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What the Catholic Church Teaches about Cremation – Funeral Facts with Deacon Marc

Below is a transcript the the video:

Hello and welcome to Funeral Facts with Deacon Mark,

Excited to be here with you today, we’re going to talk about a topic that we get a lot of questions about and that is cremations.

I want to talk about cremation first and foremost and be very clear as to the approach we’re going to take and talking about cremations today because when you bring up cremations, you have people all over the place. Some that feel very strongly of cremation should occur. People that feel strongly of cremations shouldn’t occur.

We’re not going to go into what should or shouldn’t happen but really stick to what DOES the church teach about Cremation? And so there’s three pieces that we’re going to go through today we’re going to answer the question;

  • Does the church permit cremation?
  • How do you care for the ashes?
  • What happens at mass with regards to cremated remains?

Those will be the three topics we’re going to talk about but for today we’re going to start about with the question that we get all the time is that does the church permit cremation?

So the answer to that is yes, the church does permit Cremation. Since 1963, the Church has officially permitted Cremation and in the last couple years, they’ve given some great direction on helping us understand the why behind Cremation and so there’s two documents always helpful to learn a little bit about why the church teaches what it does, and so there’s two documents that I really encourage if you have questions about why does the church teach this, and what we’re going to talk about today.

I’d encourage you first and foremost to go to a document that was put out by Pope Francis in 2016, it’s instructions on regarding the burial of a deceased and the conservation of ashes of cremated remains and so that was put out in 2016 and the Vatican does a really nice job of explaining some of the background behind how we should care for a body whether it is a full body or whether it is cremated.

Just recently back in March the American Bishops put out an amazing document on the proper disposition of the bodily remains and so that one also goes into some great detail talking about why does the church teach what it teaches. Really would encourage you to look at those two and we’ll provide some web links for those as well.

So, the church does permit cremation but it’s very clear, we need to be very clear about it, Permits cremation, but the preference is always a bodily burial and so you might be asking why is that the case and so let me quote from what the American Bishops put out in the proper disposition of the bodily remains.

They wrote, “The church considers burial to be the most appropriate way of manifesting reverence for the body of the deceased. As it is clearly an expression of our faith and hope in the resurrection of the body. While the church permits cremation unless it is chosen for reasons contrary to the Catholic faith, the preferred method is burial”

There’s a couple key things within that.

One is a cremation is permitted but two that full burial of the body is what is preferred out of reverence for the body and also expression of faith in life everlasting and in the resurrection. There’s an interesting statement within that it says that the cremation is permitted as long as there’s you’re not doing it choosing it for reasons contrary to the Catholic faith.

So what is that mean?

You’re not doing you don’t want to do cremation to say hey “I don’t believe in the resurrection so I’m going to cremate my body” that’s not accordance with our faith and that would be a reason to say we shouldn’t really do the cremation because you we do believe in the resurrection that is a basis of our faith.

The idea being is that the cremation is permitted but still for a lot of different reasons spiritual psychological reasons for those that remain behind, the bodily burial is the preferred. The other piece that they wrote is the body is not something that is used temporary by the soul as a tool and that can ultimately be disregarded as no longer useful.

Jesus Christ has promised that one day at the final resurrection, the souls of the dead will be reunited with their bodies. Jesus himself did not leave his body in the tomb but rather rose from the dead with his own body.

Christ rose from the dead with his body and all. For that same reason as an expression of our faith in the resurrection. Burial of the body is what is preferred.

So, to answer this week’s question, is Cremation Permitted?

It is permitted. But the burial of the whole body is preferred.

Gave you two documents that the church has written. There’s another book that outlines his teachings and are the history of death and beliefs of Christianity around death and burial? That is a Scott Hahn book, Hope to Die is another great resource you can use to learn a little bit more about it.

So, That’s this week’s Funeral Facts with Deacon Mark,

Make it a blessed week!

