Funeral Services

Funeral Services Options

Say More Than Just Goodbye. Services are an essential part of the healing and recovery process. A funeral service provides those who are grieving with a supportive environment in which they can begin to find closure and come to terms with the loss. Gathering with friends and family gives everyone the opportunity to connect, share memories, and offer words of sympathy, as they start the journey towards healing and peace.

The most common types of funeral services fall under these four basic categories:

1. Traditional Full Service Burial
2. Direct Burial
3. Full Service Cremation
4. Direct Cremation

A traditional funeral service includes a viewing, a funeral ceremony, and burial at the gravesite. It starts off with a viewing where attendees can view the body and pay their respects to the family. Embalming is usually recommended for viewings, although the casket can remain closed per the family’s wishes.

A funeral service follows the viewing and is held at a funeral home, church, or other event space. Traditional funerals tend to be formal in mood and are traditional in their program. Typically they include hymns or traditional songs, eulogies and readings—from poems and verses to favorite quotes. Afterwards, the body is transported by procession to the cemetery/burial location and interred in the grave. There may also be a funeral reception or repast for family and friends of the deceased to come together after the burial.

A direct burial happens when the deceased is buried shortly after death without any funeral service or other formal ceremony. 

A full service cremation includes a viewing, a funeral service and cremation services.  Because there is a viewing, typically the body will be embalmed. The cremated ashes can be placed in a keepsake or in an urn which can be buried below or above ground, scattered, or kept by the family.

A direct cremation happens when the deceased is cremated shortly after death without any funeral service or other formal ceremony. Embalming is unnecessary as there is no viewing, and a simple container is used for the cremation process.

At Butlers’, when you choose cremation, you can be sure that your loved one never leaves our care. All cremations are carried out by our certified professionals at our Baillou Hill facility.

A graveside service (also known as committal service) can be held for individuals that are either buried or cremated and occurs when the funeral service takes place at the cemetery or burial site. Funeral attendees gather at the gravesite for a ceremony led by a chosen officiant and as with traditional funeral services, there may be readings, prayers, and music (although a graveside service tends to be a shorter affair).

After the service the body is lowered into the grave or placed in a mausoleum or crypt. If the deceased was cremated, the urn holding the ashes can either be buried, scattered, or placed in a columbarium niche.

A memorial service differs from a funeral service in that the body is not present. A memorial service is usually held after the deceased is buried and there is no viewing or visitation. However if cremation was the method of disposition, the urn containing the cremated ashes can be present during the memorial service.

Some families hold memorial services as a way to memorialize their loved ones, while others view memorial services as celebration of life events where family and friends of the deceased can gather in remembrance, share memories, and support each other in grief.

The professionals at Butlers’ Funeral Homes are here to help. We start by compassionately asking about your loved one—their passions, interests and personality. Then, we offer a helping hand to plan the details. It’s a stressful and difficult time, and it is our promise to celebrate each life like no other. With a checklist to organize the details of the service along with other helpful resources, we can walk you through the process of planning a fitting tribute.