IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS
Funeral and Memorial Services
It's important to recognize that funerals and memorial(without the body present) ceremonies are for the living... for those who are affected by the loss of a loved one. It is through the funeral process that a number of emotional needs are met for those who grieve.
A funeral is similar to other ceremonies in our lives. Like a graduation ceremony, a wedding, a baptism, and a bar mitzvah, a funeral is a rite of passage by which we recognize an important event that distinguishes our lives.
The funeral declares that a death has occurred. It celebrates the life that has been lived, and offers family and friends the opportunity to pay tribute to their loved one.
The gathering of family and friends for a time of sharing and funeral service helps to provide emotional support so needed at this time. This will help those who grieve to face the reality of death and consequently, to take the first step toward a healthy emotional adjustment. Although an immediate burial or cremation without any form of gathering is an option, it may overlook the surivors' need for closure.
Services can and do take on many varied forms. They can last from minutes to months and are usually influenced by the lifestyle and value of the bereaved family and friends. A valuable aspect of contemporary funerals is their individuality. Whether a ceremeony is elaborate or simple, funerals are often individualized to reflect the life of the deceased and to hold special meaning for family and other survivors. They may reflect one's religious beliefs as a reaffirmation of faith in a greater life beyond this world and/or they may reflect the occupation or hobbies of the deceased. They may also center on an ethnic background or social affiliation.
It has often been misunderstood that a traditional service is not an option associated with cremation. In actuality, you may have a complete traditional service - including viewing - followed by cremation, or cremation followed by a memorial service. There are absolutely no limitations on the service options available with cremation.
Viewing
Viewing is another important consideration. For many, the thought of viewing is very uncomfortable. However, viewing is known to greatly accelerate emotional recovery from a loss. Accepting the reality of the loss is the first step in the grief process. By its very nature, viewing facilitates acceptance of that reality and allows the grief process to begin.
Method of Final Disposition
Perhaps the biggest decision to be made when considering funeral arrangements is the type of final disposition: Burial or Cremation. This decision is typically influenced by a number of different factors, such as family tradition, religous tradition and/or beliefs, personal thoughts and feelings, location of the final dispostion, and economics.
Burial options include traditional earth burial or entombment in a mausoleum (wall) crypt. If burial is the option you choose, a cemetery should be selected as the final resting place of your casketed remains. Southern California offers a number of beautiful cemeteries from which to choose, and cemetery staff members can assist in showing you available property within their park. Arrangements may also be made for transport and burial in an area other than Southern California.
As with burial, cremated remains may be buried in a cemetery or placed in a mausoleum niche. Cremated remains may also be retained in the family home or shared with multiple members of the family. Scattering is another option for disposition of remated remains. You may wish to give this option extra consideration, as this is very final and totally irreversible. Experience has shown that bereaved individuals often find it reassuring ot have some type of memorial for the person they loved. This may be a consideration even when scattering of the cremated remains is your choice of final dispostion.