Other Resources:

Presentation of the Instruction Ad resurgendum Cum Christo regarding the burial of the deceased and the conservation of the ashes in the case of cremation:
https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2016/10/25/161025b.html

U.S. Bishops’ Doctrine Committee Issues Statement on the Proper Disposition of Bodily Remains:
https://www.usccb.org/news/2023/us-bishops-doctrine-committee-issues-statement-proper-disposition-bodily-remains

 

Catholic Funeral & Cemetery Services of Colorado
A Ministry of the Archdiocese of Denver

Funeral | Cremation | Cemetery |

Stations of a Catholic Funeral – Part 4: The Rite of Committal – Funeral Facts with Deacon Marc

Below is a transcript the the video:

We’ve been going through a journey where we started talking about why we have funerals and the four basic reasons why we have funerals; that worshipping God, thanking God for his love and mercy, for asking God’s graces to fill that void that we have with faith, and then finally to pray for that person who passed away.

And then we talked about the fact that there are three stages or stations to the right of Christian funerals, and we talked about the vigil, we talked about the funeral liturgy which is the funeral mass the source and summit of our faith, and then today we’re talking about that final stage the committal.

The committal is a very powerful time it’s that time where we are saying goodbye to the loved one for that final time and turning it that loved one over to God in their final resting place in most cases the committals held right where that person is going to be laid to rest and so there are times when it can’t be you have pouring down rain you have snow hail whatever it may be sometimes the presider won’t end or the family will say let’s hold it inside the building and then we’ll move to that place to final rest and place the person in the ground or in that fault or niche or whatever it may be but for the most part that committal is held right at graveside or right at that point of the person being placed in that in a niche where they’ll have that final resting place.

There are two forms of a committal there’s the right of committal and then there’s also the right of committal with commendation so if the person didn’t have a funeral liturgy didn’t have a commendation at the funeral liturgy that can be done at the committal time as well but for the most part most people have that liturgy and we’re doing the right of committal and so we’ll talk about that today.

The committal has a couple of different pieces to it there’s the introductory right where we talk and welcome people to the right and we really talk about the fact that we’re here for two reasons one again to pray for that person passed away and secondly to pray for ourselves and ask God to fill us at this time of trouble that this time where many of us are feeling a lot of pain.

We’ll then have a very brief scripture verse just to ground ourselves back into scripture and a scripture verse that we read and then there’ll be a prayer of over that place of final commitment and oftentimes that location will be sprinkled with holy water and blessed at that point in time if it is not already blessed.

After we have the prayer of the place of final rest that is where traditionally the person is laid to rest so if the person is a traditional burial that casket will be lowered into their place or if they’re being placed in a niche the person will be placed in the nitche and door will be placed over in front of it.

That can also be done at the end of the right for pastoral reasons if it’s believed it’s best to do so at that time but in a lot of ways it makes sense to do it here because then after that final committal of that person into the ground or into their place of rest then there is the Lord’s prayer, there’s a final prayer for the individual and then there is the blessing of those that are there and so it kind of does bring closure to the whole right by having that committal of the body take place right there in the middle.

And so, you have some opening prayers the committal of the body and then some closing prayers and the blessing at the end. People always ask, “should we stay for that committal body into the final resting place?” and I always highly encourage it.

The reason being is we are physical psychological beings and we’re spiritual beings as well and that seeing that person laid into the ground or put into the nitche has a very powerful impact in helping us in those four components that we’ve talked about regularly about why do we have funerals and so being present therefore that is highly recommended and highly impactful in most cases as well but it’s also understandable as to why people wouldn’t be there for that

And so, it all does come down to why do we have the right of Christian funerals? why do we have a committal? We have a committal because we’re going to thank God for his love, we’re going to worship him and we’re going to ask God to fill us with his graces through this right, and then finally we’re praying for that person on their journey.

That is our funeral facts this week with Deacon Marc make it a great week and May God bless you.

 

Catholic Funeral & Cemetery Services of Colorado
A Ministry of the Archdiocese of Denver

Funeral | Cremation | Cemetery |

Stations of a Catholic Funeral – Part 3: The Funeral Mass – Funeral Facts with Deacon Marc

Below is a transcript the the video:

We’ve been going through we started a couple weeks ago looking at why do we have funerals and so we have those three stations and today we really want to talk about the liturgy and what is the liturgy, and we need to go fundamentally that the liturgy, the mass is the source and the summit of our faith.

