When a loved one passes away, one of the things you will need to do is talk with funeral homes in Oakfield, NY., about services. Other than traditional funeral services, there are also options such a memorial service or you can choose to hold a celebration of life event. Which type of service you choose can depend on your religious affiliations, any last wishes of the deceased, as well as family preference. Let’s take a look at each of these a little closer and see when each event might be most appropriate.

Traditional Funeral Service

A traditional funeral service takes place just days after the deceased has passed. The body will be in a casket and be present at the time of the service. These services are typically quiet, solemn, and religious in nature with a priest or other religious leader leading the services. Since the service is religious, they are most often held in a church or other religious building.



The service will follow a format and often include prayers being recited, hymns being sung, and eulogies given. The service takes place right before the burial so after the service, if the burial is public, those guests who wish to attend will drive to the cemetery for the burial service.

Memorial Service

Memorial services can be like a traditional funeral service or they can be more secular. The biggest difference is that with a memorial service, the body of the deceased has already been buried or cremated so it is not present at the time of the service. Because of this, families have much more time and flexibility to plan the services. Also, since these services can be more secular, the families have more options as to where they can hold the event.

Typically, these services follow much the same format that a traditional service does in that there may be songs sung, passages or other words read, and eulogies given. Since these can be secular in nature, instead of being led by a religious leader, they will be led by a master of ceremonies or celebrant.

Celebration of Life Event

Celebration of life events are very different from either of the other two services. While traditional and memorial services follow a pre-determined format, celebration of life events are more open and don’t really have a structure to follow. You can have these flow any way you wish.

Other than no formal structure, the biggest difference between this and the other services is that the mood of a celebration of life service is happy, joyful, and hopeful. It is a time to truly celebrate the deceased’s life, passions, personality, and accomplishments.

Since these events are much more like a party, you may find them being held at places like someone’s backyard, a local bar, park, or hotel. They can truly be held just about anywhere.

In Conclusion

The type of services you decide to have for your loved one after they pass may depend on many factors including their religious beliefs, any last wishes they might have had, as well as how much flexibility and time you need to plan the services. If you are unsure of which service would be best, when talking to funeral homes in Oakfield, NY., let them know your concerns and they can help you decide on which is the best choice contact us now.