Why are Bensenville Ceremonies Important?

“These ceremonies remind us all of the ancient notion that when someone dies, it is important to stop what we are doing, turn aside, and note the fact that our hearts are heavy, our support for each other is unwavering, and our loved one’s life is worth remembering.” William Hoy

Sometimes Bensenville families struggle with the decision whether to have a ceremony or not. It is important to remember that the funeral is for the living. The ceremonies we observe when a loved one dies accomplish several important purposes, not only for the immediate family, but also for the entire community of friends and associates. Here are some of those important reasons for creating and using meaningful ceremonies.

Bensenville CEREMONIES PROVIDE STABILITY AND ORDER IN THE CHAOS OF EARLY GRIEF

While many decisions rest with the immediate family, an overly individualistic approach to funeral arrangements can create as much chaos as it resolves. People who have just suffered a loved one’s death don’t generally know what kind of ceremonies will prove best able to help them and others who knew their loved one adapt to the death. In the absence of socially-prescribed rituals, bereaved people are left to create meaningful tributes during a period in which they are emotionally overwhelmed. Our Funeral directors can help guide you during this period.

Bensenville CEREMONIES HELP CONFIRM THE REALITY OF THE DEATH

Most clinical scholars in the field of bereavement point out the “reality” function of funeral ceremonies. Even though the death certificate records a precise moment of death does not mean everyone accepts that fact emotionally. For most of us, a loved one’s death is much more of a process-requiring time to fully believe the reality. Because this realization of death is not instantaneous, funeral rituals help people gradually accept that their loved one has made the transition from here to there.

Bensenville CEREMONIES HELP US VALIDATE THE LEGACY OF OUR LOVED ONES

When a person dies, we tend to highlight the character qualities and values worth imitating. We choose words that describe the attitudes and behaviors of the person who died, describing her as kind, compassionate, brave, respectful, enthusiastic, generous, fun-loving, faithful, warm, peace-loving, and heroic. Effective ceremonies provide a way for mourners to say to one another what perhaps they never found opportunity to share with the deceased: how his or her life actually impacted the lives of those who are left.

Bensenville CEREMONIES REASSURE CONTINUATION OF THE SOCIETY

If you have ever watched a state funeral, you recognize the orderliness of the service. But the memorial ceremonies of people who are not political leaders have the same function. They remind us that even though dramatically changed, life will continue in spite of the death of this individual, because life is bigger than an individual. One of the community’s important tasks in the face of death is to stand at the emotional “fork in the road” for bereaved people and lovingly point the way through the experience. Funerals help calm our anxiety.

Bensenville CEREMONIES REMIND US OF WHAT STILL NEEDS TO BE DONE

Ceremonies can help ignite a passion for needed change. Sometimes death comes after great injustice and the funeral ceremony helps galvanize the effort to create change as witnessed in the funeral for Dr. Martin Luther King. With family permission, leaders have addressed the importance of suicide prevention at the funeral ceremonies for teens who have died by suicide. And attendance at the funeral for a young mother killed by a drunk driver reminds many people of the dangers of driving while impaired by alcohol or drugs.

Bensenville Burial Offerings

Celebration of Life Graveside Service 

We can help you design a meaningful and healing service to take place at the graveside. Many families choose to hold a committal service where family and friends gather to commit a loved one to the earth and say final farewells together. These services are held in lieu of a Chapel or Church service and can take place outdoors or inside a mausoleum. We’ll guide you through the process of personalizing both the graveside service and the site in multiple ways. Working with your Funeral Director, you can select readings, speakers, and create spiritual moments. Families can also include military honors, religious leaders, and other touches to make the service unique.

Bensenville Celebration of Life Funeral Service

A Celebration of Life Service honors your loved one by celebrating a life well lived. These services can be traditional or unique as the person’s life being celebrated. Ceremonies take place at the funeral home, a place of religious worship, or other community venues, and create an opportunity to tell meaningful stories and add personal touches. With each ceremony, a viewing and/or visitation may be held to allow everyone time to remember your loved one’s endearing qualities before the service. After the service, an internment or committal service can follow at the cemetery. The Celebration of Life service truly reflects the uniqueness of the life it honors, as well as providing closure for family and friends.

Each Piece Serves a Purpose

“Each piece of the funeral serves a unique purpose and plays an important role in helping us express what everyday words and actions cannot. When people and ceremony come together, meaning emerges and healing begins to unfold. When you put the pieces together, a ceremony is created that is deserving of the special life that was lived.”

The Value of a Viewing

Whether or not an open casket is part of the celebration is an individual family choice. The main reason that we have any “viewing” is because that allows people to have a physical presence to focus on when saying their goodbyes. Since most people are very visually inclined by nature, it seems to help them to see the person for the death to be “real” to them and allows them to better focus to begin to tidy up the loose ends that they have with this person. A funeral helps people begin to complete their relationship with the person who died, and sometimes seeing the body helps.