Traditional Funeral Services

Our Funeral Services

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 members and friends together in support of one another during this difficult time.

If you are interested in making funeral arrangements for a loved one, we invite you to call us to begin.

Loss affects everyone differently and how we choose to honor a loved one is as unique as the individual. For families everywhere, a funeral service can mean many different things. For example, one family may feel that a traditional funeral service is the only way to honor a loved one. At the same time, another family may find that a celebration of life service is more suitable. Instead, they want to hold a less formal funeral ceremony.

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Whatever the case, we offer a selection of different funeral options to suit every family’s needs and budget. Each year we help families throughout Washtenaw County to honor their loved one with quality funeral services.

When it comes to honoring a loved one, there are many options to consider. Our caring and considerate staff will gladly meet with you to discuss the different funeral services we offer. Whether it’s a more traditional funeral service that you desire or a less formal and more personalized funeral ceremony, we can accommodate your needs.

We invite you to read further to learn the simple answer to the question "what is a funeral?". Should you have questions about what you read here, we encourage you to call us at 734-971-2345. One of our funeral professionals will be delighted to explore our options that will best suit your needs.

What is a funeral?

No matter where it's held, a funeral is a structured ceremony, with a beginning, middle and end. Each is intended to engage the living participants in activities which will transform their status within the community, provide mourners with a collective grieving experience, and celebrate a life lived. It's a socially-acceptable way for members of a community to re-affirm and express their social attachments.

Parts of a Funeral Ceremony

A traditional funeral service typically has four components. They are the visitation, funeral ceremony, committal service, and a funeral reception. The family may decide to have more than one visitation at different times or just one. Though these are the common components of a traditional funeral service, the family may forgo a committal service and move straight to the reception at a funeral ceremony or even have a combined funeral ceremony and committal service. Each funeral service is unique to the family and can be adjusted to fit the family's wants and needs.

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 Ceremony

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.