Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category

Holding a Funeral by Invitation Only

Monday, July 6th, 2015
Holding a Funeral by Invitation Only

How to Have an Invitation Only Funeral

It’s not uncommon for a family to wish to take their grief out of the public eye and hold a private mourning ceremony just for close friends and relatives. Whether the deceased was a public figure, died a newsworthy death, or simply wished for the funeral to be kept small, you can hold a funeral or memorial service by invitation only. Most of the funeral plans will stay the same, with one or two notable exceptions.

Obituary: You’ll need to strategize the obituary to make it clear that the funeral is open by invite only. One option is to skip the obituary and death notice altogether. By not publicly announcing the death, you won’t need to worry about those who aren’t invited stopping by. You can also put in an obituary but word it carefully. You can mention that it will be a “closed funeral” and ask for prayers instead of flowers or visits. (more…)

How to Create a Memory Table

Friday, July 3rd, 2015
How to Create a Memory Table

How to Create a Memory Table

As you plan a funeral and prepare for the memorial service, you may want to gather items for display on a memory table. Many funeral homes ask you to provide mementos and pictures of the deceased as a way to create a visual representation of a life well-lived. In addition to the slideshows or enlarged photos for display you already have planned, these items can be nicely arranged near the guestbook or entrance.

Memory tables have the advantage of being personalized to each unique individual. Because you choose items that were precious to the deceased or that signify an important moment in his or her life, no two memory tables are ever the same. You also have the flexibility to set it up any way you want. (more…)

How to Prevent Grave Robbing

Wednesday, July 1st, 2015
How to Prevent Grave Robbing

How to Prevent Grave Robbers

Once upon a time, grave robbing was a real concern for families, cemeteries, and those who worked in the death industry. If a loved one was buried with any jewelry at all, the family ran the risk of the body being unearthed and the valuables stolen. Before the time of modern medicine, there was even a chance of the body itself being taken, as the number of donated cadavers was incredibly low, and anatomists would go to great lengths to acquire specimens. (more…)

Seasonal Funeral Flowers

Monday, June 29th, 2015
Seasonal Funeral Flowers

Seasonal Funeral Flowers

Although florists make it easy to order funeral bouquets no matter what the time of year, it can be nice to take a seasonal approach to sympathy flowers. Not only is better for the environment to order in-season flowers (those exotic blooms you can order year-round are usually shipped all the way from places like Brazil), but they’re also a more fitting symbol of death. Like the circle of life, nature comes and goes, and being reminded of the turn of the seasons can be nice for the grieving family.

Spring Funeral Flowers

Spring flowers tend to be light, cheerful, and fairly low-cost overall. Many of the spring bouquets embrace a “wildflower” approach—especially in areas where these blooms can be found growing naturally. Choose among flowers like: (more…)

Selling a Burial Plot Online

Friday, June 26th, 2015
Selling a Burial Plot Online

Selling a Burial Plot Online

If you pre-purchase a burial plot at a cemetery, you aren’t necessarily tied to that space for the rest of your life (and afterlife). Most cemetery plot contracts allow for you to sell the plot either back to the cemetery or to a third-party buyer in the event that you move away, get divorced from a spouse or partner who is also part of the plot, decide to be cremated, or undergo any other change of heart.

Of course, like any real estate transaction (and no matter how irreverent it may seem, a cemetery plot is a piece of real estate with a deed and everything), finding a buyer can be difficult. Because you may want to cast a wide net in order to get the most money, here are a few online place where you can post a plot for sale. (more…)

Top Ten Funeral Songs

Wednesday, June 24th, 2015
Top Ten Funeral Songs

Top 10 funeral songs

In times of heartbreak, music has a way of saying what words cannot. Although planning a funeral doesn’t have to include a musical component, many families opt to have songs played during the memorial service, as guests arrive and depart, or when the casket is lowered. From popular ballads to hymns, music allows guests to tap into their emotions and connect with the deceased.

While many families choose songs that meant something specific to the deceased, others turn to familiar comforts that all guests can identify with. Here are ten of the more popular funeral songs.

  1. Somewhere Over the Rainbow: Although there are dozens of good versions of this song, one of the most popular is that by Israel “Iz” Kamakawiwoʻole. (more…)

Travel Tips for the Newly Bereaved

Monday, June 22nd, 2015

Travel Tips for the Newly BereavedTraveling for the sole purpose of attending a funeral is never fun. In addition to the overwhelming feelings of sadness you may be dealing with, there are last-minute flights to arrange, rental cars to organize, hotels to book, and the actual flight to undergo. Although nothing can take away the pain of your loss, you can at least find ways to ease the burden of travel with these helpful tips.

  1. Contact Individual Airlines. Not every airline offers bereavement rates, but many of them do have built-in specials if you recently lost an immediate member of your family (spouse, parent, child, sibling). You may have to show proof of death (a death certificate) in order to qualify, but you can also get squeezed onto a last-minute flight this way with up to 20% off the price of your ticket. (more…)

Funeral Planning for Your New Year’s Resolution

Thursday, January 1st, 2015

Funeral Planning for Your New Year’s ResolutionFor most of us, New Year’s resolutions are an opportunity improve our lives. We make promises to eat better, exercise more, remember to visit the dentist twice a year, and otherwise look after our health. After all, a new year is a fresh start, and what could be better than to find ways to enjoy a more positive, fruitful life?

One answer might be to find a way to enjoy a more positive, fruitful death. (more…)

Military Funerals and Burial Assistance for Veterans

Saturday, December 27th, 2014

Military Funerals and Burial Assistance for VeteransWhen you or a loved one serves as part of the United States Armed Services, there are certain death benefits and assistance you become eligible for. Navigating the system can be difficult if you’re reeling from a sudden loss, and there may be certain funds that you have to seek out to receive, so it’s a good idea to look into all your options. Any help you can get during this difficult time is worth considering—especially if your loved one served the country in any capacity. (more…)

17 Crazy Facts About Death In Time For Halloween

Wednesday, October 29th, 2014

17 Crazy Facts About Death In Time For Halloween
Just in time for Halloween we have dug up 17 crazy facts and stories about death.

Do know what Tibetan Sky Burials is or who is planning on resting forever next to Marilyn Monroe?

If not, check out this post…IF YOU DARE!