Service Decisions

Person placing lilies on a tombstone in a cemetery.

Creating a Meaningful Tribute

There are more ways to honor a life than most people realize. Whether you're drawn to something traditional or contemporary, simple or elaborate, cremation or burial, the options available today allow you to create a service that truly reflects your loved one. Each approach can be personalized in countless ways through multimedia presentations, meaningful visuals, printed materials, music, and personal touches that celebrate who they were. Our role is to help you understand these options and guide you toward creating a service that feels right for your family and honors your loved one's memory in a way that's authentic and meaningful.

What Matters Most to You?

Some families have a very clear idea of the wishes expressed when a loved one passes away. Many are undecided or have never thought about it. The following preference categories are designed to help you determine what options are most important to you, so that when it is time to make decisions, you can communicate exactly what you want to do or at least know what options you want to explore more before making that decision.

Please note: 

1. The following guide focuses on when the passing of a loved one and their service preferences are all provided locally.  Services provided out of town or involving out-of-town providers should be reviewed to understand how the cost is affected.

2. There are many combinations of the following options.  The checklist is meant to be a guide, but you can reach out to us anytime, and we can talk about the options and show you how we can help you bring it all together.

Viewing Preferences

  • We want to see our loved one
  • We prefer not to have a viewing
  • We're uncertain about viewing


If you want to see your loved one:

  • Private viewing (immediate family only)
  • Public viewing (family and friends)

Final Disposition

  • Burial
  • Cremation
  • We're still deciding

Types of Gathering Options to Choose From

  • Traditional funeral service
  • Memorial service (without the deceased present)
  • Memorial service with the Urn present
  • Celebration of life
  • Graveside or committal service only (Can be with a casket or urn)
  • Small, intimate gathering
  • Larger community gathering with no formal ceremony
  • Reception at the funeral home
  • We prefer no formal service

Additional Preferences to Consider

  • Religious or spiritual elements are important
  • We prefer a secular service
  • Personalization is important (photos, music, stories, displays)
  • Simple and dignified is what we want
  • We have ideas involving scattering cremains that we wish to discuss