Memorial Service Checklist

We’ve created a checklist to help you plan a unique, personalized memorial service and ensure you don’t forget a single detail.

Below is a list of things to consider when planning a memorial service.

• Choose the type of disposition you'd like (burial, cremation, donation)
• Choose the type of gathering, service, ceremony or memorial you'd like to have:
  • Visitation, viewing, wake or rosary
    • Do you want a private family viewing or public viewing?
  • Celebration of life service personalized to reflect the life lived
  • Traditional funeral service
    • Do you want the body present?
    • Do you want casket opened or closed?
  • Graveside service or a service at the crematory
  • Memorial service (takes place after burial or cremation)
  • Home funeral service and/or burial
  • Green or eco-friendly funeral service
  • Scattering ceremony
  • Family gathering
  • Reception or fellowship meal
• Choose options that personalize your event:
  • What clothing will the deceased wear?
  • Location of burial and service
  • Speaker, such as clergy member or funeral celebrant
  • Pallbearers, eulogist, assistants and attendees
  • Catered or potluck meal
  • Prayers, poems or other readings
  • Songs or hymns
• Choose the place of final rest:
  • Burial in a private ceremony, veteran ceremony or on private property
  • Scattering of cremated body at sea, in a park, on private property or in a memorial garden
• Choose a method of payment:
  • Hamilton's accepts cash, check or credit card (Visa, Mastercard, Discover and American Express)