While funerals, burial ceremonies and other DeathCare related services are carried out to honor and show respect for the deceased, Survivors and Pre-planners are the primary beneficiaries of these services. Most feel that funerals and other ceremonies are primarily "for the comforting of those attending" rather than to "honor and show respect for the deceased."

Self-Worth/Dignity and Family/Friendship are two dominant values affecting American attitudes toward funeral and burial ceremonies. These two values are triggered by distinct sets of attributes and consequences.

Survivors benefit most from DeathCare providers and services which are oriented to build individual Self-Worth/Dignity. Some of these elements can be identified as:

Memories, Religion, and the Eulogy (attributes) cause Grief, Comfort, and Relief (consequences) which collectively might be referred to as Coping.

Eternal Life/Belief in God, Love, Peace of Mind, and Self Worth/Dignity are the deep motivations or values triggered by Coping -- with Self Worth/Dignity as the most powerful and dominant.

While the survivors are the primary beneficiaries of funeral and other DeathCare services, it should be recognized that the personal satisfaction or their feeling of dignity or self-worth is based largely on the degree to which they feel that they have successfully been able to incorporate the values and wishes of the deceased into the ceremonies.

The Family/Friendship values emphasizes the social aspects of funeral and burial ceremonies. At the death of a relative or friend, people are motivated to participate because of the deeply held values of family and friendship. Their attendance, gifts, expressions of sympathy, flowers and cards are a show of emotional solidarity and support for the Survivors, but also a reaffirmation of their own values of Family/Friendship.