Funeral Services and Your Options

Funerals serve an important purpose: they allow us to recognize a life that was lived and acknowledge that the life has come to an end. Funerals exist for the living, for survivors who suffer the loss of a loved one. We understand that every family is different. Influences such as religious and cultural traditions, cost concerns and personal preferences make each funeral as unique as the person who is being honored.

There are many types of services that Bakken Young provides. To help you put together a personalized package for your family’s needs, below we’ve summarized your options. You can discuss the many options with one of our helpful funeral directors and create a personal and lasting tribute to your loved one.

Funeral Services

A funeral represents a purposeful opportunity to reflect on the meaning of a life that has been lived and to determine the impact of that meaning for the family and friends. There is no single proper funeral service. It is a time for human sharing in its deepest sense. You and the ones you love are at the very center of the process, and the choices you make will determine its significance for you. As you participate in the planning of the funeral service, you help create a meaningful experience for everyone.

Complete Funeral Service

Traditionally, the funeral will be a Complete Funeral Service. This includes a family or public viewing of the deceased. Following this will be a service, typically in the church or at the funeral home. This would be followed by in or above ground burial of the casketed remains. Caskets selected may cost from several hundred dollars to several thousands of dollars depending on the material the casket is constructed of. Many cemeteries require that a minimum grave liner is used to encase the casket when earth buried. These minimum liners are constructed of concrete and are designed to hold the weight of the earth, maintaining the cemetery property. A sealed vault may also be used. The vaults are typically constructed of concrete and or metal and are designed to protect the earth over the grave from sinking in around the casket over time.

Graveside Service

The Graveside Service can be another selection. This often follows a time of visitation at the funeral home. The casketed remains are then transferred to the cemetery where a graveside ceremony can take place, followed by the burial.

Complete Cremation Service

The Complete Cremation Service is another common selection. This service is just like a Complete Funeral Service except cremation will follow instead of the casketed burial. This service can be accommodated by the use of a cremation casket (casket that is designed to be cremated) or a rental casket. Following the viewing, service or ceremony, and eventual cremation, the cremated remains can be buried, properly scattered, or returned to the family for safe keeping.

Immediate Cremation Service

The Immediate Cremation Service can be arranged as an immediate disposition of the body but is usually followed by a memorial service at a church, funeral home or other location. A Memorial Service is one where the body is not present. We recommend that if you select an immediate cremation, that you are allowed a time, if possible, to privately view the body as a family. If the viewing can be done in a matter of a few hours after the death then embalming will not be necessary. If there is to be a long delay (more than 8-12 hours) then embalming would be encouraged. State laws vary as to when embalming becomes required. Viewing of the deceased is a very important step in acknowledging that the death has occurred. Having some type of service or ceremony is also a key step in achieving a healthy recovery from the loss of a loved one.

Personalized Services

Personalizing the memorial service is a special, and often important way, to say goodbye to a loved one. It is important to acknowledge the life that has been lived and to celebrate that life. By offering services and memorialization features that are special in some regards to the loved one, a unique life can be remembered and honored in an individualized way that is comforting to family and friends.

Now that you know your options, give Bakken Young a call today at one of our four locations and we can help you make your loved one’s funeral service something that is meaningful to you and your family.