With roots dating back to 1903, Whitney & Murphy Funeral Home has a rich history of service with regard to funeral service and cremations in the greater Phoenix and surrounding areas. Though locations have changed over time, the thread of family heritage that weaves through the establishment means this company has a of legacy of care when creating value for their customers. With five generations of Murphy’s and two generations of the Asta’ families continuing the tradition, this firm really does have a family-centered focus for the people and things that matter most.
Honesty and compassionate care are core values in this business. We understand that our reputation depends on transparent and high-quality service to people who are often in a highly vulnerable position when they come to us. It is essential that you feel some sense of trust in the support team you choose to help you lay your loved one to rest. This is not something you ever will do again for this person. Our team of experts takes the responsibility of guiding and supporting you through this tender time quite seriously.
Standard Service Types for Funeral Home and Cremations
Funeral services are held in honor of the dead, but ultimately we hold funerals to support the living. There is a great deal of research to uphold the benefits of attending some style of funeral service when a loved one has passed away. Grieving individuals tend to grasp the reality of this loss and accept it when the closure of a funeral or celebration of life service has been held.
With the wide range of cultural and religious backgrounds, each family will have differing needs for what service arrangements will best fit their circumstances. Our professional team has helped families from every walk of life and background. A few common service types can be personalized in any number of ways:
- Traditional Service: This includes a viewing and a formal funeral service. The service may be held at the funeral home, a church, or other venues you select. Flowers are frequently displayed, and personal memorabilia can also be set out. The casket bearing the dead is usually included in this service.
- Graveside Service: This event is held at the site of burial. Attendees may be few or many. Graveside services can stand alone, but a memorial service will also be held in some cases.
- Memorial Service: Similar to a funeral service, a memorial provides a time to recognize and pay tribute to the one who has died. Those who share the loss can support one another in this type of gathering. Because memorials do not require the deceased’s body to be in attendance, memorial services could be held many weeks or months after the passing occurs.
- Cremation Service: This is a method of preparation for final disposition that transforms the deceased remains into ashen granules. This process happens through high heat combustion in a closed chamber.
More About Cremation Services
There are often questions surrounding the process connected with cremation services. One frequent misconception we hear is that a you cannot have a traditional type service if your are arranging for cremation. However, a full traditional funeral service can certainly be held for someone who will also be cremated. In these cases, after the funeral services, the body is removed to the crematory for cremation instead of being buried at the cemetery. Relevant merchandise, including a casket, can be rented for the funeral proceedings.
Cremated remains have more varied options when it comes to the final resting place of your deceased loved one. The remains are often referenced as “ashes.” The ashes can be displayed in a funeral urn. There are many customizable choices for this option. Cremated ashes could also be earth buried in a within a family plot at a cemetery. If entombment in a columbarium is preferred, niche spaces are available as well at all cemeteries. Some families choose to scatter the ashes in natural settings that have some meaning to the deceased.
Planning for the Future
Plans for funeral planning need not wait until death has occurred. There are many instances when declining health and age make this conversation somewhat natural. Terminal diagnosis of chronic disease may also lead to this discussion. However, there need not be a known reason to set your affairs in order on this topic. Pre-planning for future needs is simple to get started in the privacy of your home. Check out our pre-planning tool on our website and create peace of mind today.
Call for Immediate Assistance
Whether plans for funeral services or cremations are needed right away, or years down the road, our family at Whitney & Murphy Funeral Home are more than ready to assist you with compassionate, professional, care. Call us (602) 840-5600 or stop by 4800 E Indian School Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85018 to learn more.
Funeral Home and Cremation FAQs
Why have a public viewing?
Viewing is an element of the funeral process in many cultural and ethnic customs. Many grief experts believe that seeing can help with the grieving process by assisting the family in accepting the fact of death. Children should be allowed to watch as long as the process is explained and the involvement is voluntary. Learn more,
Why have a funeral?
Funerals play a significant role in the lives of individuals who have lost a loved one. Funerals are the first stage in the grieving process because they provide a caring and supportive environment for family and friends. It is the traditional way of acknowledging death’s finality. Funerals are well-known traditions that allow the living to express their respect for the deceased while also assisting survivors in the grieving process. Learn about funeral and cremation service.
Who is eligible for military funeral honors?
- Active duty or Selected Reserve military personnel.
- Former personnel of the military who served in active duty and were discharged for reasons other than dishonorable.
- Former military members who served in the Selected Reserve for at least one term or period of initial required service and were discharged for reasons other than dishonorable.
- Former military personnel who were released from the Selected Reserve as a result of a disability sustained or worsened while on active duty.
- Learn more.