So, when we’re thinking of the liturgy, it is really that high point where we’re coming from the home with the vigil. We’re moving into the church where we’re putting up placing ourselves directly in god’s presence through that source and summit of the liturgy of Mass and then finally we’re moving to the cemetery for the committal where we will be turning our loved one over to the love of god and the mercy of god and committing on to their final resting place so the funeral liturgy again the most common preferred way is the funeral mass this is a traditional mass with a couple different components in it that we’ll talk about but then you can also do the funeral liturgy outside of mass for different pastoral reasons.

It may be we don’t can’t get a priest. It may be that for the good of the family that it’s better to do the liturgy outside of the mass. We have two formats. The funeral liturgy outside of mass
and in the preferred the funeral mass itself and that is what we will spend our time talking about what is that funeral mass look like.

The other piece before we go into that those components is the church really highly recommends and asks that the body be present for that Funeral Mass. Now, the cremated remains can be, but the preferred way is always to have that body present representing for the body of Christ that was there and laid to rest at the same point in time. Having the body there provides both spiritual and psychological benefits for those attending the liturgy and so there’s spiritual and psychological reasons for it but we really do like to have the body present for that funeral liturgy for that funeral mass but the same point in time you can have the cremated remains and there’s a lot of different reasons why people do that as well.

When we’re thinking about the mass, the liturgy, it follows basically the same format as a traditional mass but at the beginning and the end, there’s some slight differences. At the beginning, you’re going to most likely have the reception of the body. If you have a full body there, a pall will be placed over the casket reminding us of the the white garment that was provided to us at our baptism. We’ll have the sprinkling right. We’re reminded of the baptism of the of the loved one going back to the sprinkling and of the baptismal washing that occurred at the baptism and so we’ll have that reception right.

The individual will be brought into the chapel at that point in time and then the mass will proceed as typical with the liturgy of the word, the liturgy of the Eucharist and then at the end, we have the commendation prayers and the commendation prayers have some different components to it where we’re asking God to take this loved one into his care and take him into his arms at that point in time and so when you think of the funeral mass it really is a similar components of a mass with just a an addition at the beginning of the end.

Now one of the things I think needs to be clear and we’ll end with is who is that mass for? Often times, I’ll be talking to families that come in and say you know what we don’t really practice our faith anymore even though mom went to church every single day, we don’t really think we need to have the mass. Well, the bottom line is that Funeral Mass, well, it has some benefits for ourselves and filling that void that we may have. The Funeral Mass is for that person who passed away. It’s their final time in the church. It’s their final time within that sacrament of the Eucharist and so, when we’re thinking about the Funeral Mass, this is really a time for that loved one who passed away where we’re praying for their soul, their journey that they’re having to the heavenly father and so important that we remember that that mass is really for that person who passed away.

And so there we have it the second station the funeral liturgy where you have the funeral mass but you can also have the liturgy outside of mass with it again all that goes back to why do we have funerals we have it to worship god we have it to thank him for his love and mercy we have it to ask for his graces to fill us and fill that void that we have at the loss of loved one and finally we have it to pray for that person passed away.

We thank you for joining us this week and make it a great week.

Catholic Funeral & Cemetery Services of Colorado
A Ministry of the Archdiocese of Denver

Funeral | Cremation | Cemetery |

Stations of a Catholic Funeral – Part 2: The Vigil – Funeral Facts with Deacon Marc

Below is a transcript the the video:

Last week when we got together we talked a little bit about what were the reasons we have Catholic funerals and talked about that we give thanks to God for his love and mercy of us that we worship God that we asked God to help us fill with his graces that void of that loss that we have, and then finally we pray for that person that passed away.

And then we introduced at that time that there are three stations to right of Christian funerals as the vigil or sometimes called the wake the funeral liturgy and then the right of committal and so today what we’re going to do is spend a little bit of time just going through that first one the vigil service or the wake and what is that look like and what is its purpose.

The vigil has evolved many times over the years, I can remember early in my childhood my parents going to vigils for many, many nights in a row. My wife can tell stories about her grandfather having wake or vigil on the living room table at their house in New York.

Typically vigils are the night before the funeral but they are usually before the funeral it’s the first time the community gathers together to come together to remember the person passed away but then also at the same point in time beginning praying to god and filling that void of loss with god’s love with god’s grace and the graces of the holy spirit and so it’s that time when they come together. The vigil has a couple different components to it.

