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Traditional Funeral Services

Funeral Services in Indiana & Clymer, PA

Not All Funerals Are The Same

Although some families choose a memorial servicecremation, or celebrations of life rather than burial services, there are still many families who prefer the structured ceremonies. Funeral services have been a popular way of honoring the life of the deceased for centuries.


One of our main mission here at Rairigh-Bence Funeral Home is giving your loved one a final tribute they deserve. Contrary to common belief, funeral services are not all the same. They can take on many different formats and styles. We can plan and execute funeral ceremonies that follow very traditional practices to those that take on less formal, more unique styles. We work with you to create the funeral service that best honors your loved one’s life, allows the best way for you to say goodbye, meets your family's specific wishes, and fits within your financial budget. 


We have years of experience in this industry, and we take pride in offering families quality and affordable funeral services in Indiana & Clymer, PA. We hope to help as many families in need as we can as their Pennsylvania funeral service provider, and we promise to help each and every family member heal as they embark on their journey with grief. On this page, we have provided a breakdown of the traditional funeral process included in the services we offer as well as a brief history and overview of what a funeral is.


Before moving forward with planning, it is important to understand the answer to the question, "What is a funeral?". Below, we highlight the history of traditional funeral services as well as the steps in the funeral process.

If you are interested in making funeral arrangements for a loved one, we invite you to call us to begin.

What Makes a Funeral?


No matter where it's held, a funeral is a structured ceremony, with a beginning, middle and end. Each is intended to engage the living participants in activities which will transform their status within the community, provide mourners with a collective grieving experience, and celebrate a life lived. It's a socially-acceptable way for members of a community to re-affirm and express their social attachments.


Anthropologists label a funeral as a
rite of passage , which affects everyone involved–including the deceased. His or her social status changes dramatically, from a living contributing member of the community to one whose contributions are in the past, and relegated to memory. But the status of each of the survivors—the immediate family most especially—has also changed. In fact, the funeral service can be the start of a defined period of mourning for bereaved family members, marking this transition in a uniquely identifiable way. 

It could be said then, the focus of a funeral—no matter where, no matter when—lies in acknowledging change. And without doubt, human beings (as individuals and as a community) have trouble dealing with profound changes like the death of an integral member of the group. When you take this perspective, it becomes easier to understand the importance of ceremonially acknowledging the tear in the social fabric and the symbolic restoration of its integrity.


What is a Funeral?

All we need to do is say the word "funeral" and within microseconds, you have an image in your mind of what a funeral looks like. This mental image comes from many sources: the geographical place, culture and society in which we live; our faith; our life experience. Obviously then, a funeral service in Borneo would look very different from one held in Tanzania; there are even significant differences between the funerals held in ethnically and/or geographically diverse regions of North America.


Yet, despite the differences, these funeral services have much in common. We invite you to read further to learn the really simple answer to the question "what is a funeral?" Should you have questions about what you read here, we encourage you to call us. One of our funeral professionals will be delighted to explore the commonalities behind the wide spectrum of funeral ceremonies seen around the world.

The Basics of Traditional Funeral Services

If you are interested in making funeral arrangements for a loved one, we invite you to call us to begin.

Thinking About Your Funeral Service Options


The arrangements you make will be influenced by the lifestyle of your deceased family member: the time of year, your budget, and the number of people in attendance. But you don't have to think about it all on your own; we're here to help. That's what we do—it's our passion to help families celebrate the life of their loved one. Just reach out to us and let us know what you'd like, and we'll tell you how we can assist you.

Funeral Services in Our Area

For families and individuals living in western Pennsylvania (as elsewhere in the nation), a funeral service can mean many things. Some fall back on what is commonly called a "traditional funeral"; others see that same traditional service as an emotionally unfulfilling event. Fortunately, thanks to a number of unique social forces, there are alternatives. Today, end-of-life commemorative services range from the traditional funeral, to a memorial service and the increasingly popular celebrations-of-life. If you have yet to realize the immense value of such a collective acknowledgement of loss, reach out to us. Call to speak with one of our experienced funeral service professionals.

If you have questions about funeral services, view our FAQ page for answers or contact us. We would be happy to explain the funeral process to you.

Source:

Huntington, Richard and Peter Metcalf, Celebrations of Death: The Anthropology of Mortuary Ritual, Cambridge University Press, 1979

Rostad, Curtis, "The Basics of Funeral Service", Indiana Funeral Directors Association, 2014

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