Funeral Planning How-To: Getting Ready to Send Sympathy Flowers

May 22nd, 2013

Funeral Planning How-To: Getting Ready to Send Sympathy FlowersWhen we hear of a loved one passing, one of the first thoughts to spring up is whether or not to send sympathy flowers. For centuries, flowers have been a part of the funeral planning process, providing beauty and comfort to the family in what is obviously a high-stress situation.

However, with so many funeral flower providers and funeral etiquette rules to follow, it can be difficult knowing where to start. Here are a few guidelines for selecting the perfect arrangement and for making sure your flowers arrive on time for the funeral.

When to Send Funeral Flowers

Ideally, you should arrange for the purchase and delivery of funeral flowers as soon as possible—but not so early the flowers arrive before the funeral occurs. The best idea is to wait until the funeral home and date of service have been arranged. Most funeral flower companies can use that information to coordinate the delivery with the funeral director, ensuring that your gift arrives on time to be showcased at the memorial service.

Of course, there is no time limit on this sort of thing. If you live out of town or were away when the death announcement was originally made, you can arrange for a sympathy arrangement to be sent to the family well after the service. In fact, since they may be overwhelmed with flowers immediately after the funeral, this slight delay can provide comfort in the weeks following the death.

Read the rest of this entry »


Cremation Urn Alternatives

May 16th, 2013

Cremation Urn AlternativesFuneral planning traditions exist for a reason—to provide a time-honored and familiar ritual for those who are lost in their bereavement. People derive quite a bit of comfort from familiarity, and even though funerals tend to be somber affairs, they provide a place for people to turn when they need it most.

So what do you do when it’s not tradition that brings you joy? What funeral options are available to you if you’d rather not perform the same rituals being done all over the world?

Read the rest of this entry »


Planning an Outdoor Memorial Service

May 14th, 2013

Planning an Outdoor Memorial ServiceThe majority of funeral and memorial services are held indoors. Although many people opt to include an outdoor gravesite service in addition to a more formal indoor event, the most traditional funeral planning option is to hold a memorial service in a church, funeral home, or private home. This indoor environment means that it’s easy to control the temperature, ensure that any audio-visual equipment is protected from the elements, and know that everyone will be comfortable as they prepare to say their farewells.

Because death occurs rain or shine, getting outdoors to enjoy a memorial service under the sun might seem like a challenge. However, with the right kind of planning, you can hold a memorial service outside and enjoy a different, more natural kind of funeral.

Read the rest of this entry »


Anniversary Memorial Services

May 9th, 2013

Anniversary Memorial ServicesThe average American puts quite a bit of time and expense into funeral planning, usually to the tune of about one week and $10,000. And for the most part, this is considered well-spent. After all, we constantly hear about how this is the last chance to say farewell and a reason to gather the entire family together at one time—even if it is with a somber note to the event.

Of course, that doesn’t mean the commemoration of a loved one’s life has to stop the day after the funeral takes place. A growing trend in the death care community is to follow up on a funeral one, two, three, or even ten years later with an anniversary memorial service.

What is an Anniversary Memorial Service?

Read the rest of this entry »


What You Should Know about Funeral Makeup

May 7th, 2013

What You Should Know about Funeral MakeupWhen you opt for a body viewing or an open casket during funeral planning, there is quite a bit of preparation that has to go in to making the body of the deceased presentable. In addition to techniques like embalming, it is the job of a funeral makeup artist to provide a serene, lifelike pallor to the deceased’s face and hands.

Most people accept funeral makeup as part of the funeral planning process, and one of the many items you’ll be asked to bring (in addition to the clothes you wish the deceased to be buried in as well as jewelry and other personal effects for display) is a photograph of the deceased that depicts her favored type of makeup. In some cases, you may even bring in the actual makeup, since it can be used to recreate the deceased’s normal appearance.

Read the rest of this entry »


What Type of Sympathy Flower Display Should I Send?

April 23rd, 2013

Should You Buy Artificial Funeral Flowers?Once you’ve decided that you’d like to send funeral flowers to commemorate the passing of a loved one, you’ll need to decide what type of spray or arrangement to choose. In addition to individual flower meaning, it’s important to consider the uses and types of each type of bouquet. Some are designed to be placed on the casket (and are usually purchased by the family), while others are meant to stand around the casket during a memorial service. Depending on the type of service being held, you may find several types that suit your purpose.

Read the rest of this entry »


Planting Flowers at a Grave

April 18th, 2013

Planting Flowers at a GraveThese days, most cemeteries have strict regulations regarding what types of flowers you can put on a grave and how long they can remain before being removed. This is done not to inconvenience families, but to ensure that the grounds remain beautiful for all the visitors stopping by.

Although it is much more common to find artificial flowers and wreaths at a gravesite than it is too see an actual flowering plant in the ground, some cemeteries do hold on to the older traditions that allow you to plant. If you’re fortunate enough to have a loved one buried in this type of cemetery, here are a few tips for planting the right kinds of flowers to ensure year-round beauty.

Read the rest of this entry »


Average Cremation Prices

April 15th, 2013

Average Cremation Prices.docx Average Cremation PricesIf you’re funeral planning on a budget, one of the first options that will be offered to you is cremation. Because less preparation goes into the process of cremation, and because there is no need to purchase a plot of land for the ashes, the costs associated with the process are lower.

Of course, that doesn’t mean a cremation can’t be expensive. Depending on the memorial service you choose and options like caskets and urns, cremation costs can move well into the $10,000 range.

Although every facility charges a little differently, here are a few averages in the cremation price list.

  • Full Service (this usually includes care and preparation of the body, transport, viewing, memorial materials, use of the funeral home, and any necessary rentals): $4,000 – $5,000
  • Rental Casket: $300 – $800
  • Cremation Container: $100 – $1,000
  • Cremation of the Body: $1,000 – $2,000
  • Urn: $100 – $1,000
  • Direct Cremation: $800 – $2,000
  • Direct Cremation with Memorial Service: $2,000 – $4,000
  • Graveside Service (if you plan on burying the urn or ashes): $1,000 – $2,000
  • Registry Book and Printed Materials: $50 – $200

Read the rest of this entry »


Are Funeral Costs Tax Deductible?

April 13th, 2013

Are Funeral Costs Tax DeductibleMost experts agree that funeral planning should be undertaken with the guidance of an attorney or financial advisor. Because of the high costs associated with funerals—not to mention the tricky tax laws when it comes to inheritance—it can be difficult to navigate the waters alone. This is true for the phase of funeral planning as well as when tax season rolls around.

Medical Expenses

Most medical expenses not covered by insurance can be claimed on a tax return (assuming you itemize your deduction), and keeping good track of all monies paid for the medical care of the deceased is a good idea if you want to claim some of the funds you paid out of pocket. Things like hospital stays, surgery, hospice care, medication, and other end-of-life concerns all apply under this setting.

Read the rest of this entry »


The Environmental Impact of Cremation

April 11th, 2013

The Environmental Impact of CremationOne of the most common reasons to choose cremation over burial is because of the reputed environmental benefit. In an age when all of us are looking for ways to reduce our impact on the environment, cremation provides a quick and easy solution. Cheaper than a traditional funeral and increasingly more accepted in traditional funeral planning circles, cremation is fast becoming the preferred choice for today’s funeral consumers.

Read the rest of this entry »