A traditional vigil starts out with the introductory right welcoming opening prayer and then we ground ourselves as we should always in scripture with the opening reading either from the Old Testament or the New Testament the gospel a brief, brief homily to ground ourselves and have a reflection in that scripture and then after we ground ourselves in scripture we then have time for intercessory prayer and that intercessory prayer can take on a different component with it.

Often times it can be traditional like we do at mass where we say we pray for the world. Let’s pray to the Lord. Lord hear our prayer.

And we do those different litanies of intercessory prayers. The intercessory prayer can also be the rosary. The rosary is one big intercessory prayer where we’re asking for Mary to intercede on our behalf for us. And so we have that intercessory prayer.

Then finally ending with the our father and a blessing of all those who are coming here and again as we’re thinking about those components what we’re doing again is grounding ourselves and remembering that god loves us that we’re worshiping him we’re praying for that person who passed away and then at the same point in time we’re asking god to fill us with his love so that we can make it through that very difficult time.

The vigil again is that first time we get together and we start remembering that person so it’s a very appropriate time to have eulogies and how people speak about that person and the impact of that person in their lives and it really is that preparation stage where spiritually, psychologically, we’re getting ready to make that transition from the home then to the church where our second station is the liturgy and we’ll talk about that in a future video and then finally, the Committal where we go to the cemetery and so you have this progression and at the same point in time supporting each other through that

So that’s our funeral facts for this week. We’ve talked about the vigil at first stage. An important stage for us as we could go through the three stations of the Right of Christian Funerals.

Make it a great week and God bless you.

Catholic Funeral & Cemetery Services of Colorado
A Ministry of the Archdiocese of Denver

Funeral | Cremation | Cemetery |

Stations of a Catholic Funeral – Part 1: What is involved? – Funeral Facts with Deacon Marc

 Below is a transcript the the video:

Hello and welcome to funeral facts with Deacon Marc. This will be a section of a weekly blog where we talk about funeral facts from a Catholic perspective, something none of us really want to talk about but it’s important for all of us to understand because we all have to deal with it at one point or another with family, loved ones, and eventually with ourselves.

So, let us begin today. We’re talking about why do we have funerals and what is the order of Christian funerals?

The Church has had funerals since day one we can see that with Lazarus with Christ when he raised him from the dead and we throughout church history funerals have played an important role within the Catholic faith.  So, why do we have them?

I’ve asked this question to people and one of the most interesting responses I get was well we need do something with the body.

Well, yes we need do something with the body but we want do that respectfully and there are reasons why we have funerals, and really there are four primary reasons why we have funerals. We can have all these other reasons but there are four primary ones.

One, we want to worship God. We want to come together and worship Him for He gave us our lives, and He gave us that opportunity to be with that person and so we’re thanking Him and worship Him.

We’re also thanking God and remembering about His mercy that He has for us, His ultimate mercy. None of us deserve that mercy but He is merciful, loving, and we trust in His mercy and so we thank Him for that mercy.

The third reason is to fill that void of loss that we have with that person who’s no longer with us and so we come together as a community we pray with each other, we grieve with each other, and we’re filling that void with Christ and God at our center of our lives.

And then the fourth reason is probably maybe the most important reason is; we’re praying for that person on their journey. Christ told us that not everybody goes to heaven he says that the gate is narrow and the road is thin and not everybody is going to get through that and so we want to pray for that person on their journey on their journey to the heavenly Father.

Four reasons why we have Catholic funerals:

1) Worship God
2) Thank God for His mercy
3) Fill the void of loss with faith
4) Pray for the deceased

So then what does a funeral look like?

You know I can remember growing up when we had funerals it would seem like they would go on for an entire week and things have changed over the years but the one piece that has remained the same is there really are three stations to the order of Christian funerals.

First, we have the vigil, this is when the community comes together and they start remembering the person, they also start praying to God and coming together and filling that time with the love of God you know in a prayerful type of way.

The second piece is the funeral liturgy, typically this is the mass that can be a funeral liturgy outside of the mass but this is when we go to the source and summit the Eucharist and we pray for that person and we have that mass in honor and intention for that individual.

And then, finally we have the committal, and this is typically out of the grave site where we say the final prayers and we commend that individual to God and to their last lasting resting place.

And so there are those three stages and it’s interesting when you look at those three stages it really goes from the home, to the church, to the cemetery, and it’s like a procession of taking that person on a journey and we go on that journey with them. So, we’re going from the home of the vigil to the to the church with the mass and finally to the cemetery with the committal.

