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302-478-7100 Wilmington & Hockessin, DE

Funeral Options

Funeral Options - Photo of the chapel ast Chandler Funeral Home in Wilmington, DelawareA funeral represents a purposeful opportunity to reflect on the meaning of a life that has been lived and to determine the impact of that meaning for the family and friends. There is no single proper funeral service. It is a time for human sharing in its deepest sense. You and the ones you love are at the very center of the process, and the choices you make will determine its significance for you. As you participate in the planning of the funeral service, you help create a meaningful experience for everyone.

It is the goal of Chandler Funeral Homes & Crematory to help people complete the relationship with the one who has died and to provide a climate that encourages each person to give and receive emotional support. During the funeral service, family and friends have the opportunity to relate to each other at the deepest levels and find mutual strength.

Traditional Funeral Service

Traditionally, the funeral will be a Complete Funeral Service. This includes a family or public viewing of the deceased. Following this will be a service, typically in the church or at the funeral home. This would be followed by the earth or above ground burial of the casketed remains. Caskets selected may vary in cost depending on the material of which the casket is constructed. Most cemeteries require that a minimum grave liner be used to encase the casket when earth buried. These minimum liners are constructed of concrete and are designed to hold the weight of the earth, maintaining the cemetery property. A sealed vault may also be used. The vaults are also constructed of concrete and are designed to not only protect the gravesite, but are manufactured with inner liners that not only restrict the entrance of graveside elements (water and earth) but increase the strength of the vault.

Graveside Service

Graveside Service can be another type of selection. The casketed remains would be transferred to the cemetery where a graveside committal ceremony could take place followed by the burial.

Traditional Cremation Service

The Complete Cremation Service is another type of selected offering. This service will be just like a Complete Funeral Service except cremation will follow instead of the casketed burial. This can be accommodated by the use of a cremation casket (casket that is designed to be cremated) or even a rental casket may be used. Following the viewing, service or ceremony, and eventual cremation, the cremated remains can be buried, properly scattered, or returned to the family for safe keeping. Urns are used to hold the cremated remains. Urns can be constructed out of basic materials like cardboard or plastic, or constructed out of more protective materials like basic and semi-precious metals, ceramics, and woods.

Learn More About Cremation Options

Personalizing Services

At Chandler Funeral Homes & Crematory, we encourage families to create very personalized services. It is important to acknowledge that life that has been lived and to offer to the community a way in which to celebrate that life. By offering services and memorialization features that are personal and special, a unique life can be remembered and honored in an individualized way that is comforting to the family and friends.

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How Your Funeral Director Can Serve You

When a death occurs, your primary responsibility is to yourself and the ones you love. There are a number of things that require attention simultaneously. Regardless of the day or hour, Chandler Funeral Homes & Crematory is always prepared to respond to your needs quickly and competently. The funeral director’s main function is to assist you with the necessary details of the funeral process. Among the services funeral directors provide are:

  • Arranging funeral plans
  • Securing necessary permits and death certificates
  • Care and custody of the body
  • Coordinating all details with the clergy
  • Arranging the music you have selected
  • Arranging transportation for you and the members of your family prior to, during, and after the funeral
  • Assisting in arrangements for cemetery space, grave opening and closing, flowers and monuments
  • Assisting in arranging for burial or cremation
  • Placing obituary and funeral notices in newspapers
  • Supervision of the funeral or memorial service
  • All necessary arrangements for transportation, funeral service, and burial if the deceased is to be sent to a distant location

Additional Funeral Considerations

Types of Caskets

Caskets

Whether you are pre-planning for yourself or choosing for a loved one, a casket selection is a very personal decision.

More About Caskets

Types of Burial Vaults

Vaults

A burial vault is a protective outer container that the casketed remains are placed in at the grave and sealed closed.

More About Vaults

Memorial Markers - Gravestone/Headstone

Memorial Markers

Permanent memorials stand the test of time. They are a solid and visible tribute to a life that has been lived. Permanent Memorials individualize and designate a physical place where loved ones can come to pay their respects.

Memorial Items - Registry Books, Service Folders and Acknowledgment Cards

Memorial Items

A variety of Memorial Registry Books, Service Folders and Acknowledgment Cards are available that can reflect the life and interests of the deceased.