How to Plan a Burial Service

How to Plan a Burial Service in Marlow & Rush Springs, Oklahoma

When it comes time to make final care arrangements on behalf of a deceased family member you may be surprised to learn of the benefits of well-crafted burial services. During the arrangement conference with one of our experienced funeral directors you'll have the opportunity to discuss the features and benefits of funeral burial planning & graveside services, and look at the top four reasons why families choose this option:

Simplicity

Many people today strive for greater simplicity in their lives; a natural, uncluttered, uncomplicated life. This is a desire which is nothing new to the human heart. With a focus on what is most important, the simplicity of graveside services does just that.

The Natural Setting

What better place to celebrate the life of a loved one than under the open sky, beneath trees, or beside beautiful flowers. No matter the type of cemetery that your loved one's burial services is held at, the emotional and spiritual comforts of the natural surroundings will be felt.

Religious Requirements

There are profound religious reasons families choose burial plan over any other final care service option. For example, the Christian concept of resurrection of the body is deeply held by many and makes burial an act of religious ceremony.

The Importance of Witnessing

As mentioned earlier, human societies of all times and in all places have incorporated burial into their cultural or religious practices. This long-lived social relationship with burial has resulted in a core belief shared among peoples around the globe: burial is an act of respect, made most meaningful when witnessed. 

Planning a Burial Ceremony

Burial services in one form or another have been a part of human communities for millennia. If you scan our history, it really doesn't matter "when" or "where" you look, burial practices can be found. Graveside services can be seen in hundreds of Hollywood films and television productions; some are uplifting, others are humorous; and some merely attempt to convey the emotional weight carried by the characters involved. Because of these cinematic efforts, most are familiar with the appearance and traditional ceremonial format of a burial service. But when it comes time to make arrangements for a graveside service on behalf of a deceased family member, it can be challenging to turn what is only vaguely familiar into a truly meaningful, deeply personal event. This graveside service planning guide outlines the major steps involved and identifies the primary "talking points" when meeting with the funeral director. If you have questions about what you read here, please call us. A member of our staff is available, ready with the answers you need.
Burial Service Information

What's Involved in Planning a Graveside Service?

All reasons aside, let's look at what's involved in planning a burial service. We've broken down the discussion into three areas-of-concern: the selection of cemetery and burial property, choosing a casket and burial vault; and planning the details of the graveside service.

Selection of Cemetery & Burial Property

There may be families where the deceased loved one may have already chosen and purchased a burial plot or mausoleum crypt. If this is the case, documents proving ownership of burial rights are required when making the funeral arrangements.

If there is no such pre-plan in place, then you will need to choose a cemetery and select the burial property as part of the arrangements. Purchasing a burial plot is not a common transaction for many so below you will find some tips on how to purchase cemetery property: 
  • When you purchase a cemetery property, such as a burial plot or mausoleum crypt, you are actually buying the right to inter (or bury) an individual (or individuals) in that location. The property you now have the rights over remains the property (and the responsibility) of the cemetery administration.
  • A stated portion of the money you pay for these interment rights will be contributed to an irrevocable fund used in the on-going care of the cemetery grounds.
  • The burial plan, as well as any future commemorative visits you make to the location will be subject to the specific by-laws as written by the cemetery administration.
Just like when you buy a house, the cost of burial property rights range widely in price, depending on the exact location of the plot or crypt. If you have time, you can certainly find resale "deals" on cemetery property; but if you're not shopping far in advance of need, this may not be of help to you.
There are other costs involved with the burial of a loved one, such as the fees charged by the cemetery for the "opening and closing" of the site, the headstone or grave marker and its installation, and the purchase of a casket and burial vault.
Because we have strong working relationships with local cemetery administrators, we want to help you with this part of the process. Simply call us to get started.

Choosing a Casket & Vault

You will typically read that the casket is the single most expensive purchase you'll need to make during this time. And while there are many options ranging in prices, we can certainly help you select the casket that best suits your budget. Here at Callaway-Smith-Cobb Funeral Home, we offer a wide selection of caskets and burial vaults for you to choose from, and we work closely with all families to ensure the cost of your loved one's service is kept within your family's budget.

The cost of the casket is based largely on the type of casket selected. Some of the things that influence the price of a casket are material, design, and any embellishment. We breakdown each of these below. 

Material: You may think material is divided between metal or hardwood but there are so many options for both. Fine hardwood caskets include varying types of wood including walnut, cherry, maple, oak, pine, and many others, all with different price points. Metal caskets vary in thicknesses and also come in a wide array of finishes, both of which impact the price. 
Design: Caskets, more so than burial vaults, have many design elements that are added in the finishing process. Selecting a casket that's design is more intricate and complex would result in a higher price point compared to a casket that has a much more simple design. 
Embellishments: Embellishments on a casket can include artwork on the interior panel, on the corner plates, or even changing the material of the bed inside to something more luxurious. Each of these impacts the price and add to the total cost of a casket. 

We encourage you to research and discover which type of casket works best for you and your budget. If you should need any assistance or have any questions about selecting a casket and a burial vault, please feel free to reach out to us.

How are the details of the graveside service to be planned out?

The details really depend on your motives and emotional needs. If simplicity is your primary focus, then the burial service we design could look very different from one which is guided by religious doctrine.

And while you could think of your loved one's graveside service as a modified version of a typical funeral, with a member of the clergy leading attendees in standard hymns or prayers; we'd rather you let go of your expectations. That way, we can come to the planning process with no limitations to our creativity. Together we'll determine the best date and time for the burial service, and select the most meaningful readings, songs and activities to be featured in their service.

We'll discuss who you would like to lead the event; it could be your funeral director, a member of the clergy, a celebrant, family member, or close friend. Certainly, the selection of the cemetery and burial plot are practical decisions; but planning the service format is where the heart can take over. Your funeral director will sit with you for as long as it takes to bring love and memories into the event. He or she will explore your loved one's life with you to find the essence of who they were, all in the effort to craft a fitting graveside service.

We're Here to Help You Plan your Oklahoma Funeral Service

We're ready to listen. In fact, that's what we do best: we not only hear the words, we understand the feelings and the familial dynamics behind them. When you call us at for assistance in making the necessary arrangements for a graveside service, you'll discover the value of having an experienced ally committed to serving your family as you would wish to be served.
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