Personalized Gatherings

Concierge Services

Family members coming in from out of town? Coordinating all the details of a funeral and family gathering can be challenging. We can help open the doors for you with help arranging lodging, banquets, transportation or meeting facilities. We’re here to help you during this difficult time.

Where can we have our service?

The bagpipe can be played in any combination of the following:

• The Church, piping into and out of the church or as part of the service.
• The Cemetery, processing to the grave or chapel and after the ceremony as a salute.
• The Funeral Home, leading the deceased out or as a salute at the visitation.
• Memorial Service, at the funeral home, church, cemetery or a location of your choosing.

Suggested songs include: Amazing Grace, O’ Danny Boy and When Irish Eyes are Smiling.

Families who are grieving over the loss of their loved ones entertain, in their own hearts, a multitude of feelings good and sad, calling to mind not only the immediate grief of loss but also a nostalgic remembrance of good times shared together. In our daily lives many of us are brought together by music; a favorite song perhaps; a music style that reminds us of home and family; religious songs that help lift our hearts and minds to spiritual acceptance in a faith-filled celebration. Some of the ways that music can help create a funeral ceremony that will be meaningful to you; your family and your friends include using musicians such as bagpiper, harpist, organist or soloist. Cress Funeral Service can help you plan for any type of music or performance during the visitation, service or memorial celebration.

Each life tells a story in pictures and in music. As we remember the laughter, tears, joy and pain we pay tribute to those we have lost. Video Tribute’s are a collection of pictures that fade in and out, rollover and blend together through a sequence. Video Tribute’s turn static photos into a life tribute and allow families and friends to take a journey through the life of someone they loved. Video Tribute’s also enhance the traditional services and visitations. DVD copies of the video tribute can be a lasting memory and help significantly in the grieving process.

The rituals, reunions and special moments that take place during a service can be recorded and shared with those unable to attend. Consider asking Cress to help with this. We can arrange for professional photographers and videographers along with the necessary equipment to share your special tribute at a later date.

A funeral procession can be a tribute to, an expression of the life that was lived. With planning, processions could include a motorcycle or bicycle escort, tractors, fire trucks or even a marching band. At Cress Funeral Service, we are committed to working with you to make your procession meaningful to you and those participating in the service.

At Cress Funeral Service we believe that the “paying of final respect” should be as unique and memorable as the lives we seek to honor. The horse-drawn hearse creates a stately atmosphere and a pace that encourages meaningful reflection prior to the farewell service. Your Cress Funeral Director can help you make the necessary contacts and complete planning to incorporate this into your service.

Caskets in varying price ranges are now available, with designs that provide deep associations with the life you are commemorating. Interior panels may contain photographs, paintings or needlework that represent the things important to the person who has died. The hardware and other accents, too, can represent various themes such as the life of an outdoors person, a military veteran or a wife and mother. Personalized caskets and vaults are available in many price ranges, fabrications and colors. Engravings or artwork on an urn might depict outdoor scenes, religious imagery and other images of the person’s occupation, hobbies or interests.

Firework Displays provides memories filled with beautiful images you will cherish for a lifetime. Each of the services is built around a choreographed fireworks display. Fired into the sky as a part of the service, the cremains are scattered within the brilliant colors and patterns of the fireworks. This is a true celebration of a loved one’s life.

At the end of a graveside service, family members release the doves from decorated baskets. The flock ascends into the sky and circles the area awaiting the spirit of the loved one to join them. Moments later, a single white dove, representing your loved ones spirit, is then released by a family member. The spirit dove joins the flock of “Angels” and all together they make the spiritual flight home.

Thumbies are a lasting memento. They are unique to the loved one who has passed away. Thumbies are a fingerprint for an adult or a hand or footprint for a child. The print is then kast into a precious metal, sterling silver or gold, and can be attached to a chain as a pendant or made into a key chain, cufflinks or tie tacks. Thumbies can also have a .05-carat birthstone added to them or even a genuine diamond. Thumbies can be purchased as a remembrance or given as a gift. They can be engraved with up to two lines of script or a third line can be added for an additional fee.