So, three stations we’ll be talking about those more in depth over the next couple weeks but that does for today’s issue of funeral facts with Deacon Marc.

We hope they have a blessed week!

 

Catholic Funeral & Cemetery Services of Colorado
A Ministry of the Archdiocese of Denver

Funeral | Cremation | Cemetery |

funeral homes in Aurora, CO
What is the Role of a Pallbearer?

If you have been asked to be a pallbearer for a loved one’s funeral you may be a little nervous as you are unsure of what all that entails. However, as this is a huge honor you want to be there and do what you can for the grieving family. As directors of funeral homes in Aurora, CO. We understand this task can be a little dusting, and that’s why today we are going to cover what a pallbearer is as well as their roles and responsibilities.

What is a Pallbearer?

Most people have heard of pallbearers but are not sure exactly what their role is. A pallbearer’s main role is to assist with the carrying and placement of the casket during the funeral services as well as the gravesite.

How Many Pallbearers Are There?

There are typically six to eight pallbearers depending on the size of the casket. There may also be “honorable” pallbearers that do not actually help carry the casket but walk alongside it. The exact number of pallbearers is entirely up to the family.

Carrying the Casket

Each pallbearer will take their place next to the casket and assist in lifting and carrying it to its destination. While it is more normal to see men act as pallbearers, it is not uncommon for women to also take part. There are also sometimes honorable pallbearers who walk alongside the casket as they may be too weak due to age or illness to take part in the carrying.

What Are the Additional Duties of a Pallbearer?

As stated, the pallbearer’s main role is to carry the casket. This means that the pallbearers will gather at the funeral home and wait for the family to say their last goodbyes. The pallbearers will then carry the casket and place it in the hearse to be taken to the funeral location. There, the pallbearers will assist the funeral home directors in taking the casket out of the hearse.

When the funeral begins the pallbearers will carry the casket into the location and place it in the front of the room.funeral homes in Aurora, CO When the service is over they will then place the casket back into the hearse to be transported to the gravesite. Typically the pallbearers will be in a vehicle behind the hearse and follow it to the cemetery. There they will remove the casket from the hearse and place it at the graveside for the service.

Proper Attire for Pallbearers

A pallbearer should look respectful and dress appropriately. For men, this would typically mean a dark suit or black or another dark color. Shoes should also be nice and dressy. However, while style should be a big consideration when it comes to shoes, so should comfortability as they may have to walk for a long distance.

Final Thoughts

Being asked to be a pallbearer is a very big honor yet can be intimidating and leave you feeling anxious if you have not been one before. As directors of funeral homes in Aurora, CO. we want you to know that this is entirely common. We hope that today’s article gave you a little insight into this position and the role they play in the funeral. If you have any further questions, please feel free to reach out to us anytime.

cremation services in Wheat Ridge, CO
Personal Mementos That Can Be Cremated With Your Loved One

We all have those special items. Those possessions just mean the world to us. Those items that we would want to be buried with. But what if we wish to be cremated instead of buried? Can they be included in the cremation? While not all items are allowed, the good news is that there are several items that are. To learn more, keep reading as providers of cremation services in Wheat Ridge, CO. share what is, and what isn’t allowed with cremation.

Items That Are Permitted to be Included with Cremation

There are several items that are allowed to be part of the cremation. This can range from personal items to a special toy or even handwritten notes from loved ones. Other items include:

  • Favorite photographs
  • Flowers
  • Pieces of clothing or a special blanket
  • Books and Magazines
  • Small wooden items (an example would be rosary beads)
  • Special notes or letters
  • Stuffed toys such as a stuffed animals might be allowed
  • Certain jewelry might be permitted
  • Items Not Permitted to be Included in Cremation

While there are several items that are allowed with cremation, there are some that are not. This is mostly due to safety or environmental concerns as they may become dangerous. These items that are not allowed include:

  • Lighters
  • Anything with a battery in it
  • Any glass items
  • Bottles of alcohol
  • Anything made from materials including rubber, latex, leather, or vinyl
  • Pacemakers
  • Any containers made from glass or plastic

While these items are not allowed, this may not be a complete list as it may differ in your location. Your cremation provider will be able to inform you of the specific items not permitted in your state or area.

