• Traditional Funeral

  The advantage of choosing a traditional funeral is that it follows a familiar pattern so families will know what to expect. A traditional funeral can make it easier for families and friends, because there's an established etiquette for the different stages of the ceremonies involved.

  • Calling hours or visitation
  • A formal service in a funeral home or church
  • Procession with a hearse to escort your loved one to a cemetery
  • Earth burial or entombment of the casketed remains in a mausoleum

  Some of the costs associated with a traditional funeral will include:

  • Personal services of the funeral director
  • Embalming, dressing, cosmetology and hair arrangement
  • Use of funeral home for visitations and the funeral service
  • Hearse and other funeral vehicles
  • Casket, vault and other goods and services

  What are the Benefits of a Traditional Funeral?

  “One of the recognitions shared by humans throughout the world and over time is the importance of ritual” … “In every culture, significant transitions such as births, marriages and deaths have been marked by rituals.”
  ~ Kenneth J. Doka

  Losing a loved one is truly difficult. Whether their passing was sudden, or due to a lingering illness, there are strong emotions to be processed. Grieving takes time, and must be honored.

  A funeral or memorial service is one way to help those who are left behind take the first step in overcoming grief—that is, facing the fact that a death has occurred.

  The services bring together friends and relatives who can offer comfort and support to each other at a time when it is needed most.

  Whatever service is planned, it should be a personal reflection of the family and the person that died. We listen carefully to each family’s wishes and do whatever it takes to assist in creating an event that is meaningful and satisfying to all.

  More than just a service for the person who has died, a funeral is for the loved ones who are left behind. Participating in a funeral can be a therapeutic act that actually starts the healing process.

  A funeral:

  • assists in taking the first steps in the grief process by reinforcing the reality of death
  • offers an opportunity to express feelings of grief
  • encourages sharing of memories that celebrate and validate the life of the deceased
  • provides support from friends and family and acknowledges the loss within the community
  • creates a forum to share spiritual values and beliefs
  • allows mourners a structured activity or “something to do” during a disorienting time
  • serves as a rite of passage and important social ritual

  “As a rite of passage, the funeral assists you in recognizing the passing of your loved one, supporting you as you start your life without the deceased, and reintegrating you back into the social group as a person whose loved one is no longer alive.”
  ~Therese A. Rando, Ph.D.

  When a loved one dies, the first reaction for many people is to want to move through things as quickly as possible, to avoid any additional pain or discomfort. Often, they believe that not having a funeral will shelter themselves and their family from more pain. Nothing could be further from the truth. A funeral or memorial service acts as a catalyst for the grieving process, and without it, family members can feel stuck in the early stages of denial and anger.

  Psychologists and grief counselors agree that funerals can be a healing experience that helps survivors move through their grief. There are many ceremonial ways to honor your loved one, and help you heal. A service can be as elaborate or simple as you desire; please call our staff to learn of all the ways you can help you, your family, and friends to deal with their loss.

  Without a doubt, funerals can be emotionally difficult. However, they provide a remarkable opportunity to receive the gift of memories that others shared with the person who has died. Many families are pleasantly surprised to hear stories from friends and relations about their loved one that they had never heard before. Being surrounded by family and friends and learning how their lives were touched can bring great comfort.

  We at Michigan Memorial Funeral Home invite you to call us today at (734) 783-2646 to explore your funeral and memorial options during a private arrangement conference.

• Personalized Funerals

  We take great care to offer services to those in our community who are seeking more personal ways to express grief and say goodbye to a loved one. We do not seek only to ‘dress up’ the traditional funeral services, but listen closely to our families, and create truly unique, completely personal services for your loved one.

  Some popular ways in which our client families have personalized funerals include:

  • Display arts, crafts, or other personal artifacts that were cherished by the deceased
  • Lead the funeral procession past some of the deceased's favorite spots.
  • Hold the funeral in a favorite spot of the deceased.
  • Playing their favorite songs during the Calling hours or service.
  • Releasing balloons, at the interment, as a celebration of the life and ethereal spirit of the deceased.
  • Presentation of a personalized photo display, digital or video memorial.
  • Family and friends are invited to write letters containing their unspoken thoughts, which are then placed in the casket with the deceased.
  • Online guest books. All comments left by Web site visitors are noted to the funeral register for the family.
  • Live music played at services.
  • Use of a special vehicle, such as our Harley-Davidson Hearse, or our Horse-Drawn Carriage.

  Please contact a staff member to explore the many ways you can personalize the services for your loved one. We can be reached easily by phone, at (734) 783-2646.

To see a copy of our general price list, click here.

