For a funeral, the casket is present. A memorial service is held without the casket. The liturgy used is the same at both, however. Generally each spring, an Adult Inquirers Class is held for those who want to be Confirmed in the Episcopal Church and for those who would like to simply learn more about the Church and its practices. Contact the Church Office for details.

The two words are many times used interchangeably, but there is a difference when discussing strict definitions. A funeral is a ritual or service conducted with the dead human body present, normally in a casket. A memorial service is a ritual or service conducted without the body present. The term memorial service is also usually used when an urn containing cremated remains is present for the service. See similar questions...

The most common distinction is that a funeral service normally has the casket present, whereas a memorial service does not have the body present. See similar questions...

A traditional funeral is not possible because your body must be transferred promptly to the University but the families of many donors hold a memorial service instead. Your next of kin may elect to collect your ashes following cremation on completion of our studies, which is usually about 3 years, and hold a memorial service then. See similar questions...

No, not necessarily. Although most services are held here in our chapel or in a church, it is possible to have a service elsewhere. At the graveside, in one's home, in a park, or some other public or private location are all options. It should be mentioned, however, that our chapel or a church remain the best-equipped facilities in which to conduct a service. Other locations require additional steps, such as permission from the owner, parking, seating, sound systems, etc. See similar questions...

A funeral home is the traditional brick and mortar funeral establishment, with a building large enough for chapel services. These larger establishments carry higher overhead costs. A funeral service may simply have an arrangements office in an office building where you meet with the funeral director. Funeral Services are the new wave in the funeral industry. More and more families are choosing simple cremation or direct burial and don’t need a fancy building, chapel, hearse etc. See similar questions...

Non-members are invited to have their events here under the guidance of our ministers and the events coordinator. Contact our event coordinator, Patsy Moore, at 650-323-1260, events@firstpaloalto.comfor specific details. See similar questions...

A Gathering of Friends is a less formal event. It allows family and friends to share their loss and share treasured memories of the deceased. A Gathering of Friends may include light refreshments and can be held at any appropriate location, including an accommodating funeral home, a park, a restaurant or the home of a family member or friend. See similar questions...

Many people confuse Memorial Day and Veterans Day. Memorial Day is a day for remembering and honoring military personnel who died in the service of their country, particularly those who died in battle or as a result of wounds sustained in battle. While those who died are also remembered on Veterans Day, Veterans Day is the day set aside to thank and honor ALL those who served honorably in the military - in wartime or peacetime. See similar questions...

Much like a funeral, a memorial service celebrates the life of the deceased. The only difference is that there is no body present at a memorial service. In recent years, more and more people choose memorial services, especially those whose loved ones have been cremated or buried. Often, in lieu of a body, there is a display of photos showing moments from the deceased's life. Funeral costs have increased no faster than the consumer price index for other consumer items. See similar questions...

Choosing a Funeral Director can be difficult, especially if you are confronted with having to make a quick decision. Many people ask friends or relatives to recommend a firm that they have dealt with, or have heard positive comments about. If you do not have the opportunity to ask advice from others, find out about the firms in your area, perhaps from advertisements in your local press, parish magazines, or Yellow Pages. See similar questions...

Each state has its own licensing regulations governing entry as a funeral director. Most require a combination of postsecondary education (typically Associate Degree in Funeral Service Education), passage of the National Board Examination, and service as an apprentice for one or two years. See similar questions...

Cremation should not preclude having a memorial service. Memorial services are an important component to healing after a loss and maintaining psychological and physical health into the future. Giving family and friends a chance to say goodbye and mourn their loss helps people cope and reduce the chances of complicated grief response at a later time. One way to feel close to, and be able to say goodbye to the deceased who has chosen cremation over burial is to have an urn present at the service. See similar questions...

Alavon Direct Cremation Service is licensed by the State of Florida as a Direct Disposal Establishment. This means that we may not provide any ceremonies such as a viewing, a visitation, or memorial service, but it does not mean you may not have a Memorial Service. You may coordinate your own memorial service whenever and wherever you choose. We can provide printed items such as PRAYER CARDS, SERVICE FOLDERS, REGISTER BOOKS, ETC. See similar questions...

If you have already asked a funeral firm to transfer the deceased to their premises, you can still use a different firm to deal with the funeral arrangements. The company you contact to deal with the funeral will arrange for the transfer of the deceased to their premises. It will still be necessary for you to pay the other firm for the removal of the deceased. See similar questions...

Yes. The body is viewable after the performance of an autopsy. An autopsy does not disfigure the body in any way that will prevent the body from being viewed. See similar questions...

The preserve's steward will post signs and block certain trails if a funeral or memorial service is scheduled. See similar questions...

In the earliest recorded times, societies honored the dead through ceremonies. According to beliefs at that time, the purpose of the ritual was to properly send the decedent on the journey into the next life. Today, however, psychologists and other experts agree that the benefits of the funeral are for those left behind; those who must reconstruct their lives following their loss. See similar questions...