What Type of Clothes are Allowed in Cremation?

Typically, most clothing items are acceptable and permitted in cremation. The exceptions would be if the material or any added design elements would be not permitted. For example, clothes made from synthetic materials may be hazardous to burn and therefore not allowed in the cremation chamber.

If you have any questions or concerns about your loved one’s attire for the cremation process, talk with your cremation director and they can help you select the most appropriate outfit.

A Note About Including Items with Direct Cremationcremation services in Wheat Ridge, CO

If families wish to have what is called a “direct cremation”, there may not be time to have personal items included. This is because direct cremation is a very fast and streamlined process that does not allow for the time prior to the cremation for services such as funerals, visitations, etc.

If you wish to have items included in the cremation, but want a direct cremation, it is imperative that you discuss this with your cremation provider before any services have been decided to ensure they can accommodate this request.

Final Thoughts

Having items included in the passing of a loved one has been taking place for thousands of years. This can be seen with the pharaohs in Egypt with their burial chambers full of items to be used for the afterlife. Today, there are still many people who wish to have a special memento buried or cremated with them. To learn more about what items can be included with cremation services in Wheat Ridge, CO. feel free to reach out to us anytime.

cremation services in Lakewood, CO
How Best Prepare for a Loved One’s Death

Dealing with the loss of a loved one is never easy. Even if you are aware that it will be happening due to illness or aging, it can still leave you feeling lost and overwhelmed. While it’s never easy, if you prepare ahead of time as much as you can, it will help ensure everything is handled correctly when the time comes. As providers of cremation services in Lakewood, CO., we have these ways you can help you and your family prepare.

Call a Family Meeting

Call on your family members and get together for a family meeting. This could be just your immediate family, or if you wish, you can have your extended family involved as well. The choice is yours on who you would like to have been involved with.

During this meeting, you will need to discuss key issues such as:

  • Who will be responsible for making the funeral arrangements?
  • Who will be the main caregiver?
  • Who will help to handle their affairs and make sure they are all in order?
  • How will their memory be honored?
  • Are there any special final wishes the loved one has and who will ensure those happen?

Make sure to note everything that is said and assigned so there are no questions or confusion once the time comes.

Gather All Important Documentscremation services in Lakewood, CO

Making sure you have all the documents you need to complete and organized can go a long way in helping everything run smoothly later. Some of the documents you should have are:

  • A Power of Attorney (POA) – This document allows you the right and legal authority to make decisions on behalf of your loved one. These decisions can be financial and/or medical should they become incapable of doing do.
  • A Will – This document is important as it outlines any final wishes your loved one has as well as how they want their estate to be handled and divided.
  • An Advance-Directive – This document will outline any wishes your loved one has when it comes to their end-of-life care. This also includes things like DNR (Do Not Resuscitate).
  • List of Passwords – Having a list of your loved one’s passwords will help immensely when trying to handle their accounts
  • Any paperwork from cemeteries or funeral homes – If your loved one preplanned any arrangements, make sure to have any and all paperwork and contracts

Spend Time With Them

Making sure you have all of the important documents and tasks delegated is great, but make sure you spend as much time as you can with your loved ones before they are gone. You can use this time to talk to them about their life. Ask them questions like what was their proudest moment, or what are they most happy about. Learn about their childhood by asking about their school and friends. Learn all you can about who they were and what their life was truly like.

By taking the time now to plan for what comes later, after their cremation services in Lakewood, CO. you and your family will be able to focus on honoring your loved one rather than having the stress and anxiety of trying to organize everything then.

funeral homes in Lakewood, CO
3 Popular Funeral Reception Serving Styles

If you are hosting a funeral reception, there will be many things to consider. Some of these are the location of the event, how many guests will be attending, and making sure there are enough items for everyone such as chairs. Another big decision is choosing what type of food to serve and the style it will be served in. Directors of funeral homes in Lakewood, CO. look at some of the most popular styles to help you better decide.

1. Plated/Table Style

This serving style is definitely the most formal of the three and is when guests will be seated at a table at a certain time for their meal. It is a more formal, “high-class” feel as guests remain seated as the food is brought to them. This style can either have just one course or many that include things like soup, salad, or dessert. Many times guests will choose their entrée and RSVP so that they don’t actually “order” at the time of the reception. The food is catered in or made at the location and is nice and hot as it arrives at the table. This serving style can be more costly because you will need servers to transport the food, refill drinks, and attend to the additional needs of the guests as they eat.

