Planning an Affordable Memorial Service in Provo

Nelson Family Mortuary is proud to embrace traditional values, diversity and innovation when honoring the spirit and life of each person we serve. Part of how we make sure that we provide the best possible services is by ensuring that you are well-informed about your options.

Need to plan a memorial service in Provo? We can help!

Unlike a traditional funeral, a memorial service is a gathering where a casket is not present (although the urn with the cremated remains may be on display). A memorial service can be held weeks or even months after the death and can serve as a valuable part of the grieving process.

If you aren’t sure what a memorial service is, then you should read the page we have linked below. Once you know the basics, you can then read about why families are choosing to have memorial services. It is also important that you understand what a celebration of life is since it is one of the newest options and has a different ceremonial format than more traditional memorial services. There is also a page to help you start brainstorming ideas if you decide that a memorial service is the way you want to go.

Why A Memorial Service?

Rather than opting to do things "the same old way", many families today want to celebrate the life of a loved one. Many funeral service professionals see this change as one of the many contributions to social change made by 'Baby Boomers'. The National Funeral Directors Association notes, "As baby boomers age and find themselves having to plan funerals for loved ones and themselves, they are making funeral choices based on values that are different than previous generations. Baby boomers see funerals as a valuable part of the grieving process and are seeking ways to make them meaningful." If you too desire to make the funeral for a loved one more engaging and personally meaningful, a celebration-of-life may be the perfect concept to build on.

Memorial Service Planning & Memorial Service Ideas

Our experience has shown us that many of today's families want more than a traditional funeral. If you're wondering how to plan a memorial service, we've provided many ideas for you to consider. This can be done by bringing more of the personality and lifestyle of the deceased into the arrangements. By displaying photographs or staging the event around a favorite pastime, a memorial service can become more personal and meaningful.

Using these five questions as our guide, we will spend the time to help create a fitting memorial service for your loved one.

What did your loved one like to do?
What was their profession and how did that shape their life?
Was your loved one spiritual?
What was he or she like as an individual?
Was he or she proud of their cultural or ethnic heritage?

Please call us at (801) 405-7444 to learn the details of our memorial service planning process and to answer any questions you may have on how to plan a memorial service.

Memorial Service FAQ

Unique Memorial Service Ideas

For an affordable memorial service in Provo come to Nelson Family Mortuary

Now that you’ve taken the time to read through all the information about the affordable memorial service options we offer we welcome you to ask us any questions that you have. We have put together a frequently asked questions page that we hope will help, but please give us a call at (801) 405-7444 if you read through it and still need answers. You can also contact us through our online contact form, and we will email you back.

If you have come to the conclusion that a memorial service is not for you, then we have a few other pages within the site that would be good to read. Please take a look at our Provo burial services page, as well as our affordable cremation services.

Lastly, we want to remind you that if you are in immediate need, we can be contacted 24 hours a day, so do not hesitate to give us a call right now.

Unique Memorial Service Ideas

When a loved one passes away, the first thing that comes to mind are fond memories of that person’s life. Everything that made them the unique person you loved seems to come into absolute clarity. Because of this, a lot of people want to make sure that the funeral service for their loved one contains some kind of memorial. However, coming up with original memorial service ideas for honoring your dearly departed can be difficult. Here are some unique memorial service ideas so that your loved one is remembered in the way they deserve to be.

Display Collections

Lots of people today are collectors. These collections are a reflection of their passions in life and, as such, are a great memorial for the same person in death. If your loved one was a collector of photo albums, comic books or baseball cards, prominently displaying these items at their funeral service is a great way for people to get a sense of who they were.

A Slideshow with Their Favorite Music

People generally think of funerals as a very sad time, and for very good reasons. But they can also be a celebration of life, which is why a photo slideshow is a great memorial service idea. A slideshow featuring the highlights of the life of the departed is a great way to remember happier times—especially if the slideshow is accompanied by some of your loved one’s favorite songs.

Sharing Memories

One of the tragedies of losing a loved one is the feeling that you will never have the opportunity to learn any more about their life. This is why having an open mic for the sharing of memories is a great memorial service idea. By allowing the sharing of memories at a funeral, you’re making sure that all the attendees can get at least some sense of what your loved one was like in their lives.

Hire the Right Mortuary

When planning a funeral service with unique memorial service ideas, you want to make sure you’re employing the right funeral home that will respect all of your wishes.

Nelson Family Mortuary —serving Provo, Orem and surrounding areas— is committed to providing the exact funeral services that you want to deserve. Contact us today at (801) 405-7444 for both funeral services and funeral pre-planning.

