Designing Your Funeral

The design process consists of two parts. The first involves celebrating and commemorating the life. The second requires deciding the manner in which you prefer to lay to rest the physical remains.

Honoring a Life

Honoring a Life

A funeral or memorial service gathers your loved ones together at a time of loss and mourning and is a socially-expected event following the passing of a loved one. It should not be underestimated that ceremonies, whether traditional or modern, can provide an important foundation for healing.

You call the shots. You can decide where and how the funeral or memorial service proceeds. You choose the location of the tribute, the day of the week, the time of day, the musical selection, the prayers said, and the hymns or songs that are sung. You can personalize your experience by giving your guests keepsakes such as wildflower seeds or even a tree seedling. We have many ideas and are always available to assist you in creating the most fitting and meaningful service in honor of your loved one.

Burial or Cremation?

Burial or Cremation?

The next area of consideration is the choice between burial, cremation, or even anatomical donation. Generally, people have a clear desire regarding what to do. If a loved one has indicated personal preferences, it's easier to know what to do. However, if these wishes were never made clear, it can be a difficult decision. In this instance, please know that we are equipped to help you choose what is right for you and your loved one.

If traditional burial is selected, then a casket, burial vault, cemetery, and specific plot are things to consider. If the interest is in "green burial," many of these items can be foregone; we can help with this too.

Should cremation be your choice, your decision will be whether to keep the cremated remains, place them in a columbarium niche, inter them in a burial ground, or scatter them over land or sea.

In the event that the lasting gift of anatomical donation is desired, and the loved one qualifies, we will work with you to ensure that this wish is realized. If the loved one doesn't qualify, then your choice reverts to either burial or cremation. Whatever you elect to do, we exist to help you every step of the way.

THE Next STEPS

Now that we've reviewed the fundamentals, think more about what exactly will meet your needs. Perhaps you can assemble your family to discuss their feelings, concerns, and desires. And if you need further guidance, please call us at 1-850-627-1111. Our funeral director/owner would be honored to help you clarify your thoughts.