What Do Funeral Services Include?

Steve McCowen • July 10, 2026

Summary 

• Funeral services typically include professional care, planning support, transportation, and a meaningful ceremony to honor a loved one’s life.
• Families in Portage often choose elements such as music, readings, or personal tributes to reflect their loved one’s story.
• According to the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA), funeral services help provide structure, comfort, and a space for remembrance.
• The Funeral Rule, enforced by the Federal Trade Commission, requires funeral homes to clearly outline all available services through an itemized price list, known as the General Price List, ensuring transparency and understanding. 


What Do Funeral Services Include? 

Families in Portage, Michigan, often ask what funeral services typically include and how these elements help honor a loved one’s life. According to the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA), funeral services are designed to offer support, structure, and a meaningful opportunity for remembrance. 

Funeral directors assist with planning, coordinating with clergy or celebrants, and helping families understand their options. They also manage documentation, permits, and communication with cemeteries or crematories. The Funeral Rule, enforced by the Federal Trade Commission, requires funeral homes to clearly outline all available services through an itemized price list, known as the General Price List, ensuring transparency and understanding. 


Funeral services often include a visitation, ceremony, or life celebration that reflects the values, traditions, or faith of the person being honored. The Funeral Consumers Alliance (FCA) emphasizes the importance of these gatherings in helping families and friends share memories and find comfort. 


Many funeral homes also provide transportation from the place of death, use of a hearse or service vehicle, and coordination with cemetery or crematory teams. They help ensure each logistical detail is handled with care so families can focus on remembrance. 


Personalization is at the heart of many services. Families may choose music, readings, photo displays, or other meaningful tributes that reflect the unique life of their loved one. 


Frequently Asked Questions 


What are the main parts of a funeral service? 

A typical funeral service includes professional care, planning support, a visitation or ceremony, transportation, and help with necessary documentation. 


Are funeral services customizable? 

Yes. Families often personalize services with music, readings, photos, or meaningful tributes that reflect their loved one's life. 


What is the role of the funeral director? 

The funeral director provides guidance, coordinates logistics, assists with documentation, and ensures the service reflects the wishes of the family. 

Written for Avink, McCowen, & Secord Funeral Home and Cremation Society, proudly serving families in Portage with compassion and care. 


About Avink, McCowen, & Secord Funeral Home and Cremation Society 

Located at 5975 Lovers Ln, Portage, MI 49002, Avink, McCowen, & Secord Funeral Home and Cremation Society provides professional, compassionate support for families throughout the community. To learn more or speak with a member of their team, call (269) 344-5600. 


www.amsfuneralhomes.com

Since the early 1920s, Avink McCowen Secord Funeral Homes and Cremation Society has had the honor of supporting families through loss. They are proud to serve families throughout Plainwell, Vicksburg, Portage, Schoolcraft, and surrounding communities such as Kalamazoo, Pavilion, Flowerfield, Otsego, Alamo, and more. Their caring and professional funeral directors assist families in the planning of funeral services, burial services, memorial services, and cremation services. To learn more, visit amsfuneralhomes.com.

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