Should You Have a Funeral Service for a Cremation Burial?

Should you have a funeral service for a cremation burial? Absolutely. While cremation may feel different than a “traditional funeral” with a casket present, it doesn’t lessen the need for a meaningful goodbye. Cremation or burial, a loss should be handled with loving respect. A service creates closure, honors the deceased, and supports grieving family and friends.

Why a Service Matters in cremation burials

With more and more people choosing the practice of cremation, families are confronted with the many questions that come along with it. For some, it’s the first time they’ll have to think about how to honor a loved one who’s requested cremation.

Does a service matter with no physical body to say goodbye to?

It absolutely does.

No matter what conditions surround the loss of a loved one, family members and those close to the deceased still need time to say goodbye. Gathering for a funeral service brings closure, a chance to reflect, the opportunity to say farewell, and the emotional support that comes from being around a group of family and friends.

A service is a moment in time that is dedicated to honoring the deceased, and is a special opportunity to share memories, lend support, and even shed tears together.

Whether a funeral service is simple and intimate or formal and crowded, it should be handled with respect and intentionality. A dignified farewell is part of honoring the life that a loved one lived.

How is a cremation service different than a burial service?

While cremation services and burial services both provide an opportunity to honor a loved one, they do have a few distinct differences.

• Timing. While a burial service typically happens within a week or so of death, the cremation process allows for more flexibility. Cremation services may be held weeks or even months after losing a loved one.
• Viewing/no viewing. Traditional funerals and burials are often accompanied by a viewing time, while cremation services do not always have viewings. However, some families choose embalming and a viewing with the body present before the cremation. Others simply have the urn present. 
• Memorialization methods. Rather than burying a body in a casket on a dedicated site, cremation offers more options for memorialization. Some choose to scatter the ashes in a special place, such as a garden or over the sea. Others bury some or all of the ashes. Still others use the ashes to create jewelry or art. Some families also choose to dedicate park benches or pathways to a loved one rather than a traditional cemetery plot.

While the scheduling of the service may be different and new elements may be involved, a cremation service should still provide a time and place to honor a loved one. Most cremation services involve a graveside or memorial gathering place for family and friends, a covered area for comfort and protection from weather, seating for guests, and a stable, respectful presentation for the urn.

What’s needed for a cremation memorial service?

No matter how you choose to honor your loved one, you’ll need stable, quality equipment to create a comforting and respectful space for family and friends to gather.

Suggested Service Setup

• Tent: Use a funeral tent or canopy to create a protected, honorable space for the service. A 10×10 option works for smaller gatherings, while larger tents are better for bigger groups. Tent walls can also be helpful during windy days or chillier months.
  
  
• Grass: Graveside grass creates a polished and professional look at the burial site.
  
  
• Stand: Use a cremation or urn memorial stand to present the urn securely and elegantly. Our stands include EZ fold models, durable aluminum, and sturdy stainless steel.
  
  
• Chairs: Durable funeral chairs allow guests to sit comfortably during the funeral service.
  
• Urn Vault. A durable, elegant urn vault keeps cremains protected and honors the deceased.
  

Personalizing the Ceremony

Although funeral ceremonies can be different in cremation burials, there are many ways to honor the deceased while remembering the life they lived. Here are a few ideas for personalizing the ceremony.

• Readings, prayers, music, or short remarks. Spend a few minutes reading a passage or poem or enjoying a song that meant something to the deceased, or that was written in honor of him or her.
• Floral arrangements, photos, or keepsakes. In lieu of a traditional viewing, a time to view photos or keepsakes can be an excellent way to remember the life of a loved one. Customized floral arrangements also create a personalized, welcoming space.
• Focus on the loved one. It can be helpful to encourage families to shape the service around the person being remembered, not just the burial method.

We’re here to help when it matters most

Whether holding a traditional service with a casket or honoring a loved one with only the cremated remains present, holding a funeral service for a cremation burial honors the life lived and gives the opportunity to share comfort, tears, and joys for those remembering. A cremation burial service offers the same chance for honor, closure, and remembrance as any other burial. 

At Holland Supply, we’re here to help provide the funeral and cremation supplies needed when it matters the most. From tents and grass to urns, we have what you need to honor loved ones with compassion and dignity. 

Not sure what the right setup looks like? Our caring staff is here to help. Give us a call at 800-527-8818 today.