I'm often asked the question, "What's the difference between a funeral and a memorial service?"  Here are a few of the differences and tips to guide you in which is best suited for your loved one.

Funerals are the traditional, time-honored manner in which we pay our respects to the dearly departed.  Funerals often involve a "viewing" of the body prior to an actual funeral.  Renowned author Elizabeth Kubler-Ross notes, "It is important that the family can view the body before the funeral in order to prevent any late denial of death."  This service is usually brief and involves a viewing of the body as well as a reception and greeting of the deceased member's family.  The short ceremony is then followed by a service in a church where hymns are sung and prayers are offered for the deceased as well as the living.  Both services provide an opportunity to acknowledge the life of the loved one as well as an expression of support to the family and friends who gather in grief and honor of their loved one.  The funeral service is usually followed by a graveside service where the body will be interred.  Cremation may also follow a funeral service. 

Memorial services may take place in a church, fraternal hall, or other appropriate location to honor the memory and celebrate the life of the deceased.  The only real difference is that there is no body present at a memorial service.  Memorial services are increasingly popular since the body is often cremated and the family seeks a simple service to honor the deceased. 

Both types of services have supporters and detractors.  Those in favor of memorial services highlight the simplicity as well as the cost-effective nature of cremation that's often associated with memorial services.  However, there are those who note that a funeral service affords the family a better opportunity to express their grief, receive expressions of support from the community, as well as offer proper dignity and respect to the deceased.  One such proponent, Dr. George E. LaMore, Jr., argues, "There's minimum confrontation with death, minimum ministry and ceremony for the living. . . . A terrible cheapening of both life and death is implied by all this. . . ."

However, it's your choice.  It's important to plan and respect the wishes of the deceased and those of the family.