Frequently Asked Questions

Our list of the most frequently-asked questions will certainly shed light on the topic of memorial services. Still, it may not have the answer to your specific question. If that is the case, give us a call at (801) 405-7444. A member of our staff will be pleased to provide you with the information you're looking for; and who knows? Your question could be added to this list, ultimately assisting others in making vital commemorative decisions.

What is a memorial service?

Here's an interesting way to answer the question: a memorial service is not a funeral. Picture what you believe to be the traditional funeral, and then mentally tear up the image. Both ceremonies have structure; both are intended to bring the community together in support and remembrance. But one is far more formal than the other; a memorial service is not led by clergy but guided by a celebrant or master-of-ceremonies. It provides all who attend the service an opportunity to participate on some level, not just to observe and reflect.

How does it differ from a celebration-of-life or funeral?

Visualize a memorial service as a mid-point on the spectrum of service format possibilities. On one end is the more formally-structured, clergy-led funeral service (often with three parts: the visitation, funeral, and a committal service held at the cemetery). At the other end is the celebration-of-life; an event where the life of the deceased–their passions, intellectual pursuits, and personal accomplishments–are the focus of attention. A funeral isn't truly celebratory, whereas a celebration-of-life is all about celebration. A memorial service could be said to be a gentle mix of the two; but in all honesty, each memorial service is unique. Speak with your funeral professional for further insights.

Which type of service format is right for me and my family?

There's really no way we can tell you which service would be the best in your situation. In fact, we don't believe it's even part of our job to tell you; instead, our work is in showing you the spectrum of possibilities. We can explain your options, make suggestions; all with the goal of empowering you to arrive at the best possible decision.

How much will a memorial service cost?

This is a lot like asking "how much will it cost to buy a car?" The answer is totally dependent upon the 'bells & whistles'–the special features–you've selected during the arrangement conference. When you sit down with a funeral director to discuss service costs, you'll receive a copy of the firm's General Price List which will detail all the basic professional services included in the price of your loved one's memorial service, as well as the cost of any ancillary products or services you've purchased. Call us to get a better idea of what your loved one's memorial service will do for you, as well as what it will cost.

What "extra" fees or charges will I need to pay?

Some of the things you'll discuss with your funeral director involve purchases made from outside vendors, and you will be asked to pay for those items at the time of the arrangement conference. One of the most common is the fee charged by a newspaper to print your loved one's obituary. Another cash advance charge could be for clergy or musician's fees, floral arrangements, reception necessities, such as food/beverage or facility rental. Your funeral director will provide you with a detailed invoice for all cash advance items.

Why must I pay for these items ahead of time?

The vendors we work with the newspapers, florists, caterers and musicians, all require us to pay for goods and services when ordered or at the time of delivery. Our "good faith" relationship with them requires us to charge you for them at the close of the arrangement conference. Your funeral director will take time to explain any and all of the necessary cash advance expenses incurred as part of your service planning.

How and when should I pay?

A good rule of thumb is to expect to pay at the time the service contract is signed (at the time of the arrangement conference, or soon afterward). Speak with your funeral director to learn more.

What's involved in planning a memorial service?

We've actually written a number of pages on memorial service planning, but the short answer would include the tasks of selecting the location, date and time of the service. You'll be asked to identify the specific readings, musical selections, food or beverages, and/or the activities you'd like to feature, as well as the people you would like to participate in the service itself. Memorial service planning isn't difficult; it's empowering. After all, you've got a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to show the world how much your loved one meant to you. We invite you to speak with one of our service planning professionals to learn more.

How much will I have to be involved?

How much would you like to be involved? Certainly, your funeral director will need you to specify certain details: the where and when, for example. Together you'll make important decisions about other specifics, but once those decisions are made, you can "step back" and let us handle everything or have as much input as you please.

What items will I need to bring to the funeral home?

You'll need to provide the documents/information required to complete your loved one's death certificate and obituary. You may also wish to bring in a collection of family photographs to be used in making a tribute video or in the decoration of the service location. Other items may be needed at some point, depending on the arrangements made. Your funeral director will provide you with an exact list of the things he or should would like you to bring along to the arrangement conference.

What is a civil celebrant? How can he or she help?

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 storytellers. A celebrant works closely with surviving family to create a ceremony that 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.

Will I, or another family member, need to write the obituary?

Commonly the funeral director who met with you during the arrangement conference will assume the responsibility of writing the obituary. You will support them in doing so by providing them with the necessary legal documents (birth certificates, military records, and marriage or divorce decrees) and other important details about your loved one's life. If you, or another family member or friend, wish to write the obituary, we can help to guide you through the process.