The Purpose of a Funeral Service

When we experience the passing of a loved one, a funeral, memorial service, or another kind of gathering fills several important needs. Funeral services focus on the psychological, spiritual, and social essentials of the living.

●They help us acknowledge that someone we care about has died.

●They give family & friends a chance to say goodbye.

●These gatherings serve as a support system and provide a sense of hope for the living.

Funeral services can be as traditional or modern as you'd like. Grief and mourning look different for everyone. But, no matter what kind of service you choose, gathering to say goodbye to a loved one helps acknowledge the death and lifetime achievements of the person and bring grieving relatives and friends together during this challenging time.

Fulfill Cultural & Religious Obligations:

Funeral services will look different depending on cultural beliefs and religion. For some, having an official ceremony allows us to fulfill certain cultural and religious obligations to the deceased and the remaining family and community members.

Pay Your Respects:

A funeral service pays tribute to the person's life. The event itself is a way to accept the passing of a loved one while remembering the person's life and accomplishments. It's another way to show respect and honor for the deceased.

For some, sharing happy memories or fond moments from the person's life is another way to show their admiration for the departed. Remembering someone through shared experience allows the living to find comfort in circumstances that no longer include the person who has passed.

Start the Mourning Process:

Providing direction at a time when it is needed most is one of the most powerful benefits of a funeral service. This is a sad, challenging time for everyone. Gathering with friends and family members to say goodbye is usually the first step in grieving. Rather than keeping our emotions bottled up, we can grieve in a safe and supportive environment.

The loss of a loved one can be devastating. However, with the help of friends and family, we can ease our emotional burdens and express our feelings. In addition, the funeral ceremony helps validate complex emotions as part of the natural grief journey.

Reconnect With Friends & Family:

Funeral visitation is a chance to see how much others cared for the person who has passed on.

Close family and friends and people you may not have seen in a while all come together in this time of need to lend support. Having this support system to share memories, tell stories, and honor the departed helps comfort the living.

Say Goodbye:

Funerals encourage the acceptance of death. Healing and understanding are part of the grief journey but realizing a loved one will not return comes first in the healing process.

At the same time, funerals provide a sense of closure. It's the time and place to feel vulnerable, safe, and emotional while surrounded by others going through similar emotions. For many, funerals are the last chance to say goodbye or tell a loved one things we didn't say during their lifetime.

Communities across the world commemorate their dead with funeral rituals. It's a tradition found in every culture and society. Funerals help bring order and structure to life's most upsetting experiences. Whether a grieving family chooses to have a funeral procession, funeral viewing, or another type of ritual to pay their respects, these traditions are a way to express our deepest thoughts and feelings together with family and friends.

Regardless of religious backgrounds and beliefs, coming together helps unite mourners and provides a sense of ease for the remaining family members. There is no right or wrong way to say goodbye to someone you care about. Some families may choose to have a funeral guest book where attendees can leave a thought for the deceased or their grieving family. Other families opt for a slideshow of images or a photobook to memorialize the deceased.

Not everyone chooses to have a funeral for a loved one. However, the absence of a funeral service can exacerbate what is already a very tough time.

Funerals are for the living. Friends and family might feel left out or unsure how to express their grief. If a traditional funeral isn't right, any other type of formal, well-planned gathering can bring family members a great deal of comfort.

A funeral service can mean many things to different people. At Stitzel Family Funeral Homes & Crematory, Inc., we offer traditional funeral services, religious ceremonies, a celebration of life, and everything in between. We assist grieving families throughout the Reading area lay their loved ones to rest in a way that honors their life and legacy.

We help you take care of everything at an affordable price. Our services cater to all types of ceremonies, traditions, and rituals. So, whether you want to say goodbye to a loved one with a traditional funeral service or share a glass of champagne in their memory, our funeral directors are here to help.