When deciding on a funeral service, many people think they are limited to one option. Most people usually view this option as the Traditional Funeral Service; a funeral service that follows a commonly known service structure, as well as a common committal (burial) ceremony. However, in modern day society people are no longer limited to one funeral service option. We are able to personalise and individualise bereavement services, with only our imagination as the limiter. To understand various options, we discuss the differences between Traditional Funeral Services and Contemporary Funeral Services below.
A Traditional Funeral Service follows traditional customs and common rituals. This service type is often more structured than contemporary funerals and usually consists of four main events associated with the service.
First, there is a visitation service held to allow friends and family to pay their respects for the deceased.
The visitation is usually followed by the actual funeral service, which involves a service being held to honour the life of the deceased.
The committal service is then conducted during the burial of the deceased, which is usually held graveside. The committal service enables the ability of loved one’s to say their final goodbye to the deceased and usually follows the actual funeral service.
The last event is the funeral reception, which allows loved ones to spend time together and remember the deceased through congregating and sharing memories.
Traditional Funeral Services are a great approach to celebrating the life of a loved one without having to think, plan or be creative during time of grievance.
Contemporary Funeral Services are often referred to as Celebration’s of Life. This is due to these type of services being more personalised to the deceased individual and not following the traditional structure. Contemporary Funeral Services differ from Tradition Funeral Services in the following ways.
Contemporary Funeral Services are not limited to a particular location. The location could be a park, pub, beach, or someone’s home. Choosing a unique location allows for an individualised funeral celebration.
Contemporary Funeral Services can involve uncommon, or tailored, rituals to honour the deceased. These rituals do not usually follow traditionally common practices.
From flowers present at the service, to pictures and memorabilia featured, physical objects may be used to tailor a more individualised approach to honouring a loved one through a Contemporary Funeral Service.
Deciding on a Contemporary Funeral Service creates a personalised, and more tailored approach to honouring a loved one. However, this funeral service type also requires more decision making during the planning stage of the service.
Both Traditional Funeral Services and Contemporary Funeral Services are great ways to honour the life of a loved one and allow for proper closure and grievance. If you, or someone you know, would like to know more about funeral options or need help planning a service, please contact us. Additionally, you may find more information here regarding various funeral options.