The funeral director is your guide to the funeral planning process, from the first decisions you make to the very last. These professionals generally have one to two years of formal education (in a college setting), and have successfully completed a one-year apprenticeship program with a licensed funeral home. Further licensure is offered by each individual state, and many funeral directors are part of the National Funeral Directors Association, which oversees the profession.
Even with all these credentials in place, it's important to find a funeral director you personally connect with. Because you are most likely going to be dependent on your funeral director for emotional support as you go through the difficult process of funeral planning, having a comfortable, working relationship will make everything a little bit easier.
As you begin, your funeral director (and his or her team) will:
(more…) What Does a Funeral Director Do?
October 13th, 2010The funeral director is your guide to the funeral planning process, from the first decisions you make to the very last. These professionals generally have one to two years of formal education (in a college setting), and have successfully completed a one-year apprenticeship program with a licensed funeral home. Further licensure is offered by each individual state, and many funeral directors are part of the National Funeral Directors Association, which oversees the profession.
Even with all these credentials in place, it's important to find a funeral director you personally connect with. Because you are most likely going to be dependent on your funeral director for emotional support as you go through the difficult process of funeral planning, having a comfortable, working relationship will make everything a little bit easier.
As you begin, your funeral director (and his or her team) will:
(more…) International Funeral Customs
October 11th, 2010
Funeral planning is not unique to the Untied States or even to western cultures. For as long as there has been human existence, there has been a way to honor and celebrate the passage of life to death. Many of these funeral customs have their roots in religion, and those that are still in existence today have become a way to celebrate unique cultures and countries.
Although all funeral planning is different according to the individual, and there is no cultural universal that demands all funerals be the same, some of the most interesting funeral customs include:
(more…) Funeral Planning: How I Want to Be Remembered
October 8th, 2010
We hear so often about funeral planning, and how it can ease the financial and emotional burdens of the loved ones we leave behind. The reasons to do a funeral pre-plan or pre-payment are many, and it's an option that an increasingly large portion of the population are choosing for their own families. Whether you wish to lock in today's funeral costs, you want ensure that you have funds earmarked for burial, or you simply want to secure a cemetery site to share with family members, making burial arrangements ahead of time makes good sense.
However, one of the most often overlooked advantages to funeral planning in advance is how much it allows you to control the way you will be remembered. The legacy you leave behind is one of the most powerful and lasting gifts you can give, and if it's important to you to get it right, funeral planning with a focus on ceremonies and events could be the perfect solution.
(more…) Funeral Planning Tributes
October 6th, 2010
Personalizing a funeral is one of the best ways to remember the deceased. All too often, family members and friends get caught up in the reverence and traditions of funeral planning, making sure that the tone is set for people to mourn. While there certainly is a time and place for this kind of atmosphere, it is acceptable to add a little fun and creativity to a funeral ceremony. By personalizing some of the traditions, you can not only honor the life the deceased led, but you can also pay a lasting tribute that no one will soon forget.
Simple Tributes
Small steps to personalize the funeral plan are typically easy to implement and come at a low cost. You can gather photographs of the deceased to place in a slide show or photo album. You can play music he or she was fond of during life. You can even bring in a favorite pastor to provide the ceremony, or ask a few close friends to come up with some words to share.
Some of the questions you may want to ask yourself when gathering ideas for simple funeral tributes include:
(more…) Why Funeral Flowers Continue to be the Right Thing to Do
October 4th, 2010
Green funerals are on the rise all over the United States, and more and more people are turning away from traditions like embalming and funeral flowers in lieu of eco-friendly alternatives. These steps are a great way to give back to the earth and pay a lasting tribute – especially if the deceased felt strongly about “green” issues during his or her lifetime.
While you should always respect the wishes of the deceased if there is a request to not send floral arrangements, green funerals (and traditional funerals) don't have to forgo the beauty of a few floral sprays. Funeral flowers can be a great way to demonstrate your love and respect for more traditional ceremonies. A time-honored practice steeped in religious and social history, flowers are meant to represent growth and new life in the face of bereavement. The comforting scents, the bright colors, and the sense of warmth that flowers add to a funeral ceremony are welcomed by many, and it's easy for a funeral without flowers to seem somehow lacking.
(more…) Grave Curiosities
September 28th, 2010
Thanks to everyone for making us a front page item on Digg, Reddit, and Yahoo Buzz!!!
We have scoured the internet to fine these odd and bizarre facts related to death throughout culture, history, and even celebrity. If you enjoyed these truly weird facts and stats, please feel free to share using the HTML below but please include a link to us!
(more…) Funeral Insurance: Family Convenience
September 27th, 2010
One of the primary factors in choosing advance funeral planning is the convenience it offers family members. No matter how clear your wishes might be or how much time you put in to planning your burial arrangements, the details of the funeral – and the costs associated with them – almost always add a strain on family members during an already overwhelming time.
However, many people aren't comfortable with funeral pre-plans, which are becoming one of the most popular ways to reduce family strain and cost. In a funeral pre-plan, a decision is made to work with a particular funeral home or cemetery, and you can pay all the costs up front, and at today's rates. You can be as involved as selecting your own casket, or as detached as simply choosing the right burial plan and setting aside the funds.
(more…) Things to Ask Your Funeral Director
September 26th, 2010
Whether you're funeral planning for yourself or facing the recent loss of a loved one, you will most likely work with a funeral director to ensure that all the burial and/or cremation arrangements are set. Funeral directors are the professionals who either run a funeral home or are hired by the funeral home to assist with end-of-life arrangements. Larger funeral homes may have more than one director, so that the attention and time you need is available.
Some of the decisions you make together will be the most important and difficult you will ever encounter, so being comfortable with the professional in charge is a good idea. Questions to consider include:
(more…) How to Plan a Green Funeral
September 23rd, 2010
Green funerals, which are defined as any funeral plan that put an emphasis on reducing the burden on both the earth and the wallet, are becoming an increasingly popular choice in the modern world. It doesn't matter whether you are funeral planning in advance or if you are facing the sudden loss of a loved one – “going green” is a great way to honor the deceased while also making responsible burial decisions.
One of the best things about planning a green funeral is that there are many ways to overlap traditional burial arrangements and cremation plans with a more eco-friendly approach to both life and death.
(more…) Funeral Planning 2.0: Webcasting Funerals
September 21st, 2010
One of the biggest drawbacks to funeral planning in this day and age is the cost and time needed to bring together a wide net of family and friends who span the globe. When loved ones don't live near the deceased, it can be difficult to attend the funeral services, leading to feelings of guilt, disappointment, and, in many cases, a lack of closure that can be almost impossible to overcome.
In an attempt to reach more people and make funeral planning easier for families who don't all live in one concentrated area, some companies are taking funerals to the web. Funeral webcasting, which places live or saved footage of a memorial service online, is becoming a popular and cost-effective way to bring people together to honor the deceased and share memories.
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