What to Wear to a Summer Funeral

June 30th, 2020

What to Wear to a Summer Funeral

Dressing for a funeral or memorial service is always difficult because we attach so much meaning to funeral attire. Should you go with all black, or cast tradition aside and wear white? How formal do your funeral clothes need to be to show the right amount of respect? What if you don’t own anything black and cannot afford to buy something new? (more…)

Funeral DIY: Make Your Own Sympathy Basket

February 3rd, 2020

Funeral DIY: Make Your Own Sympathy Basket

When a loved one passes away, one custom is to send the family a floral arrangement or a gift basket as a gesture of sympathy. Funeral flowers are convenient because they make a simple statement and can be sent directly to the funeral home. Sympathy baskets are ideal when you want to send a more practical gift but also want to stick to the tradition. (more…)

Who Should Pay for the Funeral?

September 23rd, 2019

Who Should Pay for the Funeral?

No one can deny that funerals are expensive. When you factor in everything from the burial and gravesite to the memorial service itself, you could be looking at a total cost of anywhere from $2,000 to $10,000. (more…)

The Funeral Planning Timeline: What Happens (and When) after a Death Occurs

September 15th, 2019

Funeral Planning Timeline: What Happens (and When) after a Death Occurs

Although every death is different, most people can expect a fairly standard series of events to follow the passing of a loved one. There are decisions to be made, a funeral to be planned, and finances to arrange. Friends and relatives must be notified, and you’ll need an opportunity to say your final goodbyes. (more…)

Dealing with Sleep Issues following a Loss

September 9th, 2019

Dealing with Sleep Issues following a Loss

Of all the unfair side effects of losing a loved one, disrupted sleep is one of the cruelest. At a time when you need all the emotional and physical rest your body can get, you may find yourself suffering from insomnia, bouts of restlessness, excessive tiredness, or a combination of all three. One of the top pieces of advice for those suffering bereavement is to “get plenty of sleep,” but how do you do that when you cannot fall asleep in the first place? (more…)

Planning an Outdoor Memorial Service

September 3rd, 2019

Planning an Outdoor Memorial Service

Traditionally, funerals are planned as both indoor and outdoor events. The visitation, memorial service, and more formal aspects of the funeral are held indoors in the funeral home or church, where seating is plentiful and weather conditions won’t impact the event. Afterward, the family and invited guests hold a graveside service outside, where the deceased is laid to rest at the cemetery. (more…)

Where to Hold the Funeral Memorial

August 27th, 2019

Where to Hold the Funeral Memorial

Big or small, public or private, catered or pay-your-own-way—there are as many different ways to hold a memorial service as there are types of people. Although most of us hear the term “memorial service” and picture a formal gathering at a funeral home, there are no real rules about how—or where—you can hold one.  (more…)

Map Your Digital Legacy

August 19th, 2019

Map Your Digital Legacy

The more that technology is folded into our lives, the more difficult it becomes to deal with the digital aftermath of death. In the past, it was only necessary to close bank accounts, stop magazine subscriptions, and contact service providers in order to finalize a loved one’s affairs. In recent years, due to the rise of technology, our digital footprint has expanded exponentially. From well-known online providers (Facebook, Twitter) to small accounts at almost every online retail store, you likely have dozens—if not hundreds—of accounts open on the web. (more…)

End of Life Options

August 13th, 2019

End of Life Options

We devote a lot of time to here discussing your funeral options, your burial insurance options, your cremation options, and how to plan the best memorial service. However, the months and weeks leading up to death are even more important. These are the final moments to enjoy what life has to offer; to spend whatever time you have left with those you love and who bring you comfort.  (more…)

How to Involve Children in a Funeral

August 9th, 2019

How to Involve Children in a Funeral

There are many conflicting opinions about children and funerals. Some families feel it is not an appropriate place for young children, especially if the body will be on display or there are disturbing circumstances. Then there are other families who believe that children need the same closure that adults do, and that depriving them of the opportunity to say goodbye is not only wrong—but cruel. (more…)

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