• Traditional Funeral

  Many people come to us believing that cremation means that you can’t have a funeral or memorial service. This is simply not true; we can assist you in arranging for a traditional funeral or memorial service, performed either before, or after, the scheduled cremation. Should you and your family wish to have a traditional funeral for your loved one; our staff can make all the arrangements, including:

  • Calling hours or visitation
  • A formal service in a funeral home or church
• Memorial Services

  Where a traditional funeral follows a patterned order of activities, including prayers, eulogies, songs, and in some cases, processionals; a memorial service is less structured by religious or social constraints. Our staff can help you to plan the perfect memorial service for your loved one, including:

  • Non-traditional locations
  • Tribute videos
  • Memory Boards
  • Keepsakes
  • Displays of medals, awards, or other memorabilia
  • Personalized music selection

  As with all of the services we offer, our expert staff will help your family design a truly memorable memorial service that reflects the life of your loved one.

  Additionally, we will work with your family to plan a suitable service that suits your budget. After all, we believe that you shouldn't have to pay a fortune to celebrate the treasured life of your loved one.

  To learn more about the wide variety of memorial service options we offer, give us a call or stop by one of our locations. One of our caring staff members will guide you through the array of memorial services we offer and help you plan a truly distinctive service for your loved one.

• Direct Cremations

  Often, the family elects to take their loved one directly to the crematory, without a funeral or memorial service. It is our intention that you or your loved one receives the services you desire – no more, and no less. Should direct cremation be your choice, our staff will provide you with a suitable cremation container, and assist you in taking your loved one to the crematory. Should you desire an informal, heart-driven ceremony at the crematory for your immediate family, we will be honored to facilitate this decision.

To see a copy of our general price list, click here.

• Caskets
• Vaults

  Call our experts for assistance at (734) 783-2646

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  A burial vault is a sturdy box designed to protect the casket inside of it. Vaults are made of concrete, plastic or metal. In many cases, cemeteries require a vault to keep the ground over grave sites from sinking, giving the ground a neat and even appearance. Our staff can help you select both a casket and a suitable vault.

• Urns
• Personalized Memorial Merchandise

To see a copy of our general price list, click here.

• Veterans Services/Military Funerals

  We are deeply dedicated to serve the Veterans in our community. Our staff realizes the importance of military service – and the necessity to honor the personal commitment of Veterans.

  All Veterans’ families will be relieved of the burden of completing and filing all the necessary paperwork to receive Veteran’s benefits. Our staff will obtain the flag to drape the casket, the grave marker, and arrange military honors at burial in the cemetery of your choice; including burial at the local national cemetery should that be the desire of the family. We will also assist you in processing the paperwork for the military burial at sea option. For further information on our dedicated service to Veterans and their families, please click here.

  All veterans qualify for military funeral honors and many veteran benefits, regardless of their rank or the place of burial.

  The following groups are also eligible for military honors:

  • Military members on active duty or in the Selected Reserve.
  • Former military members who served on active duty and departed under conditions other than dishonorable.
  • Former military members who completed at least one term of enlistment or a period of initial obligated service in the Selected Reserve, and who departed under conditions other than dishonorable.
  • Former military members discharged from the Selected Reserve due to a disability incurred or aggravated in the line of duty.
• Personalized Complete Care

  Those who serve in the military may be eligible for special funeral and burial benefits because of their honorable service. Our staff is experienced in completing the necessary paperwork involved, and gladly takes the responsibility to do so – relieving the family of this burdensome task.

  We at Michigan Memorial Funeral Home are completely committed to providing families of the veterans in our community with unsurpassed service.

• Specialized Veterans’ Services and Merchandise

  Our Veterans are honored by the local VFW Memorial Squad, and an honor guard, specially trained in the military rites and procedure. We use both the local VFW Memorial squad and an honor guard from the local arsenal that is specially trained in funeral procedure.

  • Flag holders
  • Military emblems on caskets and vaults
  • Printed prayer cards, memorial folders, obituary bookmarks, and Register books, all displaying the proper military insignia
• FAQ for Veterans and their Families
  • What is included in Veteran’s burial benefits?

    Burial benefits available include:

    • A gravesite in any of the 125 national cemeteries with available space
    • Opening and closing of the grave
    • Perpetual care
    • A Government headstone or marker
    • A burial flag
    • A Presidential Memorial Certificate

    All are at no cost to the family.

    Some veterans may also be eligible for Burial Allowances. Cremated remains are buried or inurned in national cemeteries in the same manner and with the same honors as casketed remains.

