Do Families Still Have a Funeral If Their Loved One Chooses Cremation?

A misconception that people sometimes make about cremation Albany is that if someone chooses cremation for their post-death arrangements that the family does not have a traditional funeral. That is not necessarily the case. Just because the family no longer has an actual body does not mean that they can't, since there is no reason not to, share their memories with family, loved ones, friends and co-workers.

Is It a Funeral Service or a Memorial Service?

The point asking the question as to whether someone cremated receives a funeral service or a memorial service might serve as the reason for the confusion. It makes sense, so maybe it is a matter of semantics that cause people to think that those cremated never receive a service in their honor, or at least they don't receive this funeral right away. It might help to break down both types of services to see what each entails and how they benefit the deceased person.

Some Details About the Traditional Funeral Service

The more traditional and universally familiar type of ceremony to honor someone who has passed away, a funeral service often features a casket — open or closed, depending on the deceased's and family's wishes, as well as the condition of the person who has died — as the focal point. As prelude to a funeral, the family accepts friends, family members and co-workers the day or two before the official funeral ceremony. This time, also called "the wake," gives people who can't make it to the funeral a choice to pay their last respects. It also serves as a way for people to talk about the deceased person since they won't have as much of a chance to do so, casually at least, before, during or after the funeral ceremony, which is often more rigid since it will feature a minister or other member of clergy and other speakers and presenters who give eulogies. After everyone gives their eulogies, sings hymns and says their goodbyes, there is usually an automotive processional to the cemetery for graveside service and burial. 

What Is a Memorial Service?

Also celebrating the life of the deceased, like the funeral, a memorial service happens with no body present at the services, which either means that the person chose cremation or that the Memorial Service is taking place at a later date or site than the time and place the person passed away. This type of service usually takes place at a location that the deceased loved, so it is often an even more fitting tribute to the person's spirit than a funeral.