6 Ways to Say Thank You to a Funeral Home

| Explore Options, Grief/Loss, Living Well | No Comments
During a time of loss, it’s common to feel lost, overwhelmed, and a little anxious. When the funeral home steps into your grief and provides top-quality care and compassionate service,…
Casket surrounded by floral arrangements, including floral scarf of red and white flowers

6 Ways to Personalize a Casket

| Explore Options, Meaningful Funerals, Planning Tools | No Comments
When planning a funeral service, the best way to create a truly unique, one-of-a-kind experience is to add personalized touches throughout the events. That might mean selecting special music, choosing…
Young man standing in front of casket with his hand resting on it as he says goodbye

130+ Questions Your Family Will Have to Answer After a Death

| Estate Planning, Explore Options, Plan Ahead | No Comments
Most people don’t realize just how many questions surviving family members will need to answer following the death of a loved one. That’s why advance preparation is so important. From…
Portrait of a smiling man in his studio

11 Qualities to Look for in a Funeral Director

| Explore Options, Meaningful Funerals, Plan Ahead, Planning Tools | No Comments
Losing a loved one can bring pain, grief, uncertainty, and confusion. A loss can also leave you with the responsibility of planning a funeral, requiring you to answer questions that…

Understanding Half-Couch versus Full-Couch Caskets

| Explore Options, Plan Ahead, Planning Tools | No Comments
After losing a loved one, a viewing or visitation can be a sweet moment of remembrance and an opportunity to say a final goodbye in person. As you put together…
Older man sitting on couch with laptop sitting on coffee table in front of him, thinking and writing on pad of paper

6 Ways You Can Save Money with Funeral Preplanning & Prefunding

| Explore Options, Plan Ahead, Planning Tools | No Comments
A recent survey revealed that while more than 50% of participants said they were likely to preplan their own funeral, only 7% of had actually done it. Many people understand…
Mature couple sitting down with funeral professional to discuss insurance payment options

3 Funeral Insurance Options You Should Know About

| Explore Options, Plan Ahead | No Comments
If you’re reading this, then you understand how important it is to prepare for the future. You know that taking out an insurance policy to cover the cost of a…
shows memorial benches along the middle of a inlet walkway with lighthouse are end of wharf

9 Outdoor Memorial Ideas to Honor a Loved One

| Explore Options, Grief/Loss, Memorial | No Comments
When you’re grieving the death of a loved one, it helps to find just the right way to honor their life. Sometimes that may mean painting a portrait, creating a…
Beautiful spread of ingredients to bake a cake

Gravestone Recipes: Adding a Sweet Touch to a Memorial Marker

| Explore Options, Memorial, Planning Tools | No Comments
When planning a loved one’s funeral or memorial services, personalization is key to creating an event that is both healing and meaningful. The same is true when you’re considering what…

Can You Name the 4 Different Types of Cemeteries?

| Explore Options, Memorial, Plan Ahead, Planning Tools | No Comments
A cemetery is a cemetery, right? Well, to a degree, that’s true. However, there are actually several different types of cemeteries you should know about. Today, we’ll discuss the 4…

What to Expect at a Preplanning Appointment

| Explore Options, Plan Ahead | No Comments
Did you know you can put your funeral wishes in writing in advance? That’s where a preplanning specialist can help! They specialize in sitting down with you (and your family,…
Shows a memorial service with urn

What’s the Difference Between a Funeral and Memorial Service?

| Cremation, Explore Options, Planning Tools | No Comments
Have you ever planned a funeral or memorial service? If you haven’t, then you’re in good company. Most people haven’t. That's why it’s not surprising that you may not know…
Shows couple talking to funeral professional about their funeral plans

What is Advance Funeral Planning?

| Explore Options, Plan Ahead | No Comments
After the death of a loved one, surviving family members must often answer between 100 – 200 questions before any kind of funeral or memorial service can take place. What’s…
Shows person following directions to pack box correctly

5 Tips When Shipping Cremated Remains

| Cremation, Explore Options | No Comments
It’s impossible to know what circumstances you’re going to face after a loved one’s death. In some cases, it may become necessary to transport a loved one’s remains across a…
Illustrates what an inscription would look like

6 Ways to Personalize a Memorial Marker

| Explore Options, Meaningful Funerals, Memorial, Planning Tools | No Comments
When visiting a cemetery, it can seem like your options are limited when choosing a memorial marker, but that’s not true. There are many options for creating a personalized monument…
Shows people boarding a plane with sunlight on their hair

