Traditional Funeral Services in Port Coquitlam BC

What is a Traditional Funeral?

All we need to do is say the word "funeral" and within microseconds, you have an image in your mind of what a funeral looks like. This mental image comes from many sources: the geographical place, culture and society in which we live; our faith; our life experience. Obviously then, a funeral service in Borneo would look very different from one held in Tanzania; there are even significant differences between the funerals held in ethnically and/or geographically diverse regions of North America.

Yet, despite the differences, these funeral services have much in common. We invite you to read further to learn the really simple answer to the question "what is a traditional funeral?" Should you have questions about what you read here, we encourage you to call us.

A Traditional Funeral Service Includes: 

Visitation: This is often called a viewing or a wake. Guests come to pay their respects to the deceased by viewing their casketed body and spending time with the grieving family. A visitation can occur at any time before the funeral service.

Funeral Service: This event commonly takes place at the funeral home, a church, or at the graveside. It can include music, the reading of literary or religious passages, a eulogy, prayer, and the singing of hymns.

Graveside Service: If the family plans to bury the deceased, this stage involves the vehicle procession to the cemetery.

Funeral Reception: Many choose to host this post-service gathering (or repast) at a reception hall. This is considered a time to share memories, laughter, and support.

A funeral service, whether traditional or more modern (memorial service or celebration-of-life), has two functions: to acknowledge the death and lifetime achievements of an individual and to bring grieving family and friends together in support of one another during this difficult time.

Planning a Traditional Funeral Service

When it comes to actually planning a funeral service, our experienced and caring staff would be happy to meet with you and discuss the different options available. We offer a selection of different packages and can tailor one to meet your needs and budget.

To help make the planning process easier, the checklist below outlines a few key steps to work through. By thinking about the following points, you can have a better idea of what you would like the service to include when you begin to make arrangements with the funeral director.

• How would you like your remains to be cared for (burial or cremation)?
  
• Would you prefer a funeral service before the remains are cared for or a memorial service afterwards?
  
• Will the service include a visitation?
  
• Where would you like the service to take place?
  
• Who will speak during the service?
  
• What prayers or reading would you like included with the service?
  
• Is there a charity or organization you would like donations made to?