When most people talk about funeral planning, they assume that you (or your loved ones) live in a city where funeral services are readily available. All metropolitan centers and mid-sized cities have several funeral homes to choose from, usually in a variety of religious denominations. However, as towns get smaller and more rural, there is a chance that your town won’t have a funeral home, a cemetery, a crematorium, or any other type of facility that can help you with the funeral planning process.
Archive for the ‘Funeral Planning’ Category
What to Do if There isn’t a Funeral Home in Your Area
Monday, March 5th, 2012What is Bio Cremation?
Friday, March 2nd, 2012
When funeral planning, today’s consumers are faced with a variety of choices. Eco-friendly or traditional burial? Cremation or interment? Pre-plan package or funeral insurance? All these choices mean that there can be a large research component when it comes to making decisions—especially if you’re looking for something that is unique, cost-effective, or better for the planet.
Pet Memorial Gift Ideas
Monday, February 27th, 2012
Memorial gifts are a common way of demonstrating your grief and supporting a family member or friend as they move through their grief. The practice of offering a memorial gift (such as funeral flowers or an engraved memento) is one that has been increasing in popularity—and for more than just our human friends.
Losing a Pet
The loss of a pet can be as devastating as the loss of a human being, especially if someone has had their feline or canine companion for decades. For some people, moving on is as simple as finding a new four-legged friend; for others, it may be impossible to ever get over the death of a pet.
Placing Mementos into a Loved One’s Casket
Friday, February 24th, 2012
Today’s funeral caskets have the option to come equipped with specialty drawers that allow you to incorporate a uniquely personal touch. Located on the lid or side panels, these memorial drawers are similar to ones you might find in a jewelry chest—small, elegant, and perfect for holding mementos that signify a lifetime of happiness.
The practice of placing memorial keepsakes with a body being prepared for burial is nothing new. In fact, it’s one of the oldest funeral traditions, as evident by the great tombs of Egypt and the remains of early humans found buried with their weapons, ceremonial jewelry, and cooking items. Although many civilizations did this because they believed the items would accompany the deceased through the underworld (or because they needed to be able to “pay” for the journey), others did it simply because it helps the healing process. There is something truly moving about knowing those we love will be near the things that mattered to them for all of eternity.
What to Do if You Can’t Afford a Funeral
Wednesday, February 22nd, 2012
For all the benefits of advance funeral planning, burial insurance, and the affordability of options like direct cremation, death is still a very costly affair. In fact, for some families, it’s too costly—and that’s when funeral planning can become a real problem. Although it isn’t something people like to think about (either in relation to their own life or in others), there are occasions in which it simply isn’t possible to pay for a funeral.
While this situation isn’t ideal, it doesn’t mean that you don’t have options. Government and church organizations exist to provide support, and you may be able to find a financing option that suits your lifestyle. If you are getting ready to plan a funeral and don’t have the available funds to cover it all, here are a few of the choices you face:
Burial Alternatives: Mausoleums
Monday, February 20th, 2012
Mausoleums are an alternative to earth burial that places the body to rest in an above-ground crypt. Most often associated with New Orleans, where the moist ground makes it impossible to bury human remains underground for any length of time, mausoleums are usually small house-like structures that are organized in a cemetery alongside other interment options. While beautiful and stately, mausoleums do have a tendency to be more expensive, and may even come with stipulations like sharing the space with other families.
All About Mausoleums
Mausoleums are one of the oldest types of formal burial in the world—in fact, the ancient pyramids of Egypt and the Taj Mahal in India are both examples of some of the more elaborate mausoleums in human history. The term is used to describe any outbuilding in which caskets are entombed, whether it is just one casket or several crypts in which various bodies can be laid to rest.
Funeral Procession Etiquette
Friday, February 17th, 2012
One of the most time-honored funeral traditions is the procession. Once a time when carriages, people, and sometimes even hired mourners made a slow journey from the home of the deceased to the cemetery, funeral processions have long been a way to exhibit honor and grief at the passing of a loved one.
While few people make the trip on foot these days, the funeral procession is still a large part of many memorial services. In it, the line of mourners (usually with each family in their own vehicle) makes its way to the cemetery, following behind the hearse, limo, or even a police escort.
Because so many funeral homes are located some distance from the cemetery, it’s not uncommon for a procession to travel for a few miles. In these instances, it’s important to follow a few key funeral procession etiquette guidelines.
The Three Most Common Times to Start Planning a Funeral
Monday, February 13th, 2012
Most people assume that funeral planning is something that happens once death occurs—which is part of the reason it gets such a bad reputation. There are few things worse than being forced to choose a casket, select a burial plot, and talk about ways to pay for a funeral while you’re still reeling from a sudden loss.
While the most common reason people plan a funeral is because a loved one has passed away, it’s not the only time for this task to get done. Here are the three top times for funeral planning and what each situation entails.
Express Your Love with a Custom Cremation Urn
Friday, February 10th, 2012
By Melody Jamali, CEO of Une Belle Vie Memorial Urns
Oftentimes, when a loved one passes away and they are cremated, you may feel pressured to make a selection quickly so that the cremation urn will be delivered as soon as possible. Sometimes this results in urn selections that are not the right fit for the deceased. The fact of the matter is you do not have a deadline to select or create your loved one’s urn. Take all the time you need to make a selection that feels right. In fact, for a way to perfectly honor your family member’s life, why not commission a custom cremation urn? They may take longer to receive, but in the end, you’ll have a lasting memorial created just for your loved one.
What is the Difference between Burial Insurance and Funeral Insurance?
Wednesday, February 8th, 2012
When it comes time to start advance planning a funeral, you’ll find that there are several options open to you. In addition to purchasing a plot or pre-paying for services, you can also choose to buy a funeral insurance policy. Like life insurance, this policy is paid out at the time of death—though usually in a matter of days rather than months, which helps you to cover the immediate costs of the funeral.
Burial insurance might be another term thrown around as you decide which type of pre-payment plan is right for you. This option sounds more specific than funeral insurance, in that it might be earmarked just for the burial process, but the truth is that both types of insurance are the same. They are flexible and affordable options designed to help cover the costs of interment (either burial or cremation, as the case may be).