What You Need to Know About Flying with Cremated Remains

| Cremation, Explore Options | No Comments
Did you know that it’s possible to fly – both domestically and internationally – with cremated remains? While flying with cremated remains may not be something you've ever thought about…
Older man and woman using calculator to add up costs

Understanding Prepaid Funeral Insurance Policies

| Explore Options, Plan Ahead, Planning Tools | No Comments
We all know the value of being prepared. We buy car insurance, fire insurance, health insurance, life insurance – all just in case. When you stop to think about it,…
Man and woman reviewing documents on a clipboard

What Services Do Funeral Homes Offer?

| Explore Options, Planning Tools | No Comments
You may think that funeral homes only plan and facilitate funeral and memorial services, but that’s not all they do. In fact, funeral homes have a wider range of services…
Four professionals lined up, smiling

What Do Funeral Directors Do?

| Explore Options, Meaningful Funerals, Planning Tools | No Comments
Have you ever wondered exactly what funeral directors do? To most people, funeral service is a bit of a mystery. That's because a vast majority of people have never had…
White casket with flower spray of red roses resting in the back of a funeral car

How to Select Pallbearers

| Explore Options, Planning Tools | No Comments
When choosing burial, there are many decisions to make, including whom to select as pallbearers. Whether you’re prearranging your funeral wishes or planning a funeral for a recently lost loved one, it’s important to select pallbearers who can fulfill their…
Older couple standing next to car looking lovingly at each other

Protecting Your Family If Death Occurs Away from Home

| Explore Options, Plan Ahead | No Comments
If you’re like many of us, you spend quite a bit of time traveling out of town. You may not be getting on a plane every time you travel, but…
Woman applying for reimbursement on computer

Applying for a FEMA COVID-19 Funeral Reimbursement

| COVID-19, Explore Options | No Comments
So many families across the United States have been hit hard by COVID-19 - emotionally, mentally, physically, and financially. Under the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021…
Pallbearers lowering casket into grave

8 Pallbearer Etiquette Tips

| Explore Options, Meaningful Funerals | No Comments
Participating in a funeral as a pallbearer is a time-honored tradition and a sign of trust. It’s both an honor and a responsibility. After all, you have been asked to…

5 Alternative Methods of Final Disposition

| Explore Options, Plan Ahead, Planning Tools | No Comments
Choosing which method of final disposition is right for you is a very personal decision. For some, burial is most desirable, while for others, cremation is best. There is no…

Eulogies & Sharing a Loved One’s Legacy

| Explore Options, Meaningful Funerals, Planning Tools | No Comments
When a close loved one dies, you may be asked to give a eulogy. So, you may be wondering, where do I start? First of all, what is a eulogy?…

What Do You Do When Someone Dies?

| Explore Options, Meaningful Funerals, Planning Tools | No Comments
If you’ve recently lost someone you love, you have our sincerest sympathies. For many of us, dealing with death and all the logistical and emotional details associated with it is…

Why Should Veterans Plan Ahead?

| Explore Options, Plan Ahead, Veterans | No Comments
As veterans, you gave a part of your life in committed service to our nation, and we offer you a sincere and heartfelt thank you. But did you know that…

Top 15 Bible Verses for a Celebration of Life Service

| Explore Options, Meaningful Funerals, Planning Tools | No Comments
A Christian funeral service is not complete without a few readings from scripture. Readings can help mourners process the loss and find meaning in the midst of pain. Additionally, the…

All You Need to Know About Funeral Programs, Prayer Cards, and More

| Explore Options, Meaningful Funerals | No Comments
Whether you are planning ahead for funeral wishes or planning a final tribute for a loved one, you may have noticed that many funeral or memorial packages include memorial stationery.…

How to Plan a Healing Funeral if You Are Not Religious

| Explore Options, Meaningful Funerals, Planning Tools | No Comments
Funeral rites have a rich history rooted in spiritual and religious traditions. So, what do you do for a funeral if you are not religious? Some families may consider skipping…

10 Ways to Use Photos to Personalize a Service

| Explore Options, Meaningful Funerals, Plan Ahead, Planning Tools | No Comments
Funeral and memorial services are about remembering and cherishing a loved one’s memory and honoring their life. Dr. Alan Wolfelt, a nationally recognized grief expert, author, and counselor, often says,…

Estate Planning for the Blended Family

| Estate Planning, Explore Options, Precare | No Comments
In today’s world, it’s more and more common to be part of a blended family. For many families, being blended creates a sense of belonging and harmony. For others, it…

