Traditional Funeral Services

Traditional Funeral Services

A traditional funeral service has long been the natural choice for many families looking to honor a loved one. The practice of laying a loved one to rest not only respects religious beliefs but provides the deceased’s loved ones with a sense of closure. For hundreds of years, families have found solace in honoring their loved one’s passing with a traditional funeral service.

We understand how challenging and stressful the loss of a loved one can be. Rather than rushing to arrange a funeral service during an emotional and stressful time, you should be focused on grieving and comforting other family members. When you come to us to arrange a funeral service, you can rest assured that we will be by your side throughout the entire process.

Affordable Funeral Services in Pennsylvania

Over the years we have helped countless families pay tribute to their loved ones with affordable funeral services. Our commitment to quality and affordable services has made us the preferred choice for families in need of funeral services in Meadville, Union City, Townville or surrounding areas.

Cost is often an important factor for most families when planning a funeral service. At our firm, we strive to ensure our traditional funeral services are offered at a price that is affordable but does not sacrifice quality. Our transparent pricing means you can select the services you want to commemorate your loved one while staying within your budget. 

We believe in providing an overview of our services so that families understand what they are purchasing. Our general price list will provide you with information to better understand what’s included with our services so that you can budget accordingly. Throughout the general price list, you will find pricing information for services like embalming, facilities use, transportation, and preparation of the deceased. 

What is a Funeral?

The question 'what is a funeral?' is very common. All we need to do is say the word "funeral" and within microseconds, you have an image in your mind of what a funeral looks like. This mental image comes from many sources: the geographical place, culture and society in which we live; our faith; our life experience. Obviously then, a funeral service in Borneo would look very different from one held in Tanzania; there are even significant differences between the funerals held in ethnically and/or geographically diverse regions of North America.

Yet, despite the differences, these funeral services have much in common. We invite you to read further to learn the really simple answer to the question "what is a funeral?" Should you have questions about what you read here, we encourage you to call us. One of our funeral professionals will be delighted to explore the commonalities behind the wide spectrum of funeral ceremonies seen around the world.

What Does A Traditional Funeral Service Include?

Regardless of where it is held, a funeral service is a structured ceremony meant to honor the deceased and allow guests to pay their respects. Essentially, the purpose of a funeral is to gather with loved ones and share in a collective grieving experience. A funeral often takes place at the funeral home, a church, or the cemetery next to the gravesite.

Traditional funeral services typically occur in four parts: The visitation, funeral, committal, and reception. Below, we’ve expanded on each part of the service to offer more information.

The Basics of a Traditional Funeral Service

Visitation
This is often called a viewing or a wake. Guests come to pay their respects to the deceased by viewing their casketed body and spending time with the grieving family. A visitation can occur at any time before the funeral.
Funeral Ceremony
This event commonly takes place at the funeral home, a church, or at the graveside. It can include music, the reading of literary or religious passages, a eulogy, prayer, and the singing of hymns.
Committal Service
If the family has made plans to bury the deceased, this stage involves the vehicle procession from the funeral ceremony to the cemetery.

Reception
Many choose to host this post-service gathering (or repast) at a reception hall. This is considered a time to share memories, laughter, and support.

What Makes a Funeral Service?

No matter where it's held, a funeral is a structured ceremony, with a beginning, middle and end. Each is intended to engage the living participants in activities which will transform their status within the community, provide mourners with a collective grieving experience, and celebrate a life lived. It's a socially acceptable way for members of a community to reaffirm and express their social attachments.

Anthropologists label a funeral as a rite of passage, which affects everyone involved, including the deceased. His or her social status changes dramatically, from a living contributing member of the community to one whose contributions are in the past, and relegated to memory. But the status of each of the survivors– the immediate family most especially– has also changed. In fact, the funeral service can be the start of a defined period of mourning for bereaved family members, marking this transition in a uniquely identifiable way. 

It could be said then, the focus of a funeral - no matter where, no matter when - lies in acknowledging change. And without doubt, human beings (as individuals and as a community) have trouble dealing with profound changes like the death of an integral member of the group. When you take this perspective, it becomes easier to understand the importance of ceremonially acknowledging the tear in the social fabric and the symbolic restoration of its integrity.

Meadville PA Funerals

For families and individuals living in this region (as elsewhere in the nation), a funeral service can mean many things. Some fall back on what is commonly called a "traditional funeral"; others see that same traditional service as an emotionally unfulfilling event. Fortunately, thanks to a number of unique social forces, there are alternatives. Today, end-of-life commemorative services range from the traditional funeral, to a memorial service and the increasingly popular celebrations-of-life. If you have yet to realize the immense value of such a collective acknowledgement of loss, reach out to us. Call to speak with one of our experienced funeral service professionals.

If you would like to learn more about our PA funerals or how we can help you family celebrate a life well lived, please contact us today. A member of our team would be happy to meet with you and discuss planning a funeral service in greater detail.
Source:
Rostad, Curtis, "The Basics of Funeral Service", Indiana Funeral Directors Association, 2014 
Huntington, Richard and Peter Metcalf, Celebrations of Death: The Anthropology of Mortuary Ritual, Cambridge University Press, 1979
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