Posts Tagged ‘cemetery’

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Should You Buy Artificial Funeral Flowers?

Wednesday, October 3rd, 2012

Should You Buy Artificial Funeral Flowers?Funeral flowers (also known as sympathy flowers) are a common way to show your love and support for the recently deceased. Whether you order a large casket spray for display during a memorial service or a handful of rose petals to shower down on the casket as it is lowered into the ground, flowers are one of the most popular traditions in the funeral industry.

When most of us talk about funeral flowers, however, we mean fresh flowers—an arrangement ordered through a florist in the days preceding the funeral, and for use during the memorial service. Like all fresh flower arrangements, these only last a few days before beginning to wilt. And while there are some great flower preservation options if you want to keep a bouquet or arrangement on display, you also have additional options to look beyond fresh flowers to artificial arrangements.

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Gravesite Caretaker Services

Monday, September 24th, 2012

Gravesite Caretaker ServicesOne of the most overwhelming and often overlooked aspects of funeral planning is taking care of the gravesite long after the deceased has passed on. Although most cemeteries offer some form of on-site caretaking (such as mowing and weeding, clearing the headstones, and removing unsightly or faded floral displays), this is a service that doesn’t always come standard. And in many cases, their level of care might not meet your expectations.

If you live nearby the cemetery, or if visiting the gravesite is part of your natural healing process, taking care of the headstone might not be that difficult. However, distance, infirmity, time constraints, and even your own emotional hurdles often get in the way—which is when it might be time to consider a gravesite care provider.

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How Much does a Green Burial Cost?

Thursday, May 31st, 2012

How Much does a Green Burial Cost?As environmentally friendly alternatives become popular and more manageable for the average consumer, more and more people are turning to green burials. In a green burial, individuals eschew formal burial items like heavy metal caskets and vault liners in favor of simple shrouds or plywood caskets. They might also opt not to have funeral flowers at the ceremony, or even do a webcast of the memorial service to save on long-distance travel.

The term “green burial” is used fairly broadly to describe any funeral with eco-friendly overtones. Some people take it very seriously and avoid everything from embalming to headstones, while others prefer to take simple measures like planting trees as a memorial to the deceased.

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Burial or Cremation? Making the Difficult Decisions

Sunday, May 27th, 2012

Burial or Cremation? Making the Difficult DecisionsIn the past, funeral planning was almost entirely done with traditional burial in mind. This time-honored approach to saying goodbye has long been a staple of the funeral industry in the United States, taking precedence over all other forms of interment.

These days, cremation is growing in popularity. In fact, in some states, there are more cremations than burials—and the trend is only increasing. If you’re not sure which option is right for you, consider a few of these key advantages and disadvantages of burial versus cremation.

iMortuary’s team includes funeral professionals to help you outline your wishes and understand prices and your financial options.  Simply complete our brief online form to begin this no-obligation conversation.  After you talk with us, we assist you with finalizing pre-payments or filing your arrangements with a funeral home.

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The United States National Cemetery Administration

Saturday, May 19th, 2012

iMortuary.com Blog Editors sincerely thank James Flanagan, Program Manager for the Presidential Memorial Certificate Program in the National Cemetery Administration, for his additions and early corrections to this article. His full comments are included in the Response section.

The United States National Cemetery AdministrationEvery state and most major cities have a National Cemetery—those perfect rows of white headstones and crosses designating the burial place of our nation’s fallen heroes and veterans. If you have a military past, your funeral plans might bring up the possibility of burial in one of these cemeteries (or accessing other benefits through the Administration, such as a headstone, cremation costs, Presidential Memorial Certificate, or even a military salute to preside over the memorial service).

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Choosing a Casket

Thursday, May 10th, 2012

Choosing a CasketOne of the first decisions you’ll make if you opted for traditional burial as part of your funeral planning efforts is which casket you’d like. Some funeral homes offer burial packages, and you choose a casket from a select number of options in that package.

You can also choose a casket based on personal preference or even buy one through a third-party vendor (which funeral homes are then legally obligated to use). For more in depth planning guidance, download our guide, “7 Insider Tips You Need to Know Before Funeral Planning.”  One of our 7  tips covers the upsides of having the funeral home order your casket.

In most cases, the decision of which casket to use is based on how they look or the materials they’re made out of. However, there is more to them than just aesthetics. If you’re selecting a casket for a loved one or for your own pre-planned funeral, here are a few considerations.

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Choosing a Cemetery Plot: A Checklist

Tuesday, May 8th, 2012

Choosing a Cemetery Plot: A ChecklistOne of the most important decisions you’ll make while funeral planning is which cemetery plot to choose. Although it is possible to move buried or cremated remains after they have been interred, it is a very expensive and lengthy process. The final resting place you select should reflect the ideal location for this and future generations.

That’s why it’s important to take some time to explore your options and make the right choice for your family. And here are a few things to consider throughout the process.

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Types of Cemeteries

Wednesday, April 25th, 2012

Types of CemeteriesThere are several different types of cemeteries to choose from if traditional burial or cremation interment is part of your funeral planning efforts. In the United States, most people have a choice of four cemetery categories. Each one has its own pros and cons, and the cost of each one varies depending on location and cemetery organization.

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What is Natural Burial?

Thursday, March 8th, 2012

What is Natural Burial?In an age when green funerals and funeral planning on a budget are on everyone’s lips, people are beginning to question the need for so many different containers and preparations for the disposal of a body. We researched into why natural burial, a solution in which very few preparations are made and the body is laid to rest directly within the soil of the earth, is one of the most common answers.

How Burial Works

Traditionally, the body of a loved one is embalmed before being placed in a casket, which is then lowered into a grave that contains a grave liner or vault. These various “layers” between the body of the deceased and the ground cannot stop the natural process of decomposition, but they do slow it down and also provide some comfort to families who wish to preserve their memories of the deceased.

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Funeral Procession Etiquette

Friday, February 17th, 2012

Funeral Procession EtiquetteOne 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.

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