Many funeral homes in Shelby Charter Township, MI offer more than one type of funeral. You can either choose a traditional funeral that follows common traditions and rituals, or a contemporary funeral that includes different rituals and customized services to personalize a funeral. Your choice between the two can be guided by the wishes of your departed loved one and the amount of money you are willing to spend. Here are some of the differences between traditional and contemporary funerals.

Common Characteristics Of A Traditional Funeral

Traditional Funerals often have four main events including visitation, funeral service, committal service, and funeral reception. Family and friends visit the bereaved to comfort them and pay their respects to the deceased. After this, a funeral service is held to honor the deceased and then a committal service is held at the burial site before the grave is covered. A funeral reception is then held to allow family and friends to spend time together and share their memories of the deceased. At every stage of this traditional funeral, there are various rituals observed depending on the religion of the deceased.

Contemporary Funerals Break All The Rules

Most of the rules of a traditional funeral service are broken during a contemporary funeral service. For example, contemporary funeral services can be held in various locations, not just a church or a funeral home. To honor a loved one that loved skating, you can hold a funeral service at a skating rink or a room decorated with a skating theme. Even the rituals observed in a contemporary funeral are not often religious in nature and do not follow any common traditional practices. In fact, there may be no hint of religion in a contemporary funeral at all. The objects or images included in a contemporary funeral are deliberately chosen to individualize the funeral and honor the deceased loved one.

How To Choose Either A Traditional Or Contemporary Funeral

It helps if your loved one gave specific instructions about what kind of funeral they prefer. But if there were no instructions, then it’s up to you what kind of funeral you feel will be appropriate. A traditional funeral includes rituals that have both cultural and religious significance. Not only do these rituals mark an important milestone that every human must experience but also help you feel like you are not alone when grieving. On the other hand, a contemporary funeral frees you to celebrate the life of your loved one without any cultural or religious restrictions. You can make the ceremony as cheerful or as somber as you like without worrying about anyone’s disapproval.

Talk to our funeral director to help you organize the type of funeral that you want. We will not only help you understand our cremation services in Shelby Charter Township, MI but also explain all the factors you need to consider for any type of funeral. Our caring professionals have years of experience helping families and will be glad to help you create a lasting and meaningful tribute to the life of your loved one.

When someone you know passes on, you might check the obituaries to see what services the funeral homes in Shelby Charter Township, MI are holding for them, along with their family members. Once you know where the services are, and when, you can decide what you might attend, if you are invited or things are open to the public. It’s nice to honor someone, pay your respects, and share your sympathies with the family at a visitation service. Here are some details on that visitation service to help you know what to do and how to fit in.

Hours Are Open

You might see in the obituary that the visitation is going to be from 10-noon or another range of hours like that. Visitation services are like open houses. They are come and go as you please and they allow you to stop in when you are able. You don’t have to get there right at the start and you don’t have to stay until the end. Generally, only the closest immediate family will be there for the entire service. Most people will stop by for 20-30 minutes to see the person who passed and talk to the family.

Dress Is Varied

You will likely feel like you need to wear something dark and formal to a traditional funeral service, but that doesn’t have to be the same for a visitation service. These services are much more casual in nature. You can wear whatever you have on for work if you are stopping through on a break. Just wear something decent, but it doesn’t have to be a suit or a dress in order to get by at this type of casual service.

Gifts Are Nice, But Not Required

It is often nice, though never required, to bring something to the family at the visitation service. Cards are the most common item and you can place memorial money inside, if you so choose. It’s a nice way to support the family and remind them that you came to honor their loved one later when they go through the cards.

Approaching The Casket Isn’t Necessary

There are no requirements where the casket is concerned at these visitation events. You can approach the casket, if you want to and feel comfortable doing so. It might help you get closure and to say a final goodbye to that person. However, perhaps you are just going to support the family or maybe you don’t feel like going up to the casket. That’s okay as well. There’s no right or wrong way to go when it comes to approaching the casket.

If you want more advice on attending visitation services, funeral homes in Shelby Charter Township, MI are here to help you with more tips at any time. Even if you aren’t organizing the final services, they are here to help you support those who are grieving. You can call and ask general or specific questions about the visitation that is coming up for your friend.