Plan A Burial Service

For thousands of years, burial services have been part of human social norms. Historically, burial practices can be found in every society. Cinematic portrayals have informed our perceptions of what a burial service should look like. Therefore, most people are familiar with the traditional sequence of a burial service. However, it can be difficult to orchestrate a personalized graveside service for a departed loved one. Here we provide a guide to graveside service planning that presents the primary measures to take and tells you of subjects to discuss with the funeral director. If any of the information is unclear to you, please do not hesitate to call us at 708-532-5400. One of our courteous and well-trained staff will give you the answers to any questions you may have.

Why Hold a Burial Service?

When confronted with the task of making final arrangements for a loved one, it may surprise you to learn of all the advantages of having a well-planned burial service. While at the arrangement conference with the funeral director, you will be able to talk about benefits of a graveside service and the reasons why families opt for this method of commemoration.

First, a graveside service provides you with a greater level of simplicity. Many people desire that, and the quest for an uncomplicated way of life can be seen in the ethos of numerous religions. A graveside service accomplishes this mission by keeping what is most important as its guiding principle.

In addition, graveside services offer the opportunity to honor your loved one in a natural setting. Being outdoors, surrounded by trees and flowers, mourners can come together to celebrate the life of the departed in a special way. Regardless of the cemetery used, these natural elements contribute to the emotional and spiritual ease of those in attendance.

Many religions have a strong affinity for earth burials. This can be seen in the Christian view of interment as part of a religious ceremony, and in Jewish and Islamic beliefs in the power of burial.

The act of witnessing the burial has tremendous significance, both culturally and religiously. This is manifested by the long history and widespread usage of burial as the means of final disposition for human remains. Burying a person is a way of paying respect, and it holds the most meaning when it is done with the collective so that all those close to the deceased may bear witness.

What is Required to Plan a Burial Service

With these reasons in mind, we now look to what is needed to plan a burial service. There are three major areas for consideration: choosing a cemetery and specific burial plot, picking a coffin and burial vault and arranging the details of the graveside service.

Selecting a Cemetery and Burial Property

It is possible that a family member has already chosen and paid for a burial plot or mausoleum crypt or that a relative bought a large portion of a nearby cemetery for the future burial of family members. If either is the case, you will need to bring the necessary documentation proving the proprietorship of the burial rights to your first meeting with the funeral director.

If this situation does not apply to you, you will need to select a cemetery and plot yourself. Although people today have more information available to them than ever before, buying cemetery property is not an everyday occurrence. To assist you in this matter, we offer the following:

Purchasing property on a cemetery is not like buying a home, where the building and the land are yours to use as you please. Acquiring cemetery property like a burial plot or mausoleum crypt affords you the right to inter someone there. Though you have that right, the property itself still belongs to the cemetery owners. They are responsible for the property, and use a specified portion of the funds you pay for interment rights to cover the costs of maintaining the cemetery grounds. The administrators of the cemetery create rules that govern the burial and future visits to the grave site. As when purchasing a home, the prices of interment rights vary wildly depending on the location of the plot or crypt. If time is not of the essence, you can find bargains on resale cemetery property. Other expenses incurred when burying your deceased include fees charged by the cemetery for opening and closing the grave, the cost of the headstone or marker, its installation and getting a casket and burial vault. 

We have worked with the local cemeteries for a long time and are quite familiar with their procedures. We ask that you allow us to help you with these concerns by calling 708-532-5400.

Selecting a Casket and Burial Vault

Although it is widely held that the purchase of a casket is the most expensive part of this process, we have a wide range of affordable coffins to choose from. We work with you to select one that will fit within the budget you set forth for your loved one’s graveside service.

Aside from issues of cost, picking a casket depends heavily on your personal tastes. You decide what material you prefer, be it wood or metal. Hardwood caskets are available in cherry, maple, oak, pine, walnut and other varieties. Metal coffins come in different thicknesses and finishes. We are here with considerable experience to help you find the merchandise that meets your criteria for a casket and vault. Please visit us in person or call our facility at 708-532-5400.

Detailed Plans of the Graveside Service

Since it is dependent upon your needs, the burial service we create will be unique. We encourage you to disregard the notion that a graveside service need be a modified traditional funeral with a clergyperson officiating, the recitation of old-fashioned prayers and the singing of hymns. Instead, we urge you to be creative in the ways you pay tribute to your loved one and really let his or her personality shine through. With your unique ideas and our expertise, we will work together to design a service that features the most meaningful reading selections, songs and activities.

We will speak with you about who will head the ceremony. Perhaps you would like it led by a clergy member, relative, your funeral director or a close friend. One of our funeral directors will help you infuse the gathering with love and memories, ensuring a graveside service that does justice to your deceased.

When You are Ready to Talk About Burial Services

We are always available to listen to your needs. We have a deep interest in what you are feeling and what your family is going through. Please call us at 708-532-5400 to receive the best in graveside services. We are completely dedicated to you, your family and your loved one.   

Source:

Wikipedia.