2. Buffet Style

If you would like something that can still look elegant but be a bit more casual than a table style, consider having a buffet. These are very popular for a number of reasons. One is that it can offer a wider variety of foods. With a plated table dinner, the choices of entrees may be limited to one or two, but with a buffet, you may be able to provide many more. Another benefit to buffets is that you don’t have the extra cost of servers. Of course, if you wish, you can always have servers behind the buffet table to plate the food for the guests.

3. Food Trucksfuneral homes in Lakewood, CO

The most casual and easy option that is growing in popularity is having food trucks at the location. This can be a great choice if the event is outside at a park or other outdoor location. With almost every city having several food trucks to choose from, you can offer your guests a wide variety of foods.

Food trucks also offer a very casual, almost more “party celebration” mood than a sit-down dinner or buffet. This can be a perfect choice for those who wish to have a more light-hearted and happy rather atmosphere rather than serious and solemn.

In Conclusion

Food is a large part of most funeral receptions. This is because we often associate food with love and comfort. Also, we want to show the guests who come appreciation by providing them with a meal. With so many options of serving styles, it doesn’t matter if the reception is held at a church, outside park, or funeral home in Lakewood, CO. as there is a style for every reception.

funeral home in Denver, CO
Guide to Sending Funeral Flowers

When you hear about a friend’s passing, you may want to send funeral flowers to the funeral home in Denver, CO. as a token of your love and condolences. However, there are some things you should know about sending funeral flowers as they are different than sympathy flowers that are sent to someone’s home. Keep reading as we explain more about funeral arrangements and what you need to know about sending them.

What Are Funeral Flowers

As mentioned, funeral flowers are different than sympathy flowers. When we talk about funeral flowers, we are referring to arrangements sent to the funeral home or church that will be used in the funeral as well as any other services. These are typically larger arrangements sent by family or very close family friends.

On the other hand, sympathy flowers are those arrangements that are sent to the family’s home by friends, coworkers, etc. These arrangements are smaller in scale and are meant to offer support and condolences.

Funeral Flower Arrangements

When sending funeral flowers, you will have many options for the types of flowers as well as the types of arrangements. Some of the most popular arrangement types are:

  • Sprays – These arrangements are made from long-stemmed plants and flowers and are typically seen covering the lid of the casket. They may also be seen being displayed on a flower stand
  • Crosses, Hearts, Other Shapes – These shaped arrangements are normally placed near the casket during the service.
  • Wreaths – A wreath arrangement is often displayed near the casket on an easel or other stand. These arrangements may also be taken to the burial site after the funeral service.

What Type of Flowers are Appropriate for Funeral Flowers

Different flowers carry different meanings. This is true when it comes to the type of lower as well as the color. Since flowers hold various meanings, you want to make sure your funeral flower arrangement only contains those flowers that are most appropriate. Some of the most commonly used flowers used in funeral arrangements are:

  • Lavender – Signifies grace and purity
  • Daises – Represent peace and hope
  • Yellow lilies – Express thankfulness
  • Irises – Represent faith, courage, wisdom, and admiration
  • Orchids – Signify hope, love, and courage
  • Gladiolus – Represent strength and integrity
  • Tulips – Express love, peace, and hope
  • Snapdragons – Show grace and strength
  • Calla Lilies – Express rebirth

Sending the Funeral Flowersfuneral home in Denver, CO

While sympathy flowers are for the family and sent to their home, funeral flowers are used in the services and therefore need to be sent to the funeral home or other location where the services will be taking place.

When you send your arrangement to the location, always be sure to include the family’s name or the name of the deceased so that the location will know what service they should go to.

Final Thoughts

If you wish to send funeral flowers, there are many online as well as local florists that can help you create a beautiful arrangement. If you would like to send one that is already premade, you can often find those online and locally as well.

To learn more about funeral flowers or services provided by funeral homes in Denver, CO., feel free to reach out to us anytime as we are happy to answer any questions you may have.

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End-of-Life Preplanning Presentations at St. Gianna Molla Parish on April 23rd and 25th. Seating is limited.

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