Grandparents, and Grandchildren should be listed. Predeceased family members may also be included in the funeral program to establish genealogy or relation of the person to an extended family.

The Back of the Funeral Program:
The back of the funeral program may include a poem, favorite song or prayer. The final section of the program may also include a personal quote from a family member, listing of pall bearers (men that carry the casket), flower bearers (women traditionally carry flowers and place them on the alter) or special acknowledgements (short thank you from the family).

When designing a funeral program, it is important to remember that the funeral program is a keepsake that represents the life of your loved one. The funeral program should be detailed and share the unique personality traits of your loved one.