About Us

Why Do We Have Funerals?

Funerals are for the living . . . for those who have suffered the trauma of losing a loved one. The funeral process serves the emotional needs of those who grieve.

Rituals are symbolic activities that help us, together with our families and friends, express our deepest thoughts and feelings about life's most important events. Baptism celebrates the birth of a child and that child's acceptance into the church family. Birthday parties honor the passing of another year in the life of someone we love. Weddings publicly affirm the private love shared by two people.

Like other rituals, a funeral recognizes an important event. The funeral declares that a death has occurred, commemorates the life that has been lived, and offers family and friends the opportunity to pay tribute to their loved one.

The funeral ritual is a public, traditional and symbolic means of expressing our beliefs, thoughts and feelings about the death of someone loved. The funeral ceremony helps us acknowledge the reality of the death, gives testimony to the life of the deceased, provides support to mourners, allows for the embracing of faith and beliefs about life and death, and offers continuity and hope for the living.



Viewing the deceased helps fulfill the psychological need for closure after a loss. The gathering of extended family and friends helps provide the emotional support to sustain the immediate family as they strive for acceptance and peace.