Gilman & Valade helps people pay tribute to their loved ones

Sep. 26—Gilman & Valade offers a wide variety of services to help people pay tribute to their loved ones.

The business operates Gilman Funeral Home in Putnam, the Valade Funeral Home in North Grosvenordale and the Park Tribute Center in Putnam, Windham County's only crematorium.

Gilman & Valade also operates the Griswold Funeral Home in Jewett City and the Dougherty Brothers Funeral Home in Plainfield.

The use of the crematorium is only available to clients of the funeral homes operated by Gilman & Valade.

" We only serve our own clients," Owner and Funeral Director for Gilman & Valade Robert Fournier, Jr. said regarding the crematorium. " We don't take any outside cases."

Gilman & Valade staff members help people pay tribute to their loved ones properly.

" Planning a funeral is one of life's most difficult challenges," Fournier said. " We're your personal guide to funeral arrangements regardless of whether you choose burial or cremation."

The funeral home and crematory helps family's customize a funeral service to memorialize their loved ones. Burials include calling hours in the evening and a ceremony at a church or funeral home the following day. Burials can also be held in the cemetery of the bereaved family's choice.

According to Gilman & Valade's website, a common misconception is that cremation limits choice, however, they contend that it actually increases choices.

Gilman & Valade offer a traditional cremation ceremony that includes calling hours in the evening with the deceased present, followed by taking the casket into church the following day. This option includes cremation after the services are over. Gilman & Valade also offers a simple cremation that includes having a loved one cremated and returning the cremated remains to the family without any services.

In addition to those two cremation options, Gilman & Valade offers several other choices for a service. Bereaving families can either have services with their loved one's body present and then have cremation afterwards, or they can have services with the urn.

" Our goal is to give you as many options as we can in order to make your farewell as meaningful and honorable to your loved one as possible," reads a statement on the Gilman & Valade website.

Gilman & Valade also helps people plan their funerals before they pass away. This allows for them to plan their funeral as they see fit. Gilman & Valade offers this service at no cost to people.

The business underscored the importance of letting people plan their funeral prior to their death.

" During our lives we plan for many situations: education, having a family, vacations, weddings, and especially our retirement; however, many neglect to plan their funeral as it is a realization of our own mortality," Gilman & Valade writes. " Since we purchase insurance to help us in situations that may happen, such as accidents, earthquakes, fire, floods, and theft, we should also consider the pre- planning of our funeral service as it not only lets our survivors know what our wishes are, but it can also prevent financial hardship."

The personalization services offered by Gilman & Valade are unmatched.

The business assists patrons in personalizing their memorial service. They help tailor it to the lifestyle and personality of the life that was lived.

" As no two people are alike, no two funerals should be exactly alike," Gilman & Valade writes.

The knowledge and experience of the Gilman & Valade staff helps guide family's in creating a memorial tribute, whether it be by playing a favorite song on their PA system, displaying memorabilia or having a bagpiper.

If provided with at least 20 photographs, Gilman & Valade creates a Tribute DVD of the deceased person, something that the bereaved family can enjoy for years to come.

Gilman & Valade employees spend ample time and energy helping people plan all facets of a funeral service.

" Our staff provides expert personal assistance with many details, from making reservations at local restaurants and hotels, to arranging for catering, floral arrangements, cemetery memorials, airline and car rental reservations, and numerous other funeral related requests," Gilman & Valade writes.