Obituaries

Tirunelveli Rajamani
B: 1931-04-20
D: 2024-03-13
View Details
Rajamani, Tirunelveli
Victoria Owens
B: 1942-05-13
D: 2024-03-09
View Details
Owens, Victoria
Robert Smith
B: 1971-09-30
D: 2024-03-07
View Details
Smith, Robert
Doris Morrison
B: 1965-01-04
D: 2024-03-04
View Details
Morrison, Doris
Latasha Smith
B: 1973-05-27
D: 2024-03-03
View Details
Smith, Latasha
Katherine Campbell
B: 1936-05-28
D: 2024-02-28
View Details
Campbell, Katherine
Salome Gurung
B: 1994-04-14
D: 2024-02-26
View Details
Gurung, Salome
Cleodis Beaty
B: 1955-09-11
D: 2024-02-26
View Details
Beaty, Cleodis
Willie Glasgow
B: 1977-12-08
D: 2024-02-23
View Details
Glasgow , Willie
Mary Thomas
B: 1935-07-23
D: 2024-02-21
View Details
Thomas, Mary
Betty Wilcox
B: 1947-04-25
D: 2024-02-20
View Details
Wilcox, Betty
Irma Perez
B: 1942-08-05
D: 2024-02-14
View Details
Perez, Irma
Carlos Valle
B: 1979-11-09
D: 2024-02-14
View Details
Valle, Carlos
Lawrence DeGroat
B: 1963-09-04
D: 2024-02-09
View Details
DeGroat, Lawrence
Jeanette Dunn
B: 1959-12-02
D: 2024-02-01
View Details
Dunn, Jeanette
Joginder Singh
B: 1944-06-10
D: 2024-01-29
View Details
Singh, Joginder
Patrick Guy
D: 2024-01-28
View Details
Guy, Patrick
Shayla Brooks
B: 1981-07-28
D: 2024-01-28
View Details
Brooks, Shayla
Mary Wyatt
B: 1948-05-20
D: 2024-01-23
View Details
Wyatt, Mary
Jihad Al-Sabbar
B: 1949-03-22
D: 2024-01-22
View Details
Al-Sabbar, Jihad
Sue Fraizer
B: 1954-02-03
D: 2024-01-20
View Details
Fraizer, Sue

Search

Use the form above to find your loved one. You can search using the name of your loved one, or any family name for current or past services entrusted to our firm.

Click here to view all obituaries
Search Obituaries
109 West Avenue
Rochester, NY 14611
Phone: (585) 436-7730
Fax: (585) 436-6778

Our Memorial Services

What is a Memorial Service?

A memorial service is a ceremony that honors and pays tribute to the deceased after the body has been cared for. A memorial service has the meaning of any other type of funeral service; honor the deceased. It is very common for a memorial service to take place weeks or even months after the death has occurred.


Memorial Service vs Funeral

The biggest difference between a traditional funeral and a memorial service is that the body is not present at a memorial service. However, an urn with the deceased's ashes may be present at a memorial service. Both a traditional funeral service and memorial service have structure, and both bring the community together in support and remembrance. The main difference between the two is that a traditional funeral service is a much more structured and formal event. A traditional funeral service is often associated with religion so it is often led by a member of clergy, whereas a memorial service is led by a celebrant or master of ceremonies. Memorial services often allow each guest to participate to some level, where guests of a traditional funeral are there to simply observe and reflect.
A celebration of life is an event that truly celebrates your loved one’s passions, intellectual pursuits, personality, and personal accomplishments. A celebration of life can really have no structure at all and can really be anything you want, the possibilities are endless.
 
A memorial service could be best described as a perfect mix of a traditional funeral and celebration of life. A memorial service is somewhat structured, but still allows the flexibility to make the ceremony unique and personalized, to fit the individual being honored. Also, the mood generally lies somewhere in between somber and celebratory.

memorial service vs funeral

Why Choose a Memorial Service?

We find that the most common reason people choose a memorial service because they want the extra time to plan a ceremony. Since a memorial service can take place after the body has been buried or cremated, there is no rush to organize a service. Families are often not emotionally ready to have a ceremony immediately following death – They need time to grieve. Family and friends that live far away can also use this time to organize their schedule to travel for the memorial service.
 
  • Often those not religious choose to have a memorial service as opposed to a traditional funeral because traditional funerals are more often associated with religion.
  • Memorial service tend to be cheaper than holding a traditional funeral.
  • As mentioned above, for some people memorial services serve as the perfect compromise between a celebration of life and traditional funeral service.
  • Some people find celebrations of life do not pay enough attention to the deceased and turn into solely a party

Use of a Civil Celebrant

Often memorial services are led by celebrants. A celebrant is a person who has been trained to conduct formal ceremonies, such as weddings, baptisms and funerals. They are not clergy; instead they are experienced masters-of-ceremony and story-tellers. A celebrant works closely with surviving family to create a ceremony which reflects the beliefs, cultural background, values and aspirations of your deceased loved one, and your family. If you think you would be best served by a celebrant, please speak with your funeral director.

Planning a Memorial Service

You have a lot of flexibility when it comes to a location especially since the body will not be present. We have had families hold memorial services at beaches, community centers, parks, restaurants, banquet halls, and at family homes. For some that want some religious facets it is probably best choose a place of worship. Keep mind that you want a space/location that can hold a large group of people and that has the amenities for any of the features you have planned. For example, if you want a photo slideshow, choosing the beach as your location would not be ideal.  

Memorial Service Ideas

memorial service ideas globe

Showcase Their Hobbies & Favorite Items

It is common to plan a memorial service theme around one of the the deceased's favorite hobbies such as travelling, sports, coin collecting, etc., where related memorabilia can be showcased. 

Memorial Releases

More and more memorial services conclude with some type of release – a butterfly release, dove release, balloon release or lantern release. It is quite beautiful to see these releases, as they represent a time of transition – “the family and close relatives are letting go of their loved one”. 

memorial service ideas balloons release
memorial service ideas food platter

Food & Drink

You can personalize a memorial service by serving some of your loved one’s favorite dishes and beverages. Perhaps they have a famous recipe?

Music

Music seems to be a staple at any event and this is no different at a memorial service. Many families like to play the favorite songs of their loved ones. Or families play a genre of music that is more somber or upbeat depending on what type of atmosphere you are trying to create. 

memorial service ideas music microophone
memorial service ideas old photos

A Photo Collection or Display

With the advancement in technonology, it is common to have photo slideshows or some type of video tribute. However, we still do come across old-fashioned photo collages that are also very meaningful. 

 

Frequently Asked Questions on Memorial Services
If you are curious about memorial services, our list of the most frequently-asked questions will satisfy. Learn what makes a memorial service a special event.

Looking for information on cremation services? Visit our  Rochester Cremation Packages page, or our  affordable cremation services page.