Funeral and Memorial Service Options

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There are several different types of rites, services and ceremonies conducted when someone dies. The type of funeral or service held for someone will depend a great deal on the deceased's religious affiliation and cultural background.

1. Funerals: A funeral is the most traditional type of ceremony held when a person dies. A funeral is typically held in a church or funeral home and may include a full mass, prayers, songs and remembrances. The body of the deceased is usually present in either an open or closed casket.
2. Viewing: A viewing gives friends and family members an opportunity to sit with the body of the deceased for several hours. Viewings can take place at a funeral home, the home of the deceased, a church or another public space.
3. Wake: There are several different types of "wakes." In some cultures, a wake is synonymous with a viewing and is typically conducted on the evening before the funeral. In other cultures, a wake is essentially a party held immediately after the funeral and celebrates the life of the deceased.
4. Memorial Service: Unlike a funeral, the body is not present at a memorial service. Memorial ceremonies are usually less formal than funerals and are held after the body has been buried or cremated. A memorial service can take place anywhere—a mortuary, a church, a park, on the beach, at a favorite restaurant, etc.
5. Shiva: Shiva is a Jewish custom, which requires the immediate members of the deceased's family to observe a week-long period of grief and mourning following the burial. The ritual is often referred to as "sitting Shiva." For more information on observing Shiva, consult your Rabbi or the United Jewish Communities Jewish Funeral Customs resources.