Several years ago a traditional funeral consisted of two nights of calling hours also known as a wake; they would be held between the hours of 2-4 and 6-8.

The next morning the immediate family would be picked up in a limousine and brought back to the funeral home where they would say their final goodbye's as the cars of family and friends are lined up and a procession would lead the them to the church for a service, then to the Cemetery for burial. 

Today these services rarely occur. Why? We live in a different age; kids grow up and move far away from home, or parents retire to another state making it a logistical nightmare to get everyone together at the same time, not to mention getting the time off from work. Today's funerals have been condensed to accommodate the busy families of today , with calling hours the night before the service or on the same day prior to the service. Funeral services are held either in a house of worship or at the funeral home with the clergy or layperson conduction the ceremony. It is not uncommon to meet at the cemetery for a closed casket service, known as a graveside service.

Cremation is more popular than ever; due to fewer religious restrictions, cost effectiveness, environmental and personal reasons more families are choosing this option.

Cremation is more popular than ever; due to fewer religious restrictions, cost effectiveness, environmental and personal reasons more families are choosing this option. NFDA reports that in the U.S. 32.3% chose cremation in 2005, it is projected that in 2017 those number will rise to 51.6% and again to 71.1% in 2030. Due to COVID-19 and changing times, Connecticut has seen its cremation rate exceed these numbers in 2020; they range from 73% to 85% depending upon the area. 

Cremation is the process of rendering a body to its most basic element.. bone. The most common cremation method is by fire; the retort reaches 1400-1800 degrees Fahrenheit incinerating the body leaving the bones which are then ground down into a fine powder and are then returned to the family or buried.

Cremation offers endless funeral options. We offer a wooden rental casket with removable inserts for those who wish to have a viewing and/or church service with the body present. Other families wish to hold a memorial service or Mass with the cremains on display with photos and other memorabilia.

Following a funeral or memorial service the cremains may be buried at a cemetery or taken home by the family in a temporary container and scattered or buried in a meaningful place, or in a decorative urn, keepsake or jewelry to be cherished. 

Planning a funeral is hard, there are many questions to answer and decisions to be made in a relatively short period of time.

Life is stressful enough without the death of a loved one, not to mention the financial responsibilities of paying for it.

Pre-arranging and pre-paying your own funeral is the final act of love you can give your family, It takes the pressure of planning and paying for your funeral so they can begin the grieving process. And gives you the peace of mind that your wishes will be followed.  

All money is placed into a trust fund and held by Cooperative Funeral Fund, in Madison, Connecticut. In 2019, Connecticut  increased its Irrevocable Trusts from  $8,000.00 - $10,000.00.