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Personalizing the
Funeral
Keeping Memories Alive
- Celebration of Life DVD
Horse Drawn Funerals
Motorcycle Hearse
Once Upon a Lifetime…
The
places and things associated with our lives can play an important
part in the value of a funeral service. Families in sorrow know
that the loved one they have lost was not just a military veteran,
or a gardener, or a teacher. Each of us has many interests,
and many facets to our lives. When you plan a funeral, consider
adding personal touches that tell the wonderful story of the
life that has been lived.
Personal Touch…
There is much more you can do to personalize a
service than simply engraving a loved one’s name on a bronze plaque.
When you add personal touches to a memorial service, viewing, or
simple gathering, you help those in attendance to know the person
better. Photos and personal items help us remember everything a
person was. And, you can choose just how much, or how little,
personalization you wish to include. Many deeply personal things you
can do are actually the simplest and most time-honored.
We Can Help…
Our funeral home makes great efforts to assist
you with all your personalization needs. Whether it’s handling time
constraints, coming up with ways to personalize the service, or
knowing what will be widely accepted, trust us to guide you.
Ways to Honor the Memory…
Create
a Memorial Folder.
Programs with a poem or a verse of comfort are often handed out at
services. We can help you conceive a more intimate memorial folder
that includes pictures, statements, favorite verses, and
achievements.
Display
Personal Belongings.
Even the simplest mementos such as a coin collection, an apron, or a
set of monogrammed cuff links provide remembrance and comfort during
the service. Artwork, a photo collage, awards, and other personal
items help people understand that the person who died enjoyed many
interests.
Select
a Unique Casket or Vault.
Caskets in various price ranges are now available, with designs that
provide deep associations with the life you are commemorating.
Crafted from various kinds of materials, they may be engraved with
the person’s name and symbols or artwork associated with a college,
service organization, or branch of the military. Interior panels may
contain photographs, paintings, or needlework that represent the
things important to the person who has died. The hardware and other
accents, too, can represent various themes such as the life of an
outdoors person, a military veteran, or a wife and mother.
Personalized caskets and vaults are available in many price ranges,
fabrications, and colors.
Choose
a Memorable Urn.
Symbolic urns are now made in hundreds of designs, and many are true
works of art. Whether you choose permanent possession of the
cremated remains, or whether the urn is to be interred in a
columbarium or niche, the urn can be a touching symbol of the life
that has been lived. Engravings or artwork on an urn might depict
outdoor scenes, religious imagery, and other images of the person’s
occupation, hobbies, or interests.
Involve
Friends.
Having close friends say a few words and share some memories is a
valuable personal touch. A special poem, quote, or passage could be
read that was meaningful to the person who died.
Play
Special Music.
Each of us has “our song.” A person’s favorite music is always
welcome during a memorial service. Perhaps the loved on had a
favorite popular song or church hymn that could be played in his or
her honor.
Dedicate
Memorials.
Planting a tree, erecting a statue, or dedicating a fountain can
help a loved one’s memory live on. If the deceased has a favorite
scenic location, dedicate a bench so the view can be shared with
family and friends.
You May Have Questions…
Below are some answers to frequently asked
questions. If you don’t find the answer here, please feel free to
speak with us about any of your questions or concerns.
Does
personalization cost more?
Most of the ways you personalize cost nothing. Memory tables,
eulogies, special verse, etc. are priceless ways to pay tribute to
the deceased. There may be additional costs for engraving or special
services, but it is minimal compared to the way it enhances the
entire service.
Do
I Have to Personalize the Service?
The level of personalization you choose is entirely up to you. You
can include as much or as little as you wish. Often people don’t see
the value until they understand the choices. Now, more than in the
past, the choice is yours.
What
if I have an Unusual Request?
With our diverse experiences, we offer guidance with any idea, no
matter how out-of-the-ordinary. Some wish to be buried in their
favorite bowling shirt or jersey. Others have very unique wishes
such as nature lovers wanting to be part of a living ocean reef and
firemen wanting their fire engine part of the service. We do
everything we can to help you incorporate the things that hold
meaning for you.
Will
Personalization make the service too overwhelming? Will
people think it’s strange?
Not necessarily. You want people to know about the life of the
person who has died. You will be the best judge of the amount of
detail you want to include.
Will
my pastor or clergy object? Will it take away from the religious
aspects of the service?
Some religions require certain rituals and observances at a funeral,
and even the religion you practice may have stipulations you do not
know about. We are familiar with many religious customs and will
work with all clergy to ensure your personalization wishes fit with
religious observances.
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