Is there value in having a service?

 

We add value in having a service by alleviating the burden of planning and arranging details in order to give you time to grieve. Our funeral director’s go above and beyond to coordinate details and manage any moving parts of a service so you don’t have to.

 

The days of the pandemic are hopefully soon behind us.  During those times we saw families constantly struggling with not being able to have a service either because the CDC would not allow it or the guilt of inviting family members and friends to come to a common place and spreading the virus was daunting.  We are now experiencing those gatherings coming back and seeing the value of having a service and what all it does for the survivors.

 

A service can be defined in many different ways but ultimately it depends on how the family planning the service wants to honor their loved one.  The details that surround the service could involve a myriad of different options that are honestly endless. But, at the very center of the service and all of the options is honoring the life of a loved one and providing healing to the survivors.  That is the focus we want all of our decisions and options to point towards and explain the value of what that does for those who grieve.

 

Having a service is so much more than just honoring the life of the deceased, but also can allow healing for the family who is left behind. Physicians, Counselors and Licensed Therapists all agree that having a service can provide therapeutic healing for those involved as well as those who attend. Here are just some of those values:

 

• Acknowledging the reality of death helps to start in the grief healing process for everyone.
• Offers an opportunity to express feelings of grief and encourages sharing of memories that celebrate and validate the life of the deceased.
• Receiving support from friends and family and witnessing the love from the community.
• Based on your religious beliefs it can open the opportunity for spiritual guidance.
• Allows friends and family the structure to constructively have a date and time to focus on their grief.

 

The value of a service can bring a multitude of healing experiences.  We believe that no matter the age or circumstances of the death, every life deserves to be honored, but every family member and friend also needs help in healing. It is important to construct a service that is fitting to that life and that is why you see so many different types of services today.  Having a personalized service will help validate the life lost and substantially help in the grieving process for those left behind.

So many times, we hear from our families that planning a service can seem so overwhelming.  This statement comes with a lot of truth and with different circumstances surrounding the death it could be.  Many times, families are going weeks or months on the ‘roller coaster’ of grief while someone is in the early stages of passing.  By the time the person passes the family is honestly just worn out and the idea of planning a service just seems daunting to say the least.  Other times, when someone is tragically and suddenly taken away from us, we are in the middle of so many emotions that planning a service is just out of the question.  All of this is understandable and our Funeral Directors know this. We are trained and gifted in a way that we can shoulder the burden of service planning.  The most common response we hear from a family is how they had no idea how much we are willing to do and how easy we make the process for them.  We know the process is hard and we are here to do all the heavy lifting and guide the family in decision making and allow them the time they need to process and grieve.  

In today’s time, you notice that services may be a few days after the passing or a few months after the passing.  This is due to the family’s needs.  Each service we provide is set in a way that helps the family with the burden of planning a service and we do not use a “one size fits all” approach to planning services.  The mental and physical health of a surviving family is first and foremost in our minds when we approach service planning.  Our Funeral Directors go above and beyond the normal call of duty and provide the best in service to our families.  They understand that each family is different and each circumstance is different. They are truly what separates our funeral homes from others and the families that we serve will testify to this over and over again. 

 

We could not have been more pleased than we were with our dealings with the funeral director, his suggestions were so helpful to us at a time when decisions were so difficult to make.

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Anonymous

 

The staff at Mayes Ward- Dobbins makes a difficult time easier to bear. They are genuine, friendly, compassionate and professional. They value your emotions, wishes and wants as you honor the life of the one you have so dearly loved.

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Champion Family

 

You can be assured that in a time of loss, if you call Mayes Ward Dobbins, we will do everything in our power to relieve the burden and show you the value of what having a service can do for you, your family, and the community.

 

-J. Chad Pendley, Funeral Director