Some people choose to bury the deceased in a ship-shaped coffin, while others build a replica of a Viking ship and set it on fire. The ship can also be filled with belongings of the deceased or items that are important to them. The idea behind a Viking funeral is that the person's spirit will sail to Valhalla in the afterlife." } },{ "@type": "Question", "name": "Where are Viking funerals legal in the US?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "There is no definitive answer to this question as it would depend on the specific laws of the municipality in which the Viking funeral was ta ..read more

Buried in a Viking Ship? The Oseberg ship was the burial vessel for a Viking Queen. A quiet fog swirls around the head piece on the bow of a Viking longship. Nestled between the gunwales lies a person dressed in full Viking dress. Friends and family dressed in their Viking regalia pass by paying their respects and placing artifacts in the casket with their friend. A scene from 800 a.d.? No this can be a scene from 2024. The ship, a scale model of a Viking longship is a casket designed to fit modern burial or cremation requirements. A Viking Ship Casket? It is a new age nod to the lore of Vik ..read more

Losing a loved one is undoubtedly one of life’s most challenging experiences. During such a difficult time, it’s essential to choose the right funeral home to ensure a meaningful and respectful farewell. When it comes to making this crucial decision, you’ll often find yourself at a crossroads: should you take a Do It Yourself ( DIY) approach or trust the professionals with a personal touch? Let’s delve into the considerations for both options to help you make an informed choice. DIY Funerals: A Personal Endeavor For some, a DIY funeral might seem like a way to express a person’s love and respe ..read more

Ask the Funeral Director Dear FD, I saw a lot of buzz on Facebook about fighter jets in the area over the weekend.  Where those part of the memorial service for Francis Flaherty? Ensign Francis Flaherty was finally returned home last week for burial nearly 80 years after he perished saving lives aboard the USS Oklahoma during the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.  Although a funeral ceremony was held in Battle Creek in 1941, the committal ceremony at Maple Hill was finally able to happen on Saturday, August 21, 2021. Flaherty, 22 at the time of the attack, lost his life whi ..read more

Dear Friends and Community Members, We are grateful for your presence along the Frontier Days Parade route to see our exhibit of “100 year of Hearses,” an event sponsored by Pray Funeral Home as part of our Centennial festivities.   It was an exhibit that continued at the American Legion Car Show following the parade.  The exhibit showed the deep appreciation for the role hearses have played in our community, and our company’s story over the last 100 years.  Your attendance made this event even more special, and we can’t thank you, the community enough f ..read more

An exhibit  in honor of the Pray Funeral Home’s Centennial Celebration The Funeral Coach, or as most people refer to it the Hearse,  has been the proper conveyance of the dead for centuries. Since the turn of the century the motorized coach has been built by specialty manufacturers, most of them building only coaches, limousines, and ambulances. In recognition of Pray Funeral Home’s Centennial year we are assembling a number of antique hearses from around the state of Michigan to participate in the Charlotte Frontier Days Parade September 9 at 9:00 am through downtown Charlotte.  ..read more

Some people choose to bury the deceased in a ship-shaped coffin, while others build a replica of a Viking ship and set it on fire. The ship can also be filled with belongings of the deceased or items that are important to them. The idea behind a Viking funeral is that the person's spirit will sail to Valhalla in the afterlife." } },{ "@type": "Question", "name": "Where are Viking funerals legal in the US?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "There is no definitive answer to this question as it would depend on the specific laws of the municipality in which the Viking funeral was ta ..read more

Ask the Funeral Director Dear FD, We don’t attend church or have a strong relationship with a minister.  Who would officiate my funeral? Anyone can “officiate” a funeral or memorial service. Certainly, ministers are professional and experienced in leading a meaningful service, and for this reason are usually chosen by families to preside. However, there are many families who have no idea where to turn when considering the right person to lead the funeral.  There are several options.  In many cases, there is a family friend or colleague who knows the family and deceased well, and ..read more

Ask the Funeral Director Dear FD, I am doing a project for my college English course. I would like to know what is legally required for the care of & disposition of a deceased person? Also, what is the history of embalming? Legally, the State of Michigan recognizes several legal forms of disposition:  Burial, Cremation, Entombment, Donation, Removal (from the state), Storage, and “Other.” Typically, we are dealing with either burial or cremation, sometimes donation (to a university). Embalming is done in any case where disposition will be done 48 hours or more after death.  In so ..read more

Ask the Funeral Director Dear FD, Do you do more cremations or burials these days? The cremation rate in our community, as like the rest of the country and world, has risen significantly in the last 30 years. What at first in the 1970s seemed like a “fad,” is now the most commonplace form of disposition in the country. In Eaton County, our cremation rate is slightly higher than 50%, meaning that about half of the families we serve opt for cremation over burial. Of these cremation services, many times the deceased is embalmed (thus present) for visitation and funeral services and cremated after ..read more