Death is not an easy affair to cope up with, particularly if it is a death in the family. On top of grieving comes the extra burden of organizing and planning a funeral service for the departed. As funerals are one of the most important elements for the final journey of a person, these ceremonies should be properly organized. For a better organized funeral, dear ones of the deceased can contact the funeral service providers who look into the matter professionally and organize the ceremony methodically.

What is a funeral?

Funerals are the places where people, well-wishers, family members and friends can say their last goodbyes to the person dead. Funerals can be an intimate affair or open affair depending on the wishes of the aggrieved family. They are a place of gathering of the family and friends who gather together to mourn after the death of a loved one. These gatherings give people a moral support and allow them to share their pain. They can pay their tribute to the deceased person’s life through funeral ceremonies.

Importance of funeral services

Funeral services play an important role in the last rituals of a person. Some of the important roles that the funeral ceremony plays are: it helps to honor, recognize and celebrate the life of the deceased, allows family and friends to pay their last respects, there are the realization that the loved one is gone, they provide they closure needed. These ceremonies help the aggrieving left behind friends and family to console each other.

These services provide a sense of closure to the family and friends to the loss of their loved ones. These ceremonies are either formal or informal in nature. They are held before the burial takes place. The religious organizations, one’s faith and culture dictate the formal part of the service but the grieving members can change or personalize the informal part of it with the help of funeral service provider. With all the personal touches added the funeral service can become very unique and give an honorable see off to the deceased.

Different types of funeral services

Different people have different choices while planning funeral services. Some of them want closed affairs or simple burials while others want a grand memorial services. Depending on the choices the funeral service providers provide three types of service:

• Visitation or viewing: This is usually held the evening before the burial or the morning few hours before the burial. They give a chance to the friends and acquaintances to see the departed soul for one last time, to say their last goodbyes and pay condolences.
• Memorial or tribute service: In this kind of services the body of the dead is not present. Friends and acquaintances pay their respects to the deceased by seeing his or her photograph. They come together in the loved one’s memory and to celebrate the life led.
• Graveside service: In this kind of service, the people go to the burial site and say their goodbyes to the loved one before he or she is laid to rest. This service consists of final remarks and prayers.

Contact :
Contact Person: Maureen Sullivan
E-mail: [email protected]
Old Mission San Luis Rey de Francia
Address: 4050 Mission Avenue, Oceanside, CA 92057-6402
Tel/Fax: (760) 757-3651
Website: http://www.sanluisrey.org/cemetery/