Shape the gathering around your family.
Start with the setting that fits your family's wishes. Would you like time with immediate family only, or would you like extended family, relatives and close friends to attend? Private viewings can feel more comfortable for a small group. If you're considering a traditional viewing with more guests, we'll talk through the room, the schedule and any specific needs of those attending.
Personal touches help the gathering reflect the life you're honoring. Bring a favorite photograph, choose a meaningful reading, or ask about music and video tributes. A familiar song or a story from a friend helps everyone share memories and honor the person they knew. If you have an idea but aren't sure how to arrange it, tell us and we'll work out what's possible.
Understanding the viewing process.
Knowing what to expect can ease some of the uncertainty during a challenging time. These are the details we'll go over together before the cremation process begins:
- Preparation. How your loved one will be prepared, the clothing and personal items you'd like them to have, and whether embalming is needed for the arrangements you choose.
- The rental casket. How it's used for the viewing and any service, and the separate container used for cremation.
- The gathering. Who may attend, how much time you'll have, and whether you'd like a private family period first.
- A service. Whether to add a funeral service, with readings, music or religious traditions.
- What happens next. When cremation will take place, which crematory will care for your loved one, and when their cremated remains will be ready.
Embalming isn't required for every cremation, and a short, private identification viewing of the deceased may be possible without it, depending on how much time has passed since death. A visitation with guests is different, and Oklahoma's rules on refrigeration and viewing can affect timing. We'll explain how they apply to your arrangements.
Viewing, funeral and memorial services.
A viewing, sometimes called a visitation, is time with your loved one before cremation. A funeral service can take place during or after the viewing, with your loved one present. Memorial services honor them without the body present and are usually held after cremation, with or without the urn. Some families choose a viewing and then a memorial later; others prefer a viewing and funeral service before cremation. The ideal option is the one that respects your loved one's wishes and feels manageable for the people making decisions.
How is this different from direct cremation?
Direct cremation takes place without a viewing or funeral service beforehand, though many families hold a memorial afterward. Cremation with viewing adds time with your loved one in our chapel before cremation. If that time to say goodbye matters to you, mention it when you first call our funeral home so we can plan around it.
Choices for their cremated remains.
You don't have to decide everything at once. When you're ready, these are the most common choices:
- Interment. Burying or placing the cremated remains in a family plot, cremation niche or urn garden.
- A graveside service. Family and friends gather as the remains are laid to rest, with prayers, readings or personal tributes.
- Scattering. Where permitted, in a memorial garden, over water or at a place that meant something to them. Some families scatter a portion and keep the rest.
- More than one urn. Dividing the remains so relatives who live apart can each keep a portion close.
Understanding the cost.
You should know the price before you commit to anything. When we meet, we'll first give you our General Price List, and we'll go through every item with you: preparation, use of the chapel, staff, the rental casket, the cremation container, crematory fees and any service you add. Before you pay, you'll get a written statement of everything you've chosen and the total.
If you have a budget in mind, tell us and we'll focus on the choices that fit it. You can also plan ahead and record your wishes for the viewing, service and cremation. Planning ahead gives your family guidance, and some peace of mind, when decisions feel difficult.
If you're attending a viewing.
Your presence is a comfort to the family and a quiet way to show respect. A few simple things help:
- Dress modestly unless the family has asked for something else.
- Ask about customs if you're unsure; religious and cultural traditions differ.
- Keep condolences simple. A kind word or a warm memory is enough.
- Approach the casket only if you're comfortable. It's fine to pause, pray quietly or stay nearby.
- Sign the register with your full name and how you knew them.
- Silence your phone.