Funeral and Memorial Services
Believe it or not, there is a difference between a funeral and a memorial service. The difference is subtle to those attending but huge to those paying for it. Both a funeral and memorial service consists of an organized meeting designed to eulogize the life of a deceased loved one. The difference is that funerals are done with the body present, and memorials are done without the body present. That’s it! Everything else is the same.
You will still have the same speakers, songs, poems, conductors and attendees but one has the body present and
the other does not. A memorial is very ideal for somebody who didn’t have a viewing and doesn’t feel it necessary to have the body present for the eulogy. You will have opportunity to see the casket one last time at the graveside services.
At a memorial, the deceased’s body isn’t present; therefore, the funeral home staff won’t be either. That will eliminate the cost of their services for that part of the funeral.
Location of the Funeral and Memorial Service
Just like the viewing, where you hold the funeral or memorial services can save you money. If you hold it in
the mortuary meeting room, they will probably charge you an additional fee for its use. Instead, you can have it at
your church, private meeting hall, or personal residence. For most, these locations are more personal anyway.
If you have attended church every Sunday for the last 80 years in the local church, you should consider having the funeral done at the church instead of the impersonal mortuary chapel.
For those of you who do not attend a church, there are still savings available. You can rent a meeting hall at the local senior center, hotel, or town meeting hall to host the final disposition services, and they almost always cost
you less than what you would pay through the mortuary.
Hold the funeral or memorial service in a church, private meeting hall, or private home instead of the funeral home. By doing so you won’t have to pay the overpriced fee of the mortuary to rent their meeting hall.
Planning the Funeral or Memorial Service
Many people have been fortunate enough never to have had to plan a funeral; however, if you are reading this you are either planning one now or will be doing so in the future. To help you in the planning process, we have provided a short example of what a funeral or memorial service schedule would look like.
Welcoming/Opening remarks (10:00 a.m.–10:02 a.m.)
Invocation (10:02 a.m.–10:05 a.m.)
Life story (10:05 a.m.–10:25 a.m.)
Presentation of poem (10:25 a.m.–10:28 a.m.)
Musical Number (10:28 a.m.–10:35 a.m.)
Presentation by grandchildren (10:35 a.m.–10:45 a.m.)
Final Remarks (10:45 a.m.–10:48 a.m.)
Congregational Hymn (10:48 a.m.–10:52 a.m.)
Benediction (10:52 a.m.–10:55 a.m.)
It’s important to remember that this is a generic example. If you want to do something different or be more
creative, then by all means, do it. After all, it is your funeral. This is just a simple outline to help give you some
ideas. The mortician should be able to help you create a schedule as well.
You will still have the same speakers, songs, poems, conductors and attendees but one has the body present and
the other does not. A memorial is very ideal for somebody who didn’t have a viewing and doesn’t feel it necessary to have the body present for the eulogy. You will have opportunity to see the casket one last time at the graveside services.
At a memorial, the deceased’s body isn’t present; therefore, the funeral home staff won’t be either. That will eliminate the cost of their services for that part of the funeral.
Location of the Funeral and Memorial Service
Just like the viewing, where you hold the funeral or memorial services can save you money. If you hold it in
the mortuary meeting room, they will probably charge you an additional fee for its use. Instead, you can have it at
your church, private meeting hall, or personal residence. For most, these locations are more personal anyway.
If you have attended church every Sunday for the last 80 years in the local church, you should consider having the funeral done at the church instead of the impersonal mortuary chapel.
For those of you who do not attend a church, there are still savings available. You can rent a meeting hall at the local senior center, hotel, or town meeting hall to host the final disposition services, and they almost always cost
you less than what you would pay through the mortuary.
Hold the funeral or memorial service in a church, private meeting hall, or private home instead of the funeral home. By doing so you won’t have to pay the overpriced fee of the mortuary to rent their meeting hall.
Planning the Funeral or Memorial Service
Many people have been fortunate enough never to have had to plan a funeral; however, if you are reading this you are either planning one now or will be doing so in the future. To help you in the planning process, we have provided a short example of what a funeral or memorial service schedule would look like.
Welcoming/Opening remarks (10:00 a.m.–10:02 a.m.)
Invocation (10:02 a.m.–10:05 a.m.)
Life story (10:05 a.m.–10:25 a.m.)
Presentation of poem (10:25 a.m.–10:28 a.m.)
Musical Number (10:28 a.m.–10:35 a.m.)
Presentation by grandchildren (10:35 a.m.–10:45 a.m.)
Final Remarks (10:45 a.m.–10:48 a.m.)
Congregational Hymn (10:48 a.m.–10:52 a.m.)
Benediction (10:52 a.m.–10:55 a.m.)
It’s important to remember that this is a generic example. If you want to do something different or be more
creative, then by all means, do it. After all, it is your funeral. This is just a simple outline to help give you some
ideas. The mortician should be able to help you create a schedule as well.