TRADITIONAL AND CREMATION SERVICES

Traditional Funeral Service with Visitation and Burial

The traditional funeral service with visitation remains the most commonly selected service we offer. The traditional funeral generally includes the services of a funeral director, administrative staff and professional staff for coordinating, personalizing, and directing the funeral service, preparation and filing of legal documents, and other paperwork necessary to complete the arrangements, removal from the place of death to the funeral home, embalming and sanitary care of the remains, dressing, casketing, cosmetizing, use of facilities for visitation, use of the facilities for the service or set up at a church or other location, automotive equipment including funeral coach, family vehicle and service van, and final commendation.

The Visitation
Sometimes called the wake, calling hours or viewing, the visitation is a time for family and friends to support one another in their time of sorrow. The body is present in an open or closed casket allowing you and others to acknowledge the reality of death and to say goodbye.

The Traditional Funeral Service
The traditional funeral service is held with the body present, with either an open or closed casket, within two or three days of death. The family decides whether the service is to be public or private. At a typical traditional funeral, a member of the clergy officiates the service in the church or in the funeral home chapel. Each service we provide is customized to meet everyone's needs. Cultural customs and religious denomination determines specific elements of ritual used. The ceremony itself consists of scripture readings, prayers, a eulogy, and sometimes a sermon, and is combined with hymns and music. A procession to the cemetery follows, where a brief committal service at the gravesite concludes the ceremony.

Graveside Services

At a graveside funeral, family and friends gather at the cemetery for the ceremony. The funeral director will also be present, and is able to provide transportation to the family to and from the cemetery if desired. Typically a member of the clergy officiates the service. There can be music, a eulogy or other poems or readings.

Cremation Options

Certain religious denominations have not yet accepted cremation as a form of disposition. We suggest that you check with your clergy, or we will be glad to assist you with further information regarding cremation.

When cremation is selected, there are many different options available. We will explain a few of those options here. A cremation merchandise display at each facility includes a variety of different urns, cremation containers and urn/vaults. To request a brochure, "Cremation Options", click here.

Cremation Funeral Services

Cremation services can include a private or public viewing and/or funeral ceremony at our Funeral Home or your place of worship prior to the cremation itself. Burial of the cremains, if desired, takes place at a later date, and may be either public or private.

Cremation with Memorial Service

This choice includes immediate cremation without a public or private viewing, but also offers the option of holding a memorial service, which is held after the cremation.

Immediate Cremation

Immediate cremation includes no ceremonies or rites. It may take place only after obtaining a signed death certificate from the attending physician along with a signed authorization from the next of kin, or authorized agent of the deceased. In the State of Pennsylvania there is a twenty-four hour waiting period after the time of death before cremation can be performed since cremation is irreversible.

Options for Cremains

Options for the cremains include burial on the family plot, scattering of the ashes, placement in an urn to be kept at home, or placed in a columbarium niche or other location. If you would like to explore further options, we would be glad to provide you with the information you desire to meet your needs.

 

The Funeral Ark

	The Funeral Ark is designed to carry cremated remains, allowing family and friends to participate in the ceremony. From visitation and ceremony at the funeral home or church, pallbearers may carry the urn in a formal procession to the cemetery. Click on image on left to view an article that recently ran in Lancaster Sunday News.