Memorial Services in Bethlehem, PA

Unlike a traditional funeral, a memorial service in Bethlehem is a gathering where a casket is not present (although the urn with the cremated remains may be on display). A memorial service can be held weeks or even months after the death and cremation or burial.

A memorial service can be held in a church, the funeral home or a community hall, or somewhere of importance to the deceased and family. There is usually music, selected readings, and a eulogy. Memorial services can be further personalized as a celebration-of-life.

Our experience has shown us that many of today's families want more than a traditional funeral. This can be done by bringing more of the personality and lifestyle of the deceased into the arrangements. By displaying photographs or staging the event around a favorite pastime, a memorial service can become more personal and meaningful.

If a personalized memorial service in Bethlehem suits the needs of your family, we suggest you consider the following questions:

• What did your loved one like to do?
• What made your loved one smile?
• What was he or she like as an individual?
• What was their profession and how did that shape their life?
• Was your loved one spiritual or attend a church?
• Was he or she proud of their cultural or ethnic heritage? 

We find the most common reason people choose a memorial service is that they want the extra time to plan a ceremony. Since a memorial service can take place after the body has been buried or cremation, there is no rush to organize a ceremony. Immediately following a death, families are not emotionally ready to have a ceremony – They need time to grieve. Relatives and friends that live far away can organize their schedule to travel for the memorial service.

- Often those not religious choose to have a memorial service as opposed to a traditional funeral because traditional funerals are more often associated with religion.

- Memorial service tend to be cheaper than holding a traditional funeral

- As mentioned above, for some people memorial services serve as the perfect compromise between a celebration of life and traditional funeral service.

- Some people find celebrations of life do not pay enough attention to the deceased and turn into solely a party

Unlike a funeral service with the body present, a memorial service is a ceremony that memorializes and honors the deceased after the body has been cremated in our private, on-site crematory or buried.  A graveside service is a type of memorial service that is set up at the cemetery graveside or beside the mausoleum where cremated ashes will be interred. It may follow a traditional funeral service, which can take place at a different location, or it may stand on its own and act as the final service..

We want you to know that no matter your reasons for choosing cremation, we're here to help you explore your options. When you're ready, Contact Us to set an appointment or simply drop by our office. You can also send us an email via our online contact us form.