Types of Services
Hosting a visitation provides an opportunity to engage your support network
Offering a space for others to share their care and compassion with you. It encourages an open expression of grief and helps you process the loss while fostering ongoing connections with friends and family who may continue to support you in the months ahead.
Often referred to as a wake, viewing, or calling hours, a visitation allows loved ones to come together and support each other through their sorrow. With the body typically present, either in an open or closed casket, this gathering provides a chance to acknowledge the reality of the loss and say a heartfelt goodbye.
The procession marks the journey from the funeral service to the deceased's final resting place.
Known as the cortege, this solemn procession is typically led by the hearse carrying the casket to the burial site, columbarium, scattering garden, or another chosen location.
It serves as a meaningful symbol of shared support and a public tribute to the deceased. Mourners travel together to honor the person who has passed, and even those who don’t know the family often show respect by pausing to acknowledge the significance of the moment.
The graveside service is the final chance to say goodbye and pay tribute to the departed with honor, dignity, and respect
Watching the casket being lowered into the vault can be a deeply moving experience, providing a sense of closure and aiding the healing process for loved ones, family, and friends. Some families may also choose to participate by placing earth on the vault as a personal gesture.
Accompanying the deceased to their final resting place and sharing a few last words brings an essential sense of finality to the funeral. Even if a full funeral service has taken place, a brief committal service at the gravesite, mausoleum, columbarium, or scattering site can provide an additional moment of closure that cannot be replicated elsewhere.
This time together offers a meaningful opportunity for family and friends to support each other.
Following most funerals, there is often a gathering where loved ones can share memories, laugh, cry, and offer comfort. This informal gathering provides a moment of emotional release after the formalities of the funeral service. It also serves as a transition—a way to begin moving forward while acknowledging the continuity of life even in the face of loss.
Not everyone may feel the need or desire to attend, and that’s okay. For those who do, this time can be an important part of the grieving and healing process.
Receptions can be held in various settings, such as a family home, park, church hall, or even a reception room at the funeral home. Food is often served buffet-style, either catered or brought potluck-style by family and friends. Ultimately, the gathering should reflect what feels most comfortable and appropriate for your family.