Types of Funeral Services

While there are three basic categories of funeral services; traditional, cremation, and non-traditional, each one is tailored to your needs and preferences. Berndt-Ledesma's professional staff are experienced in all three types and will work with you to plan the service you want, while ensuring that all legal and practical requirements are met. We are experienced in many religious traditions and practices, and respect your values and beliefs. We coordinate each aspect of the service, from simple to elaborate, attending to the many details that make a loving tribute to your loved one and a healing part of your family's grieving process.

In all instances, we will immediately care for your loved one's body with respect and dignity. We are well known for our expertise in restoring a look of peace and health, even after a long illness, making it possible to have an open casket service where family and friends can more easily say good-bye.

Legal, Financial, and Practical Issues - Following a death, there is an often bewildering list of tasks to address insurance claims, death certificates, a will, legal notices, Social Security, Veteran, Union, and Fraternal Organization Benefits, and many other end of life issues. Our compassionate and knowledgeable staff is here to guide you and ease the paperwork burden.

Traditional Services often include:

• Visitation - where family and friends gather to say good-bye to the deceased and comfort one another in an informal setting. The casket is present, either open or closed. Mementos of the loved one's life may be displayed to stimulate memories. Our intimate gathering room has a wide screen monitor for digital slideshow or home movie displays.
• Memorial Service - where family and friends participate in a structured order of service, either at the funeral home or a building dedicated to religious purposes. Eulogies, religious rites, music, and formal traditions often occur.
• Graveside - prior to burial, the deceased is brought to the gravesite where family and friends say their final good-byes. Prayers, religious rites, and music may accompany the service.

For a traditional service, some of the decisions include which services to hold and when, selecting a casket from our well-appointed showroom, selecting a cemetery property, arranging for a vault, and choosing pall bearers, musicians, speakers, and memorials. Transportation for the deceased, flowers, and family members are arranged.

Cremation is chosen by more families today. Some of the many options include selecting an urn from our showroom or catalogs, choosing the final disposition of the cremains, and which services to hold and when. Families often choose a memorial service to honor their loved one and then choose to bury the cremains in a grave, keep them in a special place in a home, or scatter them at a location dear to their loved one. Berndt-Ledesma's staff will guide you so you can honor your loved one's wishes safely while complying with the law.

Non-traditional services vary widely. From unique modes of transportation; sequence, location, and content of services; cutting edge technology to custom hand-crafted details, Berndt-Ledesma Funeral Home's professional staff will work with you to honor your loved one and meet your family's and friends' needs in a way that is meaningful to you. Feel free to discuss any of your ideas with us and together we will make sure each request is fully addressed.