Losing a loved one can bring about an onslaught of new expenses for a funeral and burial at a time when the last thing you want to think about is finances. As the family member of a veteran, you should know that the same expenses may not always apply when you are making arrangements. In fact, veterans often qualify for extensive benefits after they pass away to help cover the costs of the funeral.…
Read More »When you are pre-planning your final arrangements or making accommodations for a loved one that has passed, you will need to select a spot for interment. Many people may have family plots in cemeteries where they plan to have their remains laid to rest; others may elect a green approach, opting for cremation and a scattering of their ashes. Another option exists, which is to be interred above ground, in lots, tombs, or a mausoleum.…
Read More »Planning your own cremation service with the help of a funeral home director can be a great act of love for your family. Mourners often struggle to make important decisions in the aftermath of losing a loved one, so making difficult choices for them can take a huge weight off their shoulders during this challenging time. The reality of planning a cremation service is more involved than many people realize at first, but there are some ways that you can make the process easier for yourself and ultimately more beneficial to your loved ones.…
Read More »Losing a loved one is never easy, but it can be even more difficult if your loved one passes away during the holiday season. If you find yourself having to make funeral arrangements during the holidays, there are a few things you can do to make the services a little more comforting and thoughtful. Here are just a few things to consider. Plan A Family Meal Unfortunately, funerals are sometimes the only occasions when family from all over the country will be able to gather together in one place.…
Read More »When a person dies, someone has to make the funeral arrangements. Sometimes the decedent will name this person in his or her will along with instructions on how he or she wants to be interred. What happens when there is no will or directive, though? Here is how to determine who has the legal right to make decisions about a decedent’s funeral arrangements and what to do if there is a dispute.…
Read More »For many decades, obituaries were composed with the intention of being placed in a newspaper that would have a limited run of a day. They were not written with the intention of being available for other people to see forever online. The modern obituary needs to be written by a loved one who is aware that readers may be strangers who come across it years from now. With that in mind, there are things that you should never include in an online obituary, even as a joke.…
Read More »Leave something behind to honor your loved one when visiting their resting place. There are some signs of significance that you can leave at a grave or interment site that pays homage to the deceased, and that has an underlying meaning. Some memorials for your loved one’s resting place are: A cairn. After flowers, stones and rocks are the most popular items left on gravesites. This stems from Jewish tradition and leaving rocks behind on graves is believed to help keep the soul down after burial.…
Read More »Planning a funeral can mean more than selecting the prayers and hymns, inviting a minister to lead the service, and selecting a casket for your loved one. There are many ways you can cherish your loved one’s memory during the funeral and after. Here are just a few unique ways you can add a personal touch to your loved one’s funeral while honoring his or her legacy. Create A Family Cookbook…
Read More »When you are faced with the death of a loved one, the pain can be overwhelming, and it can seem unfair that this is the time when you are called to make a variety of decisions about the person’s burial, headstone marker, and funeral. Memorial grave markers can seem like the most intimidating part of the process, since you know that this will be a visible, permanent way of memorializing the deceased person.…
Read More »The opening remarks of a funeral set the tone for the entire memorial service. They can soothe at least a bit of the pain of fellow mourners and draw people’s attention towards the celebration of a life well lived. Here are some of the essential things that you should include within the opening remarks of the funeral. Consider Prioritizing the Feelings of Mourners It is said that people never forget how you make them feel even after the other details of a memory fade.…
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