When someone passes away, it’s customary for friends and family of the deceased to gather together to mourn the loss and celebrate the memory of a rich life once lived. During the planning stages, keep in mind there are different types of funeral services you can hold based on what your loved one’s final wishes might have been. To ensure you arrange a service that would make them proud, below is a brief guide to different options. 

A Guide to Services to Honor Your Loved One

1. Cremation 

For a more environmentally friendly option, many people opt for cremation services. There can be a viewing of the remains in a casket as part of a funeral before the body is cremated. The cremains is kept in an urn or scattered in a place that was meaningful to the deceased.

Cremains can also be divided among family members or incorporated in jewelry and distributed to close friends and family. Cremation is a popular solution when people live far away and can’t visit the funeral home immediately to pay their respects. 

2. Funeral

With a traditional funeral service, the remains of the deceased are embalmed and laid to rest in a casket. During the viewing, gatherers can walk up to the casket and say their final goodbyes to the departed.

Someone close to the deceased is often asked to read a eulogy. The speech provides insights into the person’s life and accomplishments. It’s also customary for mourners to sing songs and share stories to mark the occasion. The casket is then lowered into the ground at the cemetery, where people might leave flowers and other small tokens on top of the casket.

3. Memorial

As the body is not present, there is no visitation or viewing at a memorial service. That’s because the remains were buried or cremated before the event.

Otherwise, the service can include storytelling and singing, just like at a traditional funeral service. As memorials are often held to celebrate life instead of mourning loss, people often release balloons or light candles in remembrance. 

Whether you want to hold a memorial, cremation, or funeral service for a departed loved one, the caring professionals at Covenant Funeral & Crematory provide compassionate services. Based in Chattanooga, TN, the funeral home has been a fixture in the community since 1894. Five generations later, the funeral directors at this family-owned business are still committed to handling every aspect of making arrangements so families can concentrate on grieving and healing. Meet the staff online and call (423) 485-0911 for a consultation.