Services

Throughout history the word "Funeral" has had a familiar meaning to each of us . This may not be true today. We believe how you honour the life of someone you love, is your choice and no one elses. The resources we have and our caring staff are devoted to helping you tailor a service to meet your needs.

We will assist you to determine the time and place of the service and help you decide on burial or cremation. With your input we will compose the death notice and forward it to all the appropriate media. We will encourage you to help personalize the funeral service honouring a life well loved. Bringing in photos, memorabilia, selecting special music, and stationary help personalize the funeral service

We listen to you, we encourage your participation and most of all we care!

James L. Pedlar Funeral Home offers many different services. Our training and experience have prepared us to help, to reassure and to understand when a family faces the loss of a loved one. We are here to replace confusion with calm, doubts with certainty and questions with answers. Here, one finds a quiet gentleness in an atmosphere of dignity, efficiency and trust. We believe your service choice is a personal decision. At James L. Pedlar Funeral Home we explain the options available, then allow you to make your own decisions.

Death has an impact on family, friends and colleagues. You may want to consider the feelings of others whose life was affected by the deceased. It is said "sorrow shared is sorrow diminished"

Traditional Service

This is a service where the deceased person is present for the visitation, funeral service or both. The visitation is usually the day before the funeral service which gives an opportunity to pay tribute to someone loved. It is a time for relatives and friends to gather, share memories, tell stories and give support to one another. Following the service, there is usually a procession to the cemetery for the interment service. If the family have selected cremation instead of burial, the deceased is transferred to a crematorium for cremation, followed by interment of cremated remains at a cemetery at a later date.

Memorial Service

A Memorial Service is often referred to as a Service of Remembrance. This type of service is the same as a Traditional Service except the deceased is not present. There is no casket present for the visitation and service, but in it's place the family will bring in picture boards and mementoes depicting the life of the deceased. For example golf clubs, model trains, paintings, or anything that depicts the life and loves of the one who has died. If the family is having burial, usually the service is arranged privately with only the family, close friends and clergy present. If the family is having cremation, the cremated remains are placed in an urn which is present for the Memorial Service.

Cremation or burial, what should I do?

This is a personal choice of the deceased person and or the family. No matter which type of final disposition you choose, it will not affect the type of "Service" you select. Cremation is not a type of funeral service. It is an alternative to earth burial.

Should we have a visitation period or not?

Sometimes, one of the hardest decisions for a family to make is whether to have visitation. Some find it very emotional, uncomfortable and would rather forego this part of the service. However, visitation gives an appointed time and place for family and friends to gather to support each other. Visitation is not only for the friends of the deceased, but especially for the friends and co-workers of the surviving families.

Who should view?

This is a very personal choice of the family. Immediate family members should have the opportunity to view if they wish."Seeing is Believing". Viewing is the first step to accepting death and accepting is the first step in grief recovery. The decision to leave the casket open for the public is your personal choice.

There are no "right" or "wrong" funerals. There are many options available to personalize the funeral and make it serve specific needs. Talk about these options with family and the funeral director.

When discussing their funeral preferences, many people may become adamant about what they want done. Sometimes, they make decisions which could have an adverse effect on their survivors. It is important to consider the needs of the survivors.

A funeral is a unique event in the life of a family. The funeral and ceremony not only recognizes that a death has occurred, but that a life was lived.

Do not be afraid to ask the funeral director about any funeral, burial or cremation matter.

An excerpt from the Ontario Funeral Service Association booklet"What Every Family Should Know."