Personalized Funerals

A truly personal remembrance is more than just a way to express your love. It's also more meaningful for your loved ones, strengthening the connections between people and giving comfort when it's needed most. In realizing that no two individuals are alike, it is also important that the final tribute commemorating their lives be unique as well. Getting started is as easy as remembering these simple questions:

Who: Think of all the people who have shared a part of this life and should have a chance to say good-bye.
What: Think of all the things we should remember - the work and play, the interests, the personality and above all, the people who were a part of it.
When: There is no need to hurry. It's important to allow time for all the people we love to get here and be a part of the remembrance.
Where: Our facilities are perfect for everything from intimate groups to large formal ceremonies. We can also hold your remembrance any place that holds special meaning.

Our experienced staff specializes in creating personalized services. Let us help you design a remembrance that captures the history, personality and accomplishments that make every life unique. Listed below are some past suggestions used at previous funerals which we have arranged. Some examples are general and will apply to many families while others are much more specific. We encourage families to be creative when planning a final tribute.

General Examples Include:

Placing the deceased's photo on prayer cards and memorial folders as well as choosing from a large selection of prayers, poems and background images. Please click on the photo to open a larger version in a new window.

Memorial Folder	Prayer Card without Background Image
Prayer Card with Background Image and Background Options Available

Creating tribute videos from pictures of your loved one that can be viewed during the visitation and funeral/memorial service. A wide selection of background images and music offerings are available to select from. After the service, the family receives a DVD of the tribute video as a keepsake. This service is provided at no additional charge. Additional copies of the video are available for a small fee.
The use of elegant wooden tables, pedestals, easels and memory boards to display photo's or collectibles during the visitation, funeral service or memorial service. Please click on the photo to open a larger version in a new window.

Casket with Sports Items

Urn with Art Items

Casket with Western Items

Urn with Sports Items

Customizing casket interiors by selecting from various fabrics with their many colors and styles. Below are a few of the many fabric colors available in our showroom. Please click on the photo to open a larger version in a new window.

Red Velvet Interior

Blue Velvet Interior

Hyacinth Velvet Interior

Green Velvet Interior

Fabrics include velvet, crepe and linen. Other colors include Sky Blue, French Blue, Magenta, Rosetan, Eggshell, Silver Beige, Royal Gray, Daphney, White, Moss Pink, Orchid, Champagne, Beige, and Mist Green. This service is available in nearly every price range and at no additional cost.

To view our showroom please visit the Caskets, Vaults and Urns section.

Customizing casket hardware with beautifully crafted inter-changeable corners related to hobbies, sports, religion, military service and civic organizations.

Sample of Personalized
Inter-Changeable Casket Corner

Options Available for Personalized
Inter-Chanageable Casket Corners

These attractive pieces are offered in colored or bronze finishes and are available on select metal and hardwood caskets. Following the service they can be kept on the casket or easily removed and presented to the family as an enduring memento.

Custom embroidering casket blankets, back panels, pillows and overlays with objects related to hobbies, sports, professions, religion, ethnic heritage, military service, civic organizations or words of comfort from the bible, poems or favorite sayings. Prior to burial, entombment or cremation, personalized blankets can be kept with the deceased or taken home with the family as a lasting keepsake. Shown below are a few custom embroidered samples. To view a larger version in a new window please click on the photo.

Deer Scene & Golf Scene

Fire Truck

Baseball - Yankees

Irish Blessing

American Flag

Custom embroidery provides endless options in personalization.

For additional information on caskets please visit the Caskets, Vaults and Urns section.

Personalizing burial vault and urn vault covers with a college of photo's of the deceased or items related to hobbies, sports, professions, religion, ethnic heritage, military service and civic organizations.

The Wilbert Vault Legacy Series offers 15 scenes to choose from and is available on the Bronze, Copper and Stainless Steel Triune Vaults and Urn Vaults and the Venetian Vault and Urn Vault at no additional cost. The photo collage of the deceased is available for a small additional charge. Please click on the photo to view a larger version in a new window.

Stainless Steel Vault Cover
with Country Road Scene

Stainless Steel Urn
Vault with Barn Scene

Stainless Steel Vault Cover
with Deceased's Photo Collage

Autumn Passage	Lake/Bench	Mountains	Snow Covered Bridge	Stream
Eternal Garden	Barn	Lake	Firefighter	Country Road
American Flag	Flowers	Motherhood	Christianity: Going Home	Law Enforcement

The Life's Reflections Series offers numerous personalization options and is available on the Bronze, Copper and Stainless Steel Triune Vaults and Urn Vaults and the Venetian Vault and Urn Vault at no additional cost. Please click on the photo to view a larger version in a new window.

Stainless Steel Vault Cover
with American and Italian Flag

Stainless Steel Urn
Vault with Musical Notes.

For additional information on burial vaults please visit the Caskets, Vaults and Urns section.

Personalizing urns with custom engraving, photo's of the deceased or selecting themed urns related to hobbies, sports, professions, religion, ethnic heritage, military service and civic organizations. Please click on the photo to view a larger version in a new window.

Custom Engraved
Bronze Urn

Picture Frame Urn

New York Yankees Urn

Custom engraving provides unlimited options in personalization. Other types of themed urns include golfing, fishing, hunting and angels.

For additional information on our cremation related products please visit the Caskets, Vaults and Urns section.

Arranging for a bag piper to perform during funeral services.

The piper's mournful sound expresses feelings that words cannot -
an ageless tradition and a moving tribute at any service, indoors or out.

Coordinating with local veteran organizations to provide military services at funerals of veterans.

An honor guard and US flag ceremony help show the family's
respect for a loved one's service to our country.

Organizing balloon releases at the cemetery or any other place where a celebration of your loved one's life may take place.

Balloon releases allow for brilliant colors to uplift the
spirit and symbolize the soul's soaring journey to freedom and peace.

Planning dove releases for outdoor ceremonies at the cemetery or any other place that holds special meaning.

These beautiful symbols of peace will inspire the thoughts and
prayers of everyone who attends the remembrance.

Providing blooming memories flower seed packs for services.

Share these with your guests to thank them for coming.
Beautiful perennial flowers will be a lasting reminder of your remembrance.

Using our music system to play CD's of favorite songs or artists during the visitation and funeral service.
Arranging for cremated remains to be scattered by boat or plane when possible.

Specific Examples Include:

After the death of an avid golfer, we displayed his clubs next to the casket. He was dressed in his knickers, plaid sweater and spikes and buried with his favorite putter.
The family of a gentleman who referred to himself as a "true cowboy" decided to have us arrange for a horse drawn carriage to transport his casket from the church to the cemetery instead of using a motorized hearse.
For the memorial service of a young woman who was an amateur artist, we suggested that the family bring some of her paintings and display them throughout the funeral home.
For an avid classic car collector, we suggested that his car be on display in front of our funeral home during the visitation. On the day of the funeral his car was used to lead the procession to the church and cemetery.
After the death of an avid horse enthusiast, we suggested that the family bring in his saddle for the visitation and funeral service and place it on top of the casket instead of flowers.
The family of a recently retired school bus driver decided all those attending the burial would ride together to the cemetery in a school bus behind the hearse.