Arranging a funeral for a loved one is a difficult undertaking, especially if you’ve never had to plan one before. From picking out a headstone to choosing a coffin, there are many tasks you’ll need to take care of. To help you feel a little less overwhelmed, gain a basic understanding of how funerals are structured with the following guide.

Visitation

Traditional funerals often begin with a visitation. It allows family members, friends, and other loved ones to pay their last respects to the deceased. It can be held in a funeral home, a church, or at the home of a family member.

During a visitation, the body of the deceased is usually present. Whether the casket is open or closed will depend on the wishes of the deceased and their family members. Open-casket visitations are sometimes referred to as viewings.

Eulogy

The funeral service is typically held in the chapel of the funeral home or at the church the deceased attended. After a welcome and introduction by a priest or other clergy member, there may be prayers or scripture readings as well as the singing of hymns and other musical selections.

Often, a loved one will read a eulogy; in some cases, there may be multiple. Occasionally, eulogies may be replaced with readings from poems or other texts that held meaning for the deceased.

Committal Service

During this portion of a funeral, the deceased is taken to their final resting place. Depending on their wishes, this could be at a headstone or gravesite, a mausoleum, or a crematorium if the body is being cremated. A prayer or secular reading may be read before the deceased is finally laid to rest.

If you’re planning a funeral and need help choosing a headstone, get in touch with Hawaii Art Stone of Honolulu. Serving the entire island of Oahu, this company creates beautiful, custom engraved headstones, tombstones, and grave markers to honor loved ones. To learn more about their materials and engraving options, visit the website or call (808) 744-3162.