09/16/2025
Gentle truths about funerals from Gillette Memorial Chapel and Walker Funeral Home
Grief meets us all. Funerals are not obstacles to feeling; they are gatherings that hold space so grief can be witnessed, honored, and transformed. Below are common misconceptions and the loving truths we hold as funeral professionals.
Funerals are too expensive
We believe dignity should never be out of reach. Funerals can be planned across a wide range of budgets. We offer transparent pricing, flexible options, and guidance to find meaningful choices that honor your loved one without causing financial strain.
Funerals make us too sad
Funerals give sadness a place to breathe so it does not linger unspoken. They are safe containers where memory, laughter, silence, and tears are all allowed. Leaving emotion untouched often makes it harder to heal; gatherings can begin that healing.
Funerals are barbaric
Funerals are rituals of care and respect. Across cultures and time humans have marked transition with ceremonies that soothe the living and honor the dead. Those rituals are acts of tenderness, not cruelty.
Funerals are inconvenient
Planning a funeral can feel overwhelming in a busy life, so we make it as simple and supportive as possible. We handle logistics, offer planning tools and timing options, and work with families to meet needs without adding needless burden.
Funerals and cremation are mutually exclusive
Cremation is a choice about disposition, not about ceremony. You can have a full funeral or memorial service with cremation just as you can with burial. Ceremony and cremation can be combined in ways that reflect identity, faith, and wishes.
Funerals require the body to be embalmed
Not in all circumstances. We’re more than happy to discuss what options are available, specific to each individual situation.
Funerals are only for religious people
Funerals are for anyone who needs to remember, release, and connect. Secular, spiritual, humanist, cultural, and religious services alike can all give meaning. Ceremony is about community and love, not a single creed.
Funerals are rote and meaningless
A service only becomes rote if we let it. Meaning comes from stories, personal touches, and intention. We work with families to create ceremonies that reflect a person’s voice, values, humor, music, and life so the service feels alive and true.
Funerals should reflect what the dead person wanted
Honoring the wishes of the person who died is a powerful act of love. When wishes are known, we help realize them. When they are unknown, we help families choose elements that feel most faithful to the person’s spirit.
Funerals are only for grown-ups
Children mourn and they need guidance, care, and space to grieve. Services can and should include age-appropriate explanations and roles for children, helping them feel seen and supported rather than excluded.
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We are here to listen, to guide, and to create ceremonies that comfort and celebrate. If you have questions or want to talk through options, reach out to Gillette Memorial Chapel or Walker Funeral Home. We will walk beside you with compassion and clarity.