What are the common types of funeral services?

The common types of funeral services encompass traditional practices that families can choose based on their preferences and cultural traditions. A traditional funeral typically involves a structured service that includes a viewing, a formal service in a funeral home or place of worship, and burial or cremation following the service.

Memorial services differ in that they often occur without the body present, allowing families to honor and remember their loved ones in a more personalized setting. A graveside service is another option, typically held at the cemetery, where family and friends gather to pay their respects and participate in the burial or interment of the deceased.

While the other options contain elements related to death care, they may not accurately represent commonly recognized types of funeral services. For example, cremation and burial are methods of disposition rather than the services themselves. Celebration of life events highlight personal remembrance but may not follow a traditional structure of funeral services. Similarly, direct burials and choices like public viewings relate more to specific aspects of the funeral process rather than being distinct types of services.