Traditional Funeral Services
We believe every family deserves compassionate guidance and meaningful service options that reflect their loved one's life while respecting their wishes and budget. Parsels Funeral Home proudly serves families throughout Absecon, Galloway Township, Smithville, Oceanville, Egg Harbor Township, Pleasantville and the surrounding Atlantic County communities.
Planning a Traditional Funeral

A funeral home does much more than coordinate a service. We guide your family through every step of the planning process with care, compassion, and clear communication. From your first call through the final burial or cremation arrangements, our experienced team helps make each decision feel manageable so you can focus on honoring your loved one.
Depending on your family's wishes, we can assist with:
• Funeral and burial arrangements, including cemetery coordination
• Cremation arrangements when preferred
• Visitations, funeral services, and graveside ceremonies
• Personalized touches such as music, readings, tribute videos, memory displays, and other meaningful elements
Getting Started
Whether you're making arrangements unexpectedly or planning ahead, we begin by listening. We'll discuss your family's wishes, timeline, traditions, and preferences before guiding you through each decision.
We'll help you choose:
• The type of service that best honors your loved one
• Visitation and service arrangements
• Burial or cremation options
• Personalized memorial elements
• The location for the service, whether in our chapel, a church, cemetery, or another meaningful location.
Planning Ahead
Planning ahead can provide peace of mind for both you and your family. Pre-planning allows you to document your wishes, review available options, better understand costs, and reduce future stress for those you love.
Visitation
This time allows family and friends to gather, share memories, and support one another. We can personalize the visitation with tribute videos, photographs, keepsakes, and meaningful displays that celebrate your loved one's life.
Funeral Service
A funeral service brings family and friends together to honor, remember, and celebrate a loved one's life. Services may be held in our chapel, a church, or another meaningful location.
If your family prefers not to have clergy officiate, we can discuss options for a personalized and respectful service that reflects your loved one's life and values.
What to Expect During a Funeral Service
While every service is unique, many traditional funeral services include a welcome, personal tributes, music, readings or scripture, a eulogy, closing remarks, and a transition to burial or cremation. Our team coordinates every detail so families can focus on remembering their loved one rather than managing logistics.
Funeral Service vs. Memorial Service

A traditional funeral service is typically held with the body present before burial or cremation. A memorial service is generally held after burial or cremation and focuses on celebrating and remembering a loved one's life. If you're unsure which option is right for your family, we'll help you understand the differences and make the decision that's best for your situation.
Graveside Service
A graveside service offers family and friends an opportunity to gather at the cemetery for final words, prayers, and remembrance. Whether you prefer a simple gathering or a more formal ceremony, we'll coordinate every detail with the cemetery to ensure the service is respectful and meaningful.
Graveside Service Etiquette

Helpful recommendations include arriving a few minutes early, dressing respectfully, silencing your phone, following the family's lead, and bringing any notes or tribute items if you've been invited to participate. We'll guide families through what to expect so everyone feels prepared and comfortable.
