Memorial and funeral services are beautiful options for honoring the life of a loved one and saying goodbye. The team at Whitley’s Funeral Home offer both services for their clients in Kannapolis, NC. To help you decide which one is right for you, they’ve shared a guide to the difference between the two and how to choose between a funeral or memorial service.

Comparing Funerals & Memorial Services

What’s the Difference?

Because these services are very similar, they often get confused. Both of these services bring together the loved ones of the deceased to share in their loss, support each other, and celebrate the life. A funeral service is usually held in a church or funeral home where the remains are present. Depending on the family’s preferences, the body may be available for viewing. After the service, there is a procession to the cemetery where the casket is lowered into the ground. A memorial service is usually held after the deceased has been buried or cremated, and it focuses more on telling the story of the deceased rather than following a ceremonial process.

Which Is Right for You?

A funeral is a tradition dating back thousands of years, so it’s the right choice if you want to follow that tradition. People often choose to have the body embalmed and allow a viewing, but if you do not want to do that, you can have a closed-casket funeral as well. Memorial services provide more room for creativity. For example, if your loved one wanted to be cremated and have their ashes scattered, you can have the service before or after the scattering ceremony. It also allows you to delay the service a bit to accommodate anyone who is coming from out of town.

There is no wrong answer when you decide between a memorial service and funeral; what matters is honoring the life of a passed loved one. Whichever service you choose to hold for your loved one, the team at Whitley’s Funeral Home will help you handle all the arrangements. They are a full-service funeral home that has been a part of the community since 1913. Contact the funeral director at (704) 933-2222 to start planning and request pricing.