The Value of a Memorial Service

While a church service is customary before a traditional earth burial, such is not the case before a cremation. But it is customary to hold a memorial service after a cremation. There are numerous reasons why a memorial after a Chanhassen, MN cremation can be valuable. 

So if you are planning a cremation for a deceased loved one, check out these reasons why a memorial service is something that you should hold following the cremation process. 

Focus on Life 

At a funeral service, it is customary for the body of the deceased to be present in an opened or closed casket, so the focus tends to be on death. At a memorial service, the body is not usually present in any form, so the focus tends to be on life. It is definitely easier to turn a memorial into a celebratory event than it would be at a funeral service. Furthermore, a memorial service, which can come after a funeral service or after a cremation service, comes when people have had a bit more time to process the reality of the death and to start the grieving process. 

More Informal 

A funeral service tends to be very formal and is usually held in a church or in some other house of worship. But a memorial service can be held just about anywhere, is usually informal and lends itself to customization. It will be easier for attendees to let their hair down, so to speak, and to talk and share if the environment is more informal than formal. 

Come Together 

Because a memorial service focuses more on celebrating a life than in marking a death, it will be easier for people to come together with positive stories and comments. Everyone has a story to tell, and a memorial is the perfect environment for people to share their stories about the deceased. 

For the Living 

When you really think about it, memorials are more about the living than they are about the dead – and that’s not something you can say about funeral services. At a memorial, there’s usually a bit of time between the death and the memorial event. This gives people a bit more time to come to terms with the new normal. Such an event also will help the living to deal with grief as they laugh together, sing together, cry together and eat together. In many ways, a memorial can offer closure for you, your family and your friends. 

If you’re planning a cremation in Chanhassen, MN and are thinking about holding a memorial afterwards, we can help you with some helpful advice and recommendations. At Scott County Cremation, our goal is to meet or exceed expectations, and we are dedicated to helping grieving families to gain the sort of closure that comes with a properly planned body disposition. Our phone number and address are, respectively, (952) 402-9000 and 833 Marschall Rd Shakopee, MN 55379. Contact us for a free consultation. We’ll be happy to help in your time of need.