Throughout human history around the globe, people have gathered together to acknowledge the death of a member of the community. No matter who the deceased was, a funeral ceremony is the one (and sometimes the only) opportunity for everyone to come together to acknowledge their death, recognize the community's shared loss and share the burden of grief. You and your loved one’s lives are worth honoring the same way.
How much a funeral service costs depends on what services and products you choose for your loved one's arrangements. The funeral director at your community chapel will have a heart-to-heart discussion with you about your funeral budget restrictions, then she or he will thoroughly explain all of the options, including the costs of traditional funeral arrangements, cremation, burial and memorial services. We will do everything to provide you with a service that meets your needs and stays in line with your financial expectations.
It is difficult to give you a hard-and-fast comparison of the three types of services. A traditional funeral celebration of life with a casket, visitation and funeral ceremony is commonly more expensive than a simple, graveside burial service. The choices you make during the arrangement conference will determine the costs.
It's a lot like asking who to invite to a wedding. In both cases, the answer is people who would want to be there.
A person's role at a funeral is two-fold: one, they are there to demonstrate support for you, your loved ones’ family and friends. Two, funeral guests are there to tend to their own sorrow; to begin to come to terms with the death of someone they held dear in the safety of a shared collective experience. Generally, the service details are published in the newspaper or online, and those who wish to attend, do. Please, don’t invite more people than the Starks chapel you’ve selected can handle.
Flowers create a background of warmth and beauty which adds to the dignity and consolation of the funeral service. They aren’t necessary, but there's no doubt flowers at a funeral or other end-of-life ceremony serve many valuable purposes including a means of a visual expression of sympathy, love, support and respect. You can also suggest that instead of flowers, family and friends can make donations to your loved one’s favorite charity or to contribute to their children’s or grandchildren’s future education.
The preparation of your deceased loved one can involve several different tasks. Each will be performed by one of our trained, licensed embalmers and restorative artists. The body is temporarily preserved by embalming, refrigeration or a combination of the two. It is washed, dressed and otherwise groomed, then placed in the chosen casket for viewing.
It's a way of confirming the fact that, indeed, your loved one has died; but it's also an opportunity to say your goodbyes. You may find it a cathartic time where you can quietly share a long-held secret, let go of any anger or resentment and otherwise come to terms with their death.
It's best done with honesty and awareness. Let them know what they can expect. Advise them that there will be people who will be sad and may cry openly; tell them there will be time for some people to stand up and talk about how much they loved the person (but they won't be required to do so). Let them ask all the questions they need to ask, reassure them you'll be right next to them throughout the experience. Never force them to go to a funeral, and always allow them the opportunity to change their mind about attending.
A celebrant believes in the power and effectiveness of a ceremony as a ritual serving the basic needs of your loved one’s family and friends. At Starks Family Funeral Homes, we will work with your chosen celebrant to create a service reflecting your loved one’s beliefs, life and personality. A life-cycle celebrant is especially valuable if your loved one or family has no religious affiliations or ties to a clergy person or minister who can officiate the funeral service. Involving a celebrant in the funeral planning process has been found to enhance the funeral experience for all concerned. If you think hiring a celebrant is right for your family's situation, contact us for more details.
It’s entirely up to you. Starks Family Funeral Homes will arrange a service that fits what you want. The length of the service will be determined by how many songs, prayers or readings, reflections and ceremonies you include. Typically, funeral and memorial services are longer than burial services.
Black used to be the only color to wear to a funeral, but not anymore. Today things are less formal than they once were, and you may ask prospective guests to avoid wearing black clothing altogether.