What You Need to Know About Burial at Sea

| Cremation, Explore Options, Plan Ahead, Planning Tools | No Comments
After a loss, we feel both a deep sense of loss and an innate desire to honor the memory of the person we love. We want to remember them for…

Permanent Placement Options for Cremated Remains

| Cremation, Explore Options, Plan Ahead, Planning Tools, Precare | No Comments
These days, it’s not uncommon for the family to keep the cremated remains of a loved in an urn at home. While keeping a loved one nearby can be helpful…

The 5 Basic Steps of Funeral Planning

| Explore Options, Meaningful Funerals, Plan Ahead, Planning Tools | No Comments
Thinking about planning a funeral may make you feel anxious, especially if you are arranging a funeral for a loved one who has recently died. The whole thing just sets…

3 Reasons to Have a Visitation

| Explore Options, Meaningful Funerals, Planning Tools | No Comments
Have you ever wondered about the purpose of a visitation when a loved one dies? Why don't we just skip to the funeral? This article will share three key reasons…

Why Does Funeral Personalization Matter?

| Explore Options, Grief/Loss, Meaningful Funerals, Plan Ahead, Planning Tools | No Comments
“I encourage you to slow down, take a deep breath and focus on what is really important—what is essential—about the funeral you are planning. What is essential is the life…

How to Personalize a Funeral When an Infant Dies

| Explore Options, Grief/Loss, Meaningful Funerals | No Comments
“Sometimes the smallest things take up the most room in your heart.” – A.A. Milne Losing an infant or a small child is one of the most difficult situations to…

What Are My Interment Options?

| Explore Options | No Comments
For many of us, the ins and outs of funeral planning are unfamiliar and confusing. We don’t know where to start or even what all of our options are. Should…

7 Ways to Pay for Unexpected Funeral Expenses

| Explore Options, Plan Ahead, Planning Tools | No Comments
When a loved one dies, the last thing you want to do is think about how to pay for the funeral, especially if funds are tight and the death is…

Remembering Our Loved Ones Through Photos

| Explore Options, Grief/Loss | No Comments
“When you photograph a face… you photograph the soul behind it.” – Jean-Luc Godard Today, we can’t imagine a world without photographs. They capture the moments of our lives –…

6 Things You Probably Didn’t Know about Funeral Goods and Services

| Explore Options, Plan Ahead, Planning Tools | No Comments
Most of us will only plan a handful of funerals in our lifetime, and because it is so infrequent, we often don’t know what to do, how to do it,…

Walking a Child Through a Funeral: 9 Tips for Parents

| Explore Options, Living Well | No Comments
Most of us dearly love our children and want to protect them from the difficult parts of life. But understanding that a funeral is a rite of passage and an…

10 Reasons to Plan Ahead

| Explore Options, Plan Ahead, Planning Tools | No Comments
A funeral is an important event for those who have lost someone loved. It’s a time to gather together, to honor the memory of the one who has died, to…

10 Questions to Ask Before You Prepay Your Funeral

| Explore Options, Plan Ahead, Planning Tools | No Comments
A recent study by the Funeral and Memorial Information Council found that nearly 70% of adults over the age of 40 say they would prefer to prearrange their own funeral.…

5 Reasons Why People Don’t Plan Ahead for Funeral Wishes

| Explore Options, Plan Ahead, Planning Tools | No Comments
Life is full of to-do lists, errands, activities, hobbies, and gatherings. While many of these things bring us great joy, some of them simply need doing. While we may not…

Cremation and the Importance of Ceremony

| Cremation, Explore Options, Meaningful Funerals, Plan Ahead | No Comments
Cremation is a rapidly growing trend in the United States, with just over 50% of those who died in 2016 selecting cremation for their final disposition. However, many families who…

The Importance of a Memorial Tribute Video

| Explore Options, Meaningful Funerals, Memorial, Planning Tools | No Comments
“The death of someone loved changes our lives forever. And the movement from the ‘before’ to the ‘after’ is almost always a long, painful journey. From my own experiences with loss…

Should a Funeral Be Efficient or Effective?

| Explore Options, Meaningful Funerals, Plan Ahead | No Comments
At some point in life, we’ve all attended a funeral or memorial service that seems to leave us feeling empty or numb. Why? Usually, it has to do with whether…

Exploring Your Release Ceremony Options

| Explore Options, Meaningful Funerals, Plan Ahead | No Comments
Losing a loved one creates a painful hole in our hearts that we often don't know how to fill. However, through the process of grief and mourning, we can come…

