A Guide to Various Funeral Services: Memorial, Funeral and a Wake

Written by Expert Contributor Robert L. D’Anjolell, Jr., of D’Anjolell Memorial Homes

If you’re preparing for a funeral or will soon be attending one, it’s important to know about the different types of services that may be involved. There will be a funeral or memorial service, but there could also be a wake or viewing. By better understanding the meaning of each, you’ll be able to make a more informed decision on which services to attend.

The first service might be a wake. Less common than the other three services, a wake stems from a traditional Catholic ceremony. The original tradition was for the family to stay awake through the night, to provide spiritual protection to the deceased. A more modern interpretation of a wake can also include a short ceremony at the funeral home, either the day before the funeral or immediately before, led by a priest who often recites the rosary.

A viewing is less structured than a wake. It’s a time when the deceased’s family and friends gather in a room with the deceased person, who is in an open or closed casket. Everyone is encouraged to share stories, connect with each other, and pay a personal tribute to the deceased. This can be a very helpful opportunity for everyone to share their grief informally in a more comfortable environment. Attendees pay their respects to the deceased and their family members. Viewings usually occur an hour or two before the funeral service or the evening before.

The funeral service is the formal burying of the deceased, typically at a funeral home or at a church. A formal service is held, then the family and friends travel with the body to the cemetery, where the deceased is formally buried. Funerals, the most traditional service, are an important chance to follow the religious traditions of putting someone to rest. This may be the only service where the religious and spiritual rituals are followed and the body is formally laid to rest.

A memorial service, as opposed to a funeral, usually occurs when the deceased person is not present. This is commonly the case if a person has been cremated. Similar to a funeral service, a memorial service is an opportunity for the family and friends to memorialize the deceased person, either through a formal ceremony or a more personal celebration of their life.

Not all of these services need to be followed, especially since a memorial service is in place of a more traditional funeral service. By knowing the purpose and format of each service, you’ll know which to attend and what to expect.

D'Anjolell Memorial Homes: Honoring the Life of Your Loved One

Butterfly Releases • Memory Tables • Bookmarks with Seeds • Flower Selection • Dove Release Picture Boards • Remembrance Jewelry • Online Remembrance • Candlelight Ceremony • And more

www.DAnjolell.com

D’ANJOLELL Memorial Home of Broomall • 2811 West Chester Pike • 610-356-4200

D’ANJOLELL Stigale Memorial Home & Cremation Services, Inc. of Aston • 3260 Concord Rd • 610-497-5505

D’ANJOLELL Memorial Home & Crematory of Malvern-Frazer • 392 Lancaster Ave • 610-296-9555

D’ANJOLELL Barone Memorial Home of Wallingford • 908 S. Providence Rd • 610-874-7700