When someone you know dies, you should do all that you can to rearrange your schedule so that you can attend the visitation or funeral—or, ideally, both. In some situations, however, you won’t be able to visit the funeral home for these events. Perhaps you’re away on business or have scheduled a vacation for which you’ve already paid a deposit. It’s not the end of the world if you have a legitimate reason that you can’t make it to the funeral home, but there are some steps that you should take to show the grieving family members that your thoughts are with them as they mourn.…
Choosing between burial and cremation is one of the funeral-related decisions that you may spend the most time debating with yourself. There are a number of advantages to each approach, which can make it a challenge to decide. Additionally, family members may be attempting to influence your decision based on their preferences. It can be helpful to truly think about yourself during this process, as you might be a certain type of person for which cremation simply makes sense.…
When someone passes away in their youth, there is understandably an outpouring of love and compassion for the grieving family. However, when someone dies in their old age, sometimes the support is not as clear and pronounced. When you’re attending the funeral for an elderly person who has passed away, it’s important to avoid making these common mistakes that can make the bereaved family members feel worse.
Stop! Don’t Avoid the Friends of the Deceased…
When pre-planning your funeral, you have a lot of choices to make. One of those choices is whether to be buried or cremated. Cremation is an option that works for some people, but not all, so you’ll want to know more about this option before you make a decision. Here are just some things to keep in mind to help guide you in the decision-making process.
You Can Still Have An Open-Casket Viewing…
Planning your final wishes can be a very sobering experience. You realize your own mortality and come to terms with the fact that you need to make arrangements for how your remains will be handled. Although you may know a number of people who opted for a traditional burial, cremation may be the better choice for you. Learning more about the benefits of cremation can help you see why it’s the perfect selection for your final plans.…
If you are planning on a burial at sea, be aware that there is some red-tape due primarily to the maritime laws that govern what may and what may not be put in the ocean. Talk with your funeral director regarding the logistics of an ocean interment and to be sure to stay within the confines of maritime law.
Some things to know about an ocean burial include:
Plan on heading three miles offshore.…
After a loved one has passed away, you may have to take on a wide variety of responsibilities that you would never choose for yourself. When that includes planning the funeral and burial of the loved one, you may then have to handle such delicate things as turning down suggestions about what to include on the headstone. When a family member makes a well-meaning request that you cannot honor, here are some ways that you can sensitively turn them down.…
As you approach your later years and begin thinking about your will, you might also begin to wonder about having a funeral. While many people wish to be remembered in this manner, others forgo having a funeral service entirely. It’s easy to think about not having a funeral because you feel that attending your service would be a hassle for people. If you’re leaning toward not having any type of event in your honor, it’s useful to understand some reasons that you may wish to reconsider.…
When you make the decision to preplan your funeral, a big advantage to doing so is that you can ensure that every element of the service is in alignment with your values. If you’re someone who has made sure to be environmentally responsible throughout your life, it makes sense to ensure that your funeral service follows by “green” principles. You should talk to the funeral home director about the green elements of cremation, as there are many to consider.…
Although losing a loved one can be completely overwhelming and seemingly impossible to handle, many modern places of work allow only a few days at best for bereavement. To make a living, some feel obligated to continue with life and get back to work the day after the funeral. If you are taken aback by the fast pace that grief is required to exist within, you are not alone. Here are some ways that you can handle the pain and function within the midst of your grief.…
