You can have a traditional service for either earth burial disposition or with cremation. This service can take place at a church or at the funeral home. When having a traditional service we have the deceased prepared for a visitation period and or a funeral service. This option allows for an open casket for family and friends to come and say goodbye. Or perhaps you wish to have a closed casket. It allows for a variety of visitation sessions or times. It provides an opportunity for community to come together and grieve and accept the reality of the loss. Most importantly, in grief work, it is important to view the deceased such that the stages of grief can adequately be worked through. Grieving is a process. There are many discussions on The Value of the Funeral and the value of an open casket visitation and funeral service Seeing is Believing. This process also allows for a very Personalized service.
There are many stages for grief work as anyone who has gone through the process realizes. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross broke grief into three stages. Unfortunately those who do not take the opportunity to say goodbye and face the reality of the loss often get stuck at the first stage which is denial.