Memorial Services
Even after the funeral is over, it’s important to continue to honor your loved one’s life. Our experienced staff has provided guidance and advice to families when planning memorial services. Below you will find a complete guide on memorial services, going from what that means to ideas to help you arrange a unique and personalized celebration.
What is a Memorial Service?
A Memorial Service or Memorial Funeral is a time to come together to honor the life and memory of a love one. A Memorial Service is a service without the body present, while a Funeral Service is with the body present.
They can be religious or non-religious; Sometimes we call them Memorial Gatherings (since "Service" can have a religious connotation associated with it), where people to come together to talk about the deceased or share stories.This can be informal, or follow a formal program. Whatever your desire, we can customize it to be relevant to the deceased.
We have people come in and select a direct cremation or direct burial because the deceased, during their life, said they wanted no funeral. However, a Memorial Gathering is not a funeral service. Not only can we customize it to your satisfaction, but a Memorial Gathering provides a step forward in helping with the mourning process. By coming together, family and friends have the opportunity to recall good times and memories as well as provide support and comfort to one another.
 |
Memorial Service IdeasSome creative ways to personalize a memorial service are:
|
Memorial Services vs. Funerals
A memorial service is similar to a funeral service and celebration of life ceremony, but serves a slightly different purpose. It doesn’t include a visitation and is held after the funeral, often on significant days such as:
- A loved one’s birthday
- The anniversary of a loved one’s passing
- Holidays such as Valentine’s Day
One other difference between a memorial and a funeral is that the casket isn't present in the memorial service, but if the body was cremated, you might display the urn with the remains during the ceremony too.
Want to Learn More About Memorial Services?
Your loved one’s life can be honored at any point in your grief journey. Our staff at Levandoski-Grillo Funeral Home and Cremation Service can help your family plan a beautiful memorial service to pay tribute to your loved one.
Visit our funeral home or contact us to discuss memorial service ideas.
