From the Past to the Present: About Virginia Funeral Homes

Virginia funeral homes carry on a form of rites and ritual that are not new to mankind. Funeral rites and correlating ceremonies are recorded all the way back to early civilization. When researchers unearthed Neanderthal man’s burial grounds dating to 60,000 B.C., flowers were discovered next to his remains and antlers were on his body. This evidence reveals a ritual was performed, along with some type of homage. Customs have evolved through the centuries and become more elaborate leading up to advent of Virginia funeral homes. Practices are often unique between countries, cultures and religions, and are even becoming more specialized among family groups. You’ll find different practices among Virginia funeral homes, too. Three commonalities are found in every civilization and culture ever studied in regards to death and disposing of the dead:

• Funeral rites, rituals or ceremonies
• Unique, respectful characterization of the burial plot, often on consecrated ground
• Memorializing of the dead

In modern civilization, funeral homes in Virginia are one median that assists in planning diverse and unique funeral ceremonies and memorializing the dead. Several components that make up the cost of a modern Virginia funeral homes service typically include a casket, vault, professional fees and fees for the funeral director, facilities and equipment, transportation, clergy, singer, organist or music, memorial service, gravesite and headstone.

Many funeral homes honor traditions that share many standard practices like removal of the deceased to a mortuary, preparation of the remains, conducting a ceremony honoring the deceased that meets any spiritual needs of the family, and carrying out the final disposition of the deceased. Virginia funeral director arranges and oversees these tasks for grieving family members.

Funeral directors are sometimes called morticians or undertakers, and perform a broad range of responsibilities in order to facilitate a funeral. Funeral directors meet with the family to discuss and decide on direction for the funeral service and burial, to include the location and date and time of the visitation, memorial service and burial. The funeral directors of Virginia funeral facilities assist the family in selecting the casket and embellishments, along with meeting any other aspects of the funeral or grave site required by funeral homes or by law.

Preparing and placing obituary notices in newspapers, arranging for clergy and pall bearers, scheduling the opening and closing of the grave with cemetery officials, arranging and preparing sites for the services and providing transport for the deceased, family members and flowers between sites are all responsibilities carried out by funeral directors of funeral homes in Virginia.

Funeral homes found in Virginia require that their funeral directors operating be trained and licensed. Typically, funeral directors throughout the U.S. are required the same by the state in which they work, and most actively practice embalming, the process of sanitizing and preserving the body for burial. Funeral directors operating in Virginia are artists of sorts, using plaster of Paris, clay, cotton and wax to reshape and reconstruct parts of the body to make them presentable for viewing. Dressing the deceased and applying cosmetics to facilitate a more natural appearance are also the responsibilities of funeral directors who operate in funeral homes. They place and arrange the body in the casket and prepare it for the funeral.

Funeral homes in Virginia may conduct services in just about any venue the family determines. Recently, there was a TV program that highlighted a funeral that took place in a bar in which the deceased frequented. He and his wife were married in the bar, so he decided he wanted his burial services to be in the bar. Typically, however, funeral services are conducted in a home, funeral home, church, gravesite or crematory. Due to varying beliefs and religions, funeral homes require directors to familiarize themselves with the gamut of funeral and burial customs.

One practice that is becoming more popular in recent years in Northeastern USA funeral homes is that of individuals who plan their own funerals. It may sound like a morbid thing to do, but it can pay off in many ways in the long run when you work with funeral homes. Although, you can’t anticipate the exact date and time of your death, you can alleviate a great deal of stress of surviving family members by planning your own funeral. Virginia funeral homes are a perfect place for it.

How do you go about it? Determine what kind of service you’d like to have. Is there a specific person or clergy you would like to conduct your service? What about a favorite organist or singer? Decide on what songs or music you want sang or played. Virginia funeral home staff will often recommend that you pick out the clothes in which you want to be buried. If you don’t already have a burial plot, now is the time to purchase one. Shop around for headstones and plan the epitaph for the one you choose. Obtain a schedule for funeral home services from Virginia area funeral homes. By law, they are required to make them available to the public. Compare prices, and shop around for a casket.

Now, decide on a funeral home to use. Most funeral homes have a standard form that enables you to include all your burial wishes. If not, write everything out on a piece of paper and have someone type it up. Sharing with family members, and discussing your plans with funeral home staff, can enable you to make more specific decisions and be considerate of those who will survive you. Keep in mind that many funeral homes have a payment plan for you to pre-pay some of your funeral expenses. That’s just one less responsibility your family will have to worry about when using Virginia funeral homes.

Remember, we are here to help you all day, every day with your funeral and cremation needs. We're open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To contact us, simply call 1-877-989-9090. At any time of day or night, you will be able to speak with one of our trained, sympathetic and understanding representatives.