If you’ve never been to a cremation funeral before then you might not know what to expect. Cremation funerals are a great way to remember your loved one in a very tasteful way. This guide will look at exactly what you can expect when you go to a funeral.
Chapel
The crematorium will have a chapel that can be used for any religion or customized to suit a non-religious funeral. Mourners will arrive at the funeral and wait outside for the coffin to arrive. Pallbearers will then carry the coffin in and place it at the front of the room for everyone to see. Normally the coffin will be closed, although sometimes the crematorium may make arrangements to have an open casket.
The chapel and coffin can be decorated with flowers. Flowers are normally donated by family and friends. If you do not want lots of flowers in the chapel then you could also consider collecting money for charity instead.
Service
Once the coffin is inside people will then take their seats. A priest can be invited to give a short service of remembrance. Then some family or friends can come to the front to talk about their relative. Most of the stories will be happy and make people remember the person in happier times.
The service only lasts around 30 minutes so the guests must arrive on time so that they don’t miss anything. Programs can be printed so that all of the guests know the words to all the hymns. It can also include some photographs and interesting facts about the person’s life.
Cremation
The last part of the service will be the cremation itself. This is normally where some music is played, or a hymn is sung while a curtain is drawn around the coffin. This is when the coffin is taken to the furnace and burned. The burning process is very quick, any bone segments are then crushed. The ashes are then put in an urn and given to the family.
Wake
After the cremation, there can be an optional wake. This is a celebration of the person’s life. Food and snacks can be served and stories can be told about the person’s life.
Funerals will always be a bit upsetting because you have lost a much-loved person. However, cremations are very tasteful and a great way of remembering a person’s life. If you are looking for a great crematorium then check out arlingtonmortuary.com.