Recently, an article came out highlighting the incredible relationship between a mother Orca and her baby calf, who passed away shortly after being born. The mother, Tahlequah, used her snout to keep her deceased calf afloat for 17 days and covered over 1,000 miles of ocean in the process, an unprecedented display of mourning and grief. The sojourn of Tahlequah highlights that animals, just like humans, often form intense and complex bonds with our family and friends throughout their lives. So, when a death occurs, it creates an immediate sense of loss and grief. The funeral ceremony is designed specifically to help families navigate through this grief and mourning and to help start them on the right path towards healing.

Funerals and Memorial Services are ceremonies that allow us to take a step back and reflect on a life well lived by someone that we loved. They invite us to honor those we care about most and learn more about their lives from others that knew them. When someone we cherish passes away, it is completely natural and okay to be sad and grief stricken. Tears, sadness, and even emotional outburst are all natural and healthy consequences of losing someone we loved. The funeral service and accompanying ceremonies like the viewing, the family dressing (which is when the closest family and friends come to the funeral home to help dress their loved one), and the service itself all create a respectful environment where it is safe for you to express these feelings of grief and sadness.

Taking the time to reflect on their life and impact also helps kickstart the healing process as the collective sharing of those memories cements in your heart and mind the legacy they’ve left with you, which you can go back and reflect on when the sad feeling of grief inevitably come back from time to time.

The act of seeing your loved one throughout the funeral experience forces you to acknowledge the reality of their death, which is the very first step in the grieving process. The funeral is also a socially acceptable venue to express the intense feelings associated with grief, which is an important step in the grieving journey. Studies also show that taking the time to remember your loved one is an important component of grieving, which is one of the central tenants of the funeral. Additionally, the act of holding a funeral sends a signal to the community that you are open to receiving their support, which is something you will need in the immediate aftermath of the death of a loved one. And finally, the funeral or memorial service gives you the opportunity to have time to search for meaning and develop a new self-identity, which are additional components of a healthy grieving journey.

Most people say that in an effort to be self-deprecating and humble, which isn’t a bad thing at all! However, two important things to keep in mind is that number one, someone has died. That is a devastating and life-altering event. Your spouse, kids, and grandkids are most likely not going to be wanting to throw a party over your passing! Because of that, the funeral is really for them. It’s for those surviving family members who are devastated and grieving your loss. It creates a space for them to follow the path of a healthy grieving process and to take the time to acknowledge the reality of the death, embrace the pain of the loss, remember them, develop a new self-identity, search for meaning, and receive ongoing support from others.

We will specifically design the funeral service to meet your family’s needs, regardless of religious affiliation or lack thereof. For those who do not align themselves with any religion, we offer many non-traditional ways to commemorate your loved ones’ life, from large outdoor services under our beautiful canopies to intimate community gatherings in our own facilities. We can also help you secure a non-traditional venue. We’ve coordinated and ran funeral services at high schools, country clubs, parks, and even hotel conference rooms in the past.

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