    The VA suggests that if burial will be in a private cemetery and a Government headstone or marker will be requested for the veteran’s grave, that the family apply for one in advance so that the application can be placed with the veterans military discharge papers for use at the time of need.

    Gravesites in Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) national cemeteries cannot be reserved in advance; however, reservations made prior to 1962 will be honored. Families are encouraged to prepare in advance by discussing cemetery options, collecting the veteran’s military information including discharge papers, and by contacting the cemetery where burial is desired.

  • Are Veteran’s dependents eligible for burial benefits?

    Burial benefits available for spouses and dependents buried in a national cemetery include burial with the veteran, perpetual care, and the spouse or dependents name and date of birth and death will be inscribed on the veteran’s headstone, at no cost to the family. Eligible spouses and dependents may be buried, even if they predecease the veteran.

  • How do I arrange for Military Funeral Honors?

    Upon the family's request, the law requires that every eligible veteran receive a military funeral honors ceremony to include folding and presenting the United States burial flag and the playing of Taps. The law defines a military funeral honors detail as consisting of two or more uniformed military persons with at least one a member of the veteran's parent service of the Armed Forces.

    All you need to do is inform the funeral director of your wishes, as it is our responsibility to request military funeral honors on behalf of the veterans' family. Please be aware that local Veterans’ organizations may assist in the provision of military funeral honors at local cemeteries. When military funeral honors at a national cemetery are desired, they are arranged prior to the committal service by the funeral home.

  • What kind of headstone will the Government provide?

    The VA furnishes upon request, at no charge to the applicant, a Government headstone or marker for the grave of any deceased eligible veteran in any cemetery around the world.

    Flat markers in granite, marble, and bronze, and upright headstones in granite and marble are available. The style chosen must be consistent with existing monuments at the place of burial. Niche markers are also available to mark columbaria used for inurnment of cremated remains

  • What is the Presidential Memorial Certificate?

    A Presidential Memorial Certificate is an engraved paper certificate, signed by the current President, to honor the memory of honorably discharged deceased veterans.

    It is given as an expression of the country’s grateful recognition of the veteran’s service in the United States Armed Forces.

    Eligible recipients include the deceased veteran’s next of kin and loved ones, and more than one certificate may be provided. Our staff will assist you in the completion of the required paperwork.

  • How can I be buried at sea?

    Burial at Sea is a means of final disposition of remains that is performed on United States Navy vessels. The committal ceremony is performed while the ship is deployed. Therefore, family members are not allowed to be present. The commanding officer of the ship assigned to perform the ceremony will notify the family of the date, time, and, longitude and latitude once the committal service has been completed.

    Should you desire a burial at sea, our staff will prepare the required paperwork. Please call us today, at (734) 783-2646 to begin the arrangement process.

• Nationwide and International Services

  If your loved one dies far from home, we will help you return their body to you. And, should you wish a loved one returned to their birthplace, or to another location for interment or entombment, we can make all the arrangements for you. Call us to discuss your needs.

• Tribute Videos

  Our Life Tributes program offers a customized and animated video and a dedicated website honoring your loved one’s life. Each part of the Life Tributes program uses photos of your loved one combined with one of our various themes to create a memorial DVD that is yours to keep. This can be shown at the viewing or at a funeral service and can be viewed online.

• Personalized Register Books

  Families have a choice of several Register Books that provide a place for visitors to sign in at services. The books are personalized for each individual with a memory page and a page for a family record. Funeral service and burial place information are also recorded in the Register Book.

• Memorial Folders

  We create folders to distribute to friends and family at services or to include in thank you notes. These folders contain a verse chosen by the family along with information about the loved one. A photo of the loved one may be included in the folders.

• Prayer Cards

  Prayer Cards are personalized with birth and death information about your loved one. A verse, chosen by the family, is printed on the cards. These are handed out at services and many families choose to have extra cards printed to give to those who may not have been able to attend services.

• Thank You Notes

  Thank you notes or acknowledgement cards are personalized for our families. There is a large choice of designs for the note cards and the cards contain a message that is chosen by the family. We are able to make these note cards available to the family long after the service is over.

• Keepsake Tributes

  Various Keepsake Urns and jewelry are available for families who wish to memorialize portions of cremated remains.

• Personalized Bookmarks

  Laminated bookmarks with copies of the obituary are created for our families.

• Balloon Release

  We can arrange for balloons to be released at the interment to celebrate the life and spirit of your loved one.

• Live Musicians

  Arrangements can be made to have local musicians perform during services at church, funeral home and cemetery. Most familiar songs can be requested.

To see a copy of our general price list, click here.