When someone dies, one of the first decisions that need to be made is funeral vs service. What is the distinction between a funeral and a service? Which one is preferable? When and why should you choose one above the others? These are some of the questions we are going to dip in.
Let’s take a look at each sort of service so that you are aware of the distinctions and can determine which will work best for you, your family, and your loved one.
What Is A Funeral?
A funeral is a ceremony organized to memorialize and honor a deceased individual. Somber music and presenters eulogizing the deceased are common during funerals. Or they can be more light-hearted, with loved ones exchanging good memories.
Funerals, in whatever form, serve a vital purpose for the bereaved. They provide a time and space to grieve together. They also allow you to say farewell to the deceased. Funerals also allow you to express your grief and begin to accept your loss.
Remember that everyone grieves differently, whether you’re organizing or attending a funeral. To mourn properly, do what seems right for you.
Four Parts Of A Funeral
Funerals are generally more solemn, formal, and solemn than life celebrations.
1. Visitation
Before the funeral, family and friends meet to provide support, share memories, and perhaps a light appetizer, and, if wanted, pay respects to the deceased in an open casket.
This can be a closed-door event for guests only, or it might be open to the public. A few families want to have it at their home, but the majority prefer to have it at the funeral parlor or the place of the service.
2. Funeral Service
The funeral includes readings, prayers, eulogies, music, and other memorial tributes as desired by the family.
At a funeral, most mourners wear black or dark colors. On occasion, a casket will be put in front of a picture display.
Because of the gravity of the occasion, the tone is often somber and solemn. While it’s okay to cry and mourn, the funeral should be done with dignity and respect.
3. Burial
The body is buried immediately following the service. A commitment or graveside service is what this is called. For the most part, this involves a parade to the cemetery, where a brief ritual marks the body’s burial.
A funeral director, clergyman, or family member will conduct the burial. The celebrant will say a few words about the deceased, and then the casket will be lowered and buried.
4. Reception
The family usually hosts a reception following the service (and commitment, if applicable). As relatives and friends share a meal and one other’s company, along with anecdotes and memories of the deceased, the formalities of the funeral service gradually fade away.
Receptions assist people in your community move on after the loss of a loved one.
What Is A Memorial Service?
Unlike a traditional funeral, a memorial ceremony does not include the presence of a casket (although the urn may be on display). A funeral service might be held for weeks or months after the deceased person has passed away, depending on the circumstances.
An appropriate location for a memorial service might be chosen by the deceased’s family and friends. It is possible to make memorial ceremonies even more personal by turning them into a celebration of life.
Five Memorial Service Ideas
A memorial service is a time to remember and celebrate the life of a loved one who has passed away. There are many ways to personalize a memorial service, and the following are just a few ideas.
1. Choose a meaningful location: When planning a memorial service, it is important to choose a location that will be significant to the guests. If the deceased had a favorite spot in the park, for example, that would be an ideal place to hold the service.
2. Incorporate music: Music can play a powerful role in setting the tone of a memorial service. Choose songs that were meaningful to the deceased, or that reflect the personality of the individual.
3. Select readings carefully: Words can comfort and inspire those who are grieving. When selecting readings for a memorial service, choose passages that will resonate with the guests.
4. Create a visual tribute: A visual tribute is a way to honor the life of the deceased through art. This could be anything from a slideshow of photos to a display of personal belongings.
5. Speak from the heart: Sometimes, the most impactful thing you can do at a memorial service is to simply speak from the heart. Share memories and stories about the individual, and let your guests know how much they are loved and missed.
Funeral VS Service
It’s strange how much memorial services and funerals have in similar, yet they often appear to be extremely different from one another. Each one is a ritual, a meeting of people who have suffered a common loss in one way or another. Just that one has a stronger historical foundation, while the other is the outcome of contemporary shifts in social norms and attitudes. However, both are useful for three purposes:
- Honor the death of a member of your own family and help the grieving family and their community.
- Friends, coworkers, and neighbors can help the family of a deceased loved one by providing emotional support.
- Transform the deceased’s social standing.
The most notable distinction between a typical funeral and a memorial service is the absence of the deceased’s body in a casket. A memorial service may, however, include the presence of an urn containing the ashes of a loved one.
When it comes to structuring, traditional funerals and memorial services share a lot of similarities. Traditional funeral services, on the other hand, are far more ordered and official.
Unlike the traditional funeral, which has four parts: the visitation, the funeral ceremony, the committal service or burial, and the reception, a memorial service has no set format. An officiant who conducts a traditional funeral ceremony is typically from the clergy, whereas a celebrant or master of ceremonies typically conducts a memorial service. People attending memorial services can participate in some capacity, but people attending typical funerals are there to witness and contemplate.
Final Thoughts
The choice between a funeral and a memorial service is a personal one, and there is no right or wrong answer. Ultimately, the decision should be based on what will provide the most comfort and support to the grieving family.
A funeral is typically a more formal affair, and it usually includes a viewing or visitation period, followed by a graveside service. A memorial service, on the other hand, is typically less formal and can be held at any time or place. It may also be more private, as it does not necessarily include a viewing or visitation period.
Ultimately, the decision of whether to have a funeral or a memorial service is a personal one, and there is no wrong answer. The most important thing is to do what is best for the grieving family.
