The Value of a Funeral

The ceremonies we observe when a loved one dies accomplish several important purposes, not only for the immediate family but for the entire community of friends and associates. The following sections have been written for Selected Independent Funeral Homes by Dr. William G. Hoy to help provide a greater understanding of the significant role funeral ceremonies play in our lives.

• The Role of Ceremonies in Bereavement
• Six Characteristics of Helpful Ceremonies
• What Clinical Scholars Say About Funerals

William G. Hoy, DMin, FT is the director of Texas-based Grief Connect, a center for bereavement education. As an educator, author and counselor, he has walked alongside grieving people for more than 25 years. In addition to presenting more than 70 invited lectures each year to groups of caregiving professionals across the United States and Canada, Dr. Hoy teaches in the Medical Humanities Program, College of Arts and Sciences at Baylor University.