Death most often brings challenging decisions, and of the decisions families make are whether they should have a service prior, after, or at times even simultaneously to cremation. While the use of cremation has grown higher in the nation of Australia, used by more than 70% of families, the timing of memorial services has varied greatly dependent upon personal preference, cultural, and practical reasons.
Being aware of your options can enable you to make the most appropriate choice for commemorating your beloved’s life and meeting your family members’ needs at this challenging time.
Services Before Cremation
Some families perform a conventional funeral ritual before cremation. The ritual follows a typical format, which can be of reassurance during the period of grief.
What This Involves
A pre-cremation ceremony typically includes a period of viewing or visitation as part of a more formalised funeral ceremony in the presence of the coffin. You’ll then attend a crematorium in Springvale after the ceremony, after a maximum of 24 hours in many cases. It allows mourners the facility of gathering around the coffin, providing a physical point of reference upon which to take leave of.
Advantages of Pre-Cremation Services
Services prior to cremation do have various advantages. The use of the casket offers a more traditional setup that most people feel comforted by, particularly elderly members of the family, as they might be more accustomed to more traditionally styled funeral arrangements. It also offers immediate closure, as the entire process can be shorter.
These pre-cremation services are more ceremonial and formal, and can make the families feel they’ve truly respected their departed beloved. The viewing time allows individuals the chance to individually pay respects, whereas the ritual of the funeral allows, in a systematic way, the mass-scale celebration of life together as well as mourning.
Considerations and Challenges
This does, naturally, entail rapid planning at the worst possible time. The family has to organise the funeral as soon as possible after the loss, which can be daunting to deal with along with grief. The expense can be more as you will need a casket for the ceremony as much as the arrangements for cremation.
Services After Cremation
Others favour the hosting of memorial services after the act of cremation has happened. The practice has various challenges and advantages.
What This Includes
With post-cremation services, the cremation occurs first, often a few days after the death. The memorial service would be held at a later date, often a week or several weeks after the loss of life. The ceremony can include the urn of the cremation, photographs, and personal items of importance that celebrate the life of the individual.
Advantages of Post-Cremation Services
This preplanning gives the families more advance planning. You can plan a large life celebration without the anxiety of near deadlines. This planning typically gives more customised services, as the families have the time to compile photos, arrange speakers, and incorporate personal touches.
After-cremation arrangements can be more convenient, even for out-town relatives and friends, so travel arrangements can be made. The focus shifts from the grief of the loss to the celebrating of the life, which some families find more inspiring as they heal.
Considerations and Challenges
Certain families do not wish to wait for a service, as they desire more immediate closure. The no-casket approach lessens the more conventional feel of the service, which may not be desired by all families or culturally allowed.
Choosing the Best For Your Family
Neither can be held to be more important than the other. Your choice will be determined by the values of your family, cultural, religious, and practical situation. Think of what would have meant most to your beloved, your family’s affective needs, and whatever practical limitations face you.
For the most part, most funeral directors will just walk you through the process of either, the practical side, the cost, etc. Know that the most important thing is to find a memorable way of celebrating your departed loved one’s life and beginning the process of the healing.
