Funeral Ceremonies All Share A Common Goal…

To bring closure to family and friends impacted by the death of a loved one while honoring that person and the life that was lived.

Funerals

• Help to begin the grieving process. No matter how prepared for death we think we are, when we lose someone close to us, we find ourselves unprepared for the loss. We need to discover how important that person was to us. The Funeral gives us permission to grieve.
• Help us to realize and appreciate the connections our loved one had established with others. Funeral visitations provide a chance to talk, and to share memories. We gather with family and friends and say, "This life was Important, this life touched mine."

Planning A Funeral for a loved one can be very stressful. It does not have to be a dreaded experience. We will help you cherish your past by designing a memorable ceremony so that you may have an opportunity to celebrate your loved one's life message and play a role in creating a lasting memory.

We will help you through the process of planning A Meaningful and Personalized Funeral/ Memorial Service.

Trappist caskets from New Melleray Abbey, Peosta, Iowa.

A Personalized Funeral Service involves tailoring the funeral to express the personality and interests of your loved one.

Displaying treasured belongings, photographs, items from a hobby or awards received, or playing his/her favorite music can all play a major role in making the funeral a moving and fitting tribute.

Whether you decide on a traditional funeral service with a viewing and burial or a more innovative one, we are happy to provide you with options that offer flexibility and individuality with unlimited choices in merchandise and service and freedom to make decisions that are perfect for your situation and family.

We believe every family must be afforded the opportunity to celebrate their loved one's life message as they feel comfortable and play a role in creating a lasting memory.

Please contact us for further information on the funeral planning process.

Cremation

Cremation is becoming more popular as a funeral option. At Gay & Ciha, we believe it is important to be aware of all the options that are available in having a meaningful funeral service when cremation is the choice.

Cremation Is…

The process of applying intense heat, for 2 to 3 hours, to the deceased in a cremation retort, the result being 3 to 7 pounds of small bone fragments known as cremains (cremated remains).

Reasons For Cremation People may choose cremation for a variety of reasons - philosophical, religious, and even environmental. Others prefer cremation because they want something simpler and more natural. Whatever the reason, if you are thinking about cremation, it's important to know and understand all of the choices available to you.

Options For Funeral Service When Choosing Cremation

• Visitation and Ceremony is a viewing of the person in the casket with a viewing time designated. This can be an all day visitation (usually 2:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., or just a few hours) where all friends and relatives are welcome to gather and provide comfort and support to one another. A service would follow the visitation either at the funeral home or at the church. Following the service, the casketed body will be taken to our crematory.
• Private Viewing and Ceremony is similar to a visitation and service with the exception that it is open only to family members and invited close friends.
• Private Viewing is when the family briefly wants to see the person for the last time to say good-bye and not have a formal time for viewing.
• Memorial Ceremony with cremains in an urn present at the visitation/service. A memorial service can be contemporary or religious in nature and is usually held at the funeral home or in church. The service can be individualized with musical selections, readings, eulogies, and displays reflecting the person's life: their hobbies, interests, and occupation.
• Direct Cremation includes no viewing or ceremony. Remains are taken directly from place of death to crematory.

A Ceremony, whether simple or elaborate, traditional or contemporary, provides family and friends with the opportunity to say a final "good-bye". This time is important because it gives the grieving family an opportunity to share their memories and give support to one another. We help our families plan a memorable service that will celebrate a life that was lived.

If a family chooses to have a visitation (viewing time) there are a number of choices available in caskets/containers.

• Caskets traditionally used for burial may be used.
• Cremation Caskets - are simpler in design and are constructed specifically for cremation.
• Alternative Caskets - are typically constructed of cardboard with a felt covering.

Final Disposition of the Cremated Remains

Families have the options of placing the cremated remains of their loved one in:

• A Grave in a family plot, or mausoleum niche- so that they may have a place to visit and remember the life of their loved one.
• A Place in their home.
• Scattering the cremated remains in a place of great significance, such as the sea, a meadow, or home pond.
• Distributing the cremated remains in keepsake urns or jewelry, or art work to members of the family.

Your final decision for disposition will determine the type of receptacle (urn) needed. Urns are crafted from various metals, woods and ceramics and have many designs. Sculptured urns are among the very latest styles. Also very popular is incorporating cremated remains in jewelry and artwork.

Options for services when someone is cremated are only limited by one's imagination.

We will be happy to offer suggestions and provide information and advice about what would be the best way to celebrate your loved one's life.