What best describes the function of a graveside service?

The function of a graveside service is best described as a final tribute at the burial site. This type of service typically takes place at the cemetery where the deceased is interred, allowing friends and family members to gather together in a more intimate setting as they pay their last respects to the deceased. It's a moment that offers closure, where attendees can honor the memory of the individual, share in their grief, and provide support to one another.

At a graveside service, elements such as prayers, readings, and possibly eulogies may occur, but the primary focus remains on the act of commemorating the person's life in the very place where they will be laid to rest. This contrast with other options, such as a ceremony held prior to cremation, which pertains to a different stage in the funeral process, or a gathering for memorial speeches, which may not necessarily have a physical connection to the gravesite. Ordinary visitation hours, while they allow people to pay their respects, do not convey the specific significance and intimacy of a graveside service.