Funeral Ideas

Basic Funeral Ideas

When a loved one dies, grieving family members and friends are confronted with dozens of decisions about the funeral - all of which must be made quickly and often under great emotional duress. What kind of funeral should it be?

Each family is different, and not everyone wants the same type of funeral. You may want a traditional funeral service with visitation and a member of the clergy conducting services at a church or a funeral home. Do you want an open or closed casket? Maybe you want a special friend to do the eulogy or family members to read scripture passages or poetry. Or maybe a memorial service, where the boy is not present, is more appropriate.

Funeral services are largely influenced by religious and cultural traditions, costs, and/or personal preferences. These factors help to determine whether the funeral service will be elaborate or simple, public or private, religious or secular, as well as the location of the event. Funeral customs can also influence whether or not the body is present at the funeral, if there is a visitation and/or viewing, whether the casket will be open or closed, and whether the remains are buried or cremated. Some of the funeral ideas you'll need to consider is whether you want a basic types of funeral service, or something in-between when planning a funeral.

Traditional Services

Direct Burial Services

Direct Cremation Services

Funeral Ideas: Traditional Services

A traditional funeral service usually includes a viewing or visitation, a formal service, use of a hearse to transport the body to the funeral site and cemetery, and burial, entombment or cremation of the remains. Traditional funerals are generally the most expensive type of funeral. In addition to the funeral home's basic services fees, costs often include embalming and dressing the body; funeral home rental for the viewing or service; and use of vehicles to transport the family. The cost of a casket, cemetery plot, crypt and other products and services increases these costs.

Funeral Ideas: Direct Burial Services

A direct burial is when the body is buried shortly after death, usually in a simple container. No viewing or visitation is involved (so no embalming is necessary). A memorial service may also be held at the graveside or at a later date. Direct burials usually cost less than traditional funeral services. The only costs involved may be the funeral home's basic service fees, as well as the transportation and care of the body, the purchase of a casket or outer burial container such as a vault, and a cemetery plot or crypt. If the family chooses to be at the cemetery for the burial, the funeral home may also charges an additional fee for a graveside service.

Funeral Ideas: Direct Cremation Services

Direct cremation services involves the body being cremated shortly after death. The remains are then placed in an urn or another type of container. With this type of service, there is usually no viewing or visitation involved, although a funeral* or memorial service may be held, with or without the cremated remains being present. Many people often choose to have the remains kept in their home, buried, placed in a crypt, or scattered in a favorite location. Like direct burials, direct cremation services also cost less than a traditional service. The funeral costs involved with direct cremation include the funeral home's basic services fees, transportation and care of the body, crematory fees and charges for the urn or other container to hold the remains. Funeral providers who offer direct cremation services must offer to provide alternative containers that can be used in place of a casket. The cost of a cemetery plot or crypt is included only if the remains are buried or entombed.

Note: A common misconception is that when the body is cremated you don't hold a funeral. You can hold a funeral before cremation.

Funeral Ideas: Summary

In summary, there are generally three types of funerals: Traditional, Direct Burial and Direct Cremation. Traditional funeral services are the most expensive of the three. To assist you with your final decision, you should review Step 3: Average Funeral Costs.