7 Reasons to Help Parents Preplan for Funeral Wishes

| Explore Options, Plan Ahead, Planning Tools | No Comments
Life is busy, and many things demand your attention. In the midst of everything – daily chores, kids, work, friends, extracurricular activities – caring for an aging parent takes a…

5 Meaningful Actions to Personalize a Funeral

| Explore Options, Meaningful Funerals, Plan Ahead, Planning Tools | No Comments
Throughout history, many things have changed, but one thing that has endured is the funeral ceremony. At some level deep down, we all know that a funeral is important. It’s…

9 Preplanning Mistakes to Avoid

| Explore Options, Plan Ahead, Planning Tools | No Comments
According to the National Funeral Directors Association, 62.5% of consumers feel that it is important to share funeral wishes with family members, but only 21.4% did so in 2017. That…

Grave Liners & Burial Vaults: What’s the Difference?

| Explore Options, Plan Ahead, Planning Tools | No Comments
For many of us, the ins and outs of funeral planning are unfamiliar and confusing. We don’t know where to start or even what all of our options are. Should…

Myth vs. Fact: The Truth About Final Expense Plans

| Estate Planning, Explore Options, Plan Ahead | No Comments
Paying for a funeral in advance doesn’t have to be a difficult task. All you really need is a knowledgeable funeral professional who thoughtfully educates you on all the options…

5 Ways to Pay for a Funeral

| Explore Options, Plan Ahead, Planning Tools | No Comments
Many people do not realize that payment for a funeral is due prior to services being rendered. So, having a financial plan in place to pay for a funeral is…

Selecting a Cremation Urn

| Cremation, Explore Options, Plan Ahead, Planning Tools | No Comments
According to the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA), cremation has continued to grow as a choice for final disposition. In fact, in the 2017 Cremation and Burial Report, the NFDA…

6 Ways to Personalize a Funeral

| Explore Options, Meaningful Funerals | No Comments
A funeral, though a time of mourning, can still be filled with celebration and remembrance. It’s a time to honor the one who has died but also an opportunity to…

5 Reasons to Establish a Permanent Memorial

| Explore Options, Memorial, Planning Tools | No Comments
When we lose someone we love, our feeling of connection to them continues, even though they are no longer with us physically. It is this connection that contributes to our…
View from above of light-wood desk with laptop, cup of tea, plant, pens, and notepad

Top 10 Characteristics to Look for in a Funeral Home

| Explore Options, Planning Tools | No Comments
For many of us, the death of a loved one is one of the most difficult life events we face. We don’t want to think about it, but there is…

How to Write a Great Epitaph

| Explore Options, Planning Tools | No Comments
An epitaph is an inscription on a tomb, a gravestone, a plaque, or a memorial marker that honors the memory of a deceased person. The use of epitaphs can be traced…

How to Select a Casket

| Explore Options, Planning Tools | No Comments
If you decide on a traditional burial for you or your loved one, the next important decision that you will need to make is determining the type of casket. Before…

Selecting and Installing a Grave Marker

| Explore Options | No Comments
We all have a need to memorialize those who have gone before us. For thousands of years, humans have used memorials to commemorate important people and events. By choosing a…

What is a Memorial Service?

| Explore Options | No Comments
A memorial service is similar to a funeral service in many ways. The main difference is that at a funeral, the body is present as a focal point for the…

What Is Embalming?

| Explore Options | No Comments
Embalming is the process of temporarily preserving a body for public viewing or transportation. The main function of embalming is to provide an opportunity for the bereaved family and friends…

What Are My Burial Options?

| Explore Options | No Comments
Burial traditions across many cultures have one thing in common—that a permanent resting place is essential for honoring and remembering loved ones. When considering burial options for yourself or a…

What Is Green Burial?

| Explore Options | No Comments
Green burials have become increasingly popular in recent years. Founded on the belief that death care practices shouldn’t be harmful to the environment, green, or natural, burials aim to leave…

What Should I Know When Considering Cremation?

| Cremation, Explore Options | No Comments
How Cremation Works Cremation is the process of using high temperatures and evaporation to reduce a body to its most basic elements. With cremation, the body is placed in a…

What You Need to Know about Anatomical Donation

| Explore Options | No Comments
What Does it Mean to Be an Organ Donor and a Whole Body Donor? Anatomical donation typically refers to the donation of the whole body to medical or scientific research.…

Should I Have a Funeral?

| Explore Options | No Comments
A meaningful funeral can be beneficial in helping surviving family members process their emotions about a loss. According to an article in Psychology Today by Russell Friedman, grief expert, author,…