Funerals & Memorials

You will first need to make a decision on whether to bury or cremate your loved one’s remains. This can be a deeply personal decision if your parent’s wishes on this matter were not made clear previously. Sometimes this information could be included in a will or other legal document The hospital will generally ask for your choice and assist with arranging the next steps.

Burial: If you choose to do a burial, your loved one’s remains will be transported from the hospital to a funeral home. The funeral home will then walk you through the additional decisions that will be needed in order to plan the burial. This may include: Casket Selection, Grave Site Selection, Funeral Service Details

Cremation: If you decide to cremate your loved one’s remains, the hospital should assist with the coordination of this process. The decisions that will follow include: Storage of the remains: You will need to choose an urn or other container for the ashes following cremation. There is often a broad range of choices that can vary greatly in cost. Placement of Remains: You will also need to decide what to do with the ashes. Options include displaying the urn, scattering the ashes in a meaningful location, burying them in a cemetery or memorial garden.

• Be aware that spreading ashes in many public areas may be illegal. In general, it’s legal to scatter ashes on private property as long as you have the owner’s written consent. You can also scatter ashes at legally designated scattering areas such as a cemetery.

Traditional Funeral: This typically centers around a physical burial and is meant to honor the deceased and follows a structured format, often including religious or cultural rituals, such as prayers, eulogies, and scripture readings.

Memorial Service: This event focuses on the life and legacy of the deceased and may be slightly more informal, and tends to include speeches, videos, readings, and other personal touches that highlight the life of the deceased.

Celebration of Life: A celebration of life is a more festive and more relaxed event that focuses on honoring the life of the deceased by emphasizing positive memories. Activities may include sharing stories, playing music, displaying photos or videos, and engaging in activities that reflect the deceased’s interests.

It is common for families to choose to publish an obituary in local publications in order to notify the community, acquaintances, and extended family and friends about the death of an individual. It provides a formal announcement of the passing, ensuring that those who knew the deceased are made aware of their death.

Obituaries include the deceased’s full name, followed by their date and place of birth and date and place of death. It is also common to list the surviving family members as well as any significant life achievements, hobbies, affiliations, and other notable personal details from your loved one’s life. Conclude with information about the funeral or memorial service, if desired, including date, time, and location.