Traditional Funeral Services

Traditional Funeral Services in Nashua, NH

Traditional Funeral Services

What is a Funeral?

No matter where it's held, a funeral service is a structured ceremony, with a beginning, middle and end. Each is intended to engage the living participants in activities that will transform their status within the community, provide mourners with a collective grieving experience, and celebrate a life lived. It's a socially-acceptable way for members of a community to re-affirm and express their social attachments.

Visitation
This is often called a viewing or a wake. Guests come to pay their respects to the deceased by viewing their casketed body often saying a prayer and then pay their condolences to the family.
Funeral Ceremony
This event commonly takes place at the funeral home, a church, or at the graveside. It can include music, the reading of literary or religious passages, a eulogy, prayer, and the singing of hymns.
Committal Service
If the family plans to bury the deceased, this stage involves the vehicle procession to the cemetery. The family and guests will congregate at the open plot or mausoleum and the Rite of Committal, the final set of prayers are given.
Funeral Reception
Many families choose to have a social gathering after the committal service with food and refreshments. It is a chance for the family to thank guests for attending and an opportunity for everyone to share memories and provide support to each other.  
The funeral service component is the biggest and most important component that we mentioned above. A traditional funeral service has long been associated with religion. For the most part when people think about a traditional funeral service, people imagine or have a Christian style funeral in mind. You can still have a traditional funeral that is not Christian. 

Popular Christian Funeral Hymns

Here I am Lord
By John Michael Talbot
It is Not Death to Die 
By Sovereign Grace
Amazing Grace
By Leann Rimes
The Lord is My Shepherd
By Choir of Wells Cathedral
Go Rest High On that Mountain
By Vince Gill
Be Not Afraid 
By John Michael Talbot
Heaven's Now My Home
Libby Allen
Ave Maria
By Andrea Bocelli

Popular Christian Funeral Readings

  • Rejoice and Be Glad, For Your Reward Will Be Great In Heaven: Matthew 5:1-12


    When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him. He began to teach them, saying: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land. Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you (falsely) because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven. Thus they persecuted the prophets who were before you. 

    The gospel of the Lord.


  • The Lord God Will Destroy Death Forever: Isaiah 25: 6. 7-9


    A reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah 


    On this mountain the LORD of hosts will provide for all peoples. On this mountain he will destroy the veil that veils all peoples, the web that is woven over all nations; he will destroy death forever. The Lord GOD will wipe away the tears from all faces; the reproach of his people he will remove from the whole earth; for the LORD has spoken. On that day it will be said: "Behold our God, to whom we looked to save us! This is the LORD for whom we looked; let us rejoice and be glad that he has saved us!" 

    The Word of the Lord


  • It Is Good and Holy To Think Of The Dead Rising Again: 2 Maccabees 12:43-46


    A reading from the second book of Maccabees 


    Judas [the ruler of Israel] then took up a collection among all his soldiers, amounting to two thousand silver drachmas, which he sent to Jerusalem to provide for an expiatory sacrifice. In doing this he acted in a very excellent and noble way, inasmuch as he had the resurrection of the dead in view; for if he were not expecting the fallen to rise again, it would have been useless and foolish to pray for them in death. But if he did this with a view to the splendid reward that awaits those who had gone to rest in godliness, it was a holy and pious thought. Thus he made atonement for the dead that they might be freed from this sin. 

    The Word of the Lord


  • I Am the Resurrection and the Life: John 11:17-27 or 11:21-27

     When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, only about two miles away. And many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them about their brother. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him; but Mary sat at home. Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. (But) even now I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you." Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise." Martha said to him, "I know he will rise, in the resurrection on the last day." Jesus told her, "I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this? "She said to him, "Yes, Lord. I have come to believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who is coming into the world." 

    The gospel of the Lord.


  • Whether Alive Or Dead, We Belong To The Lord: Romans 14:7-9. 10-12

     A reading from the letter of Paul to the Romans


     None of us lives for oneself, and no one dies for oneself. For if we live, we live for the Lord, and if we die, we die for the Lord; so then, whether we live or die, we are the Lord's. For this is why Christ died and came to life, that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living. For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of God; for it is written: "As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bend before me, and every tongue shall give praise to God." So (then) each of us shall give an account of himself (to God).

     The Word of the Lord


  • Whoever Hears My Word and Believes Has Passed From Death To Life: John 5:24-29


    "Amen, Amen, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes in the one who sent me has eternal life and will not come to condemnation, but has passed from death to life. Amen, amen, I say to you, the hour is coming and is now here when the dead will hear the voice of the son of God, and those who hear will live. For just as the Father has life in himself, so also he gave his Son the possession of life in himself. and he gave him power to exercise judgment , because he is the Son of Man. Do not be amazed at this, because the hour is coming in which all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and will come out, those who have done good deeds to the resurrection of life, but those who have done wicked deeds to the resurrection of condemnation."

     The gospel of the Lord.


Understanding Traditional Funeral Services, Memorial Services & Celebration of Life Services

A traditional funeral service can mean many different things for everyone and how we choose to honor a loved one is as unique as they are. For one family a traditional funeral service that adheres to their family traditions and religious beliefs it is the only way to honor a loved one. At the same time, another family may find that a celebration of life service is more suitable. And for others a traditional funeral service is too structured or religious but a celebration of life is to celebratory in which case a memorial service may feel more appropriate.  

Traditional Funeral Service
A traditional funeral service has structure and adheres to rituals and customs for those looking for a sense of spirituality and religion or tradition.

A funeral has four components:

Wake or Visitation

Funeral Service
During this time family and friends share memories of the deceased and family thanks guests for attending.

  • Led by a member of clergy.
  • Can take place at the funeral home, chapel, church or graveside/cemetery.
  • Prayers are typically said, hymns are sung and a liturgy or religious passages are typically read and a eulogy is given.
Committal Service
  • Funeral procession to the cemetery or crematory.
  • Family and guests gather at the cemetery plot or mausoleum and the final prayers are given.
Funeral Reception
  • Food and refreshments are typically served.
  • A chance for family to say thank you to guests for attending and for everyone to share memories and support each other.
Memorial Service

A memorial service is a gentle mix of a traditional funeral service and celebration of life.


A memorial service has some structure but allows some flexibility to make the ceremony unique and personalized to fit the individual being honored.


Typically led by a celebrant or master of ceremonies.


Often guests are allowed to participate.


Can take place at the funeral home, a place of worship, community center, or public grounds such as a beach or park.


May take place prior to or after your loved one is buried or cremated.


Celebration Of Life Service
A celebration of life service allows you to tell the story of your loved one's life and what made them special.

A celebration of life service has an uplifting atmosphere that reflects on the positive stories and memories of your loved one.

A celebration of life allows you the freedom to display your loved one's personality, values and passions.

Typically is held weeks to months after your loved one has been buried or cremated.

Celebrations of life typically have a theme which highlights the deceased's hobbies or interests such as their favorite sport team, places they have travelled, or things they were passionate about.

Still Have Questions About our Funeral Services in Nashua, NH?

We understand that preparing a traditional funeral service for a loved one is a hard task. Our experienced and compassionate team is here to make sure the process is made easier for family and friends. We are ready to help you and answer any questions you may have about our funeral services in Nashua, so please, contact us.

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