Pallbearers carrying casket to burial space

Do You Know About These 8 Cemetery Expenses?

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When you buy a car or plan a vacation or throw a 50th anniversary party, you take time to consider your options and review your budget. If you’re planning to…
Middle-aged husband and wife sitting on couch at home, reviewing documents together

5 Ways to Save Money When Funeral Planning

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Across all businesses and industries, prices are going up. Gas prices, groceries, housing, transportation, manufacturing, and yes, even funeral costs. According to the National Funeral Directors Association, in 2021, the average…
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3 Ways to Protect Your Funeral Funds

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There are many ways to take care of the financial aspect of a funeral in advance. However, not all payment methods are created equal. Each method has its own risks…
Mature woman sitting down with female doctor, reviewing paperwork together

Developing Your Advance Care Directive

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Have you recorded your preferences for medical care through an Advance Care Directive? Most people remember to write a will and put their funeral wishes in writing, but it’s also…
Woman holding a credit card while sitting on her couch

5 Ways to Avoid Emotional Overspending on a Funeral

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Have you ever bought something because of your emotions, like sadness, anxiety, or stress? Most of us have used purchasing to make us feel better. In fact, as many as 69%…
Older man in blue shirt sitting at a table at home with a laptop and notepad in front of him

8 Tips for Managing Your Digital Estate

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While the internet and advances in technology have made so many aspects of life easier, they’ve made estate planning a little bit harder. Now, you not only need to focus…
Woman in olive green blouse sitting at a table at home with a pen and notebook in front of her on the table

Download Your Own Funeral Planning Checklist

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If you want to plan ahead for your funeral wishes or plan a funeral for a loved one, the checklist below will help you in making important decisions:
Woman in a yellow shirt looking at papers

How to Make an Estate Planning Checklist

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Most of us know that estate planning is important, but many people don’t take care of their estate planning because they find it intimidating. There are so many estate planning…
Man and wife sitting at table together, looking at book and making choices for funeral

5 Emotional Benefits to Funeral Preplanning

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There are many practical benefits to funeral preplanning – like saving money, qualifying for Medicaid, and having funeral funds set aside to pay for everything – but did you know…
older couple planning ahead for funeral wishes

How to Get Started With Funeral Preplanning

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Planning ahead for your final wishes is simple and only takes about an hour to complete. There are three basic steps to creating a healing and meaningful funeral plan that…
Older couple planning ahead for funeral wishes

Why Plan Ahead for Funeral Wishes?

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You plan for everything in life -- birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, vacations, homes, retirement, and much more. Why shouldn't you also plan for final wishes? While no one likes to think…
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How to Create a Funeral Wishes Box

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A personalized funeral can be a very healing and meaningful experience for loved ones. But how can you ensure that they have that one-of-a-kind experience? The answer is by doing…
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

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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…

6 Items You Shouldn’t Include in Your Will

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No matter what age you are, creating a will is a great way to prepare for the future. A legal will is a document that lays out your wishes for…
Shaking hands with a friendly professional

11 Qualities to Look for in a Funeral Director

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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

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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

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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

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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…
Death certificate request form with pen on top

The Beginner’s Guide to Death Certificates

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If you’ve recently lost a loved one, you know how overwhelming it can be. You’re grieving, but you may also be trying to take care of their affairs. As you…

4 Reasons Why You Should Update Your Will

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If you’ve written your will, you’ve already gotten a great start on your estate planning! But now that you’ve created a will, don’t just put it in a drawer and…
Woman choosing a color from a color wheel

Using Color to Personalize a Service

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Creating a personalized funeral or memorial service is the first step toward finding the healing and reconciliation you need after a loss. Why? Because if the service details truly reflect…

Can You Name the 4 Different Types of Cemeteries?

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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…
Young couple reviewing official documents with advisor

4 Reasons to Keep Your Beneficiaries Up to Date

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Wouldn’t it be great if estate planning was a “one and done” type of task? If life came without change, then it could be, but we all know change is…

What to Expect at a Preplanning Appointment

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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 couple talking to funeral professional about their funeral plans

What is Advance Funeral Planning?

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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…
Older man and woman using calculator to add up costs

Understanding Prepaid Funeral Insurance Policies

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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,…
Older couple standing next to car looking lovingly at each other

Protecting Your Family If Death Occurs Away from Home

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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…

5 Alternative Methods of Final Disposition

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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…

How to Create a Memorial Page on Facebook and Instagram

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More and more, people across the globe are cultivating a social media presence. Some put more effort into it than others, but for many of us, social media platforms like…
Mature female service member sitting on couch at home, working on her laptop

Why Should Veterans Plan Ahead?

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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…

5 Powerful TED Talks about Grief and End-of-Life Wishes

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Planning for end-of-life wishes and walking through grief can both be very difficult seasons in life. But you don’t have to walk through them alone. Others have gone before us…

Practical Ways to Personalize the 7 Elements of a Funeral

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Planning a funeral after a loved one dies may seem overwhelming at first, and that’s okay. So many of us have never planned a funeral before and simply don’t know…

5 Practical Obituary Writing Tips

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If we’re honest, all too often obituaries are a little formulaic and offer only a few facts and details. They don’t truly reflect the person who has died – their…

How to Make Digital Estate Planning Simple

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There’s no denying that the internet is here to stay. Twenty-five years ago, the internet was just a baby, but now, it’s a huge part of people’s lives. In fact,…

The 6 Purposes of a Funeral

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No matter how far back you look in history, you will find evidence of funeral rituals. Within us, we have an innate need to honor, respect, and remember those who…

6 Reasons to Write Your Will Now

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Perhaps unconsciously, we often think we have to own a lot of stuff or at least be in our 5th decade to write a will. This simply isn’t the case.…

10 Ways to Use Photos to Personalize a Service

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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…

The Core Elements of a Military Honors Funeral

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Our veterans represent courage, honor, and sacrifice. Throughout our history as a nation, our military men and women have stepped up to face the opposition, protect our way of life,…

Why Does Funeral Personalization Matter?

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“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…

Healthy Practices for Your Later Years: 60s

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You’re in your 60s now, and if you’re intentional, it’s going to be an amazing decade for you. Now’s the time to reinvent your lifestyle and make decisions about what…

7 Ways to Pay for Unexpected Funeral Expenses

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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…

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

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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,…

What Vital Statistics Should I Bring to a Funeral Arrangement Conference?

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When a loved one dies, the emotions of grief can hit hard. These feelings range from person to person and may include sadness, shock, anger, or anxiety. It is during…

10 Reasons to Plan Ahead

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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

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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

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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

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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…

Do Funerals Still Matter?

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We have had funerals since the beginning of time. No matter which culture you research, you will find evidence of funeral rites and traditions. Though the specific customs may have…

Should a Funeral Be Efficient or Effective?

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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

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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

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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…

The 5 Most Important Estate Planning Documents

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There’s no getting around the fact that estate planning is a necessary part of life, even though we may not feel ready to face it. It is especially important that…

5 Meaningful Actions to Personalize a Funeral

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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

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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?

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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

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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

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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

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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…

Healthy Practices for Your Later Years: 70s

| Living Well, Plan Ahead | No Comments
Your 70s are here. Let’s make them great! While good habits benefit us throughout our lives, it’s never too late to make positive changes to your life. In addition to…

7 Steps to Telling Your Children About Your Funeral Plans

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You’ve made an important decision. By preplanning your funeral, you are giving your family a great gift: an expression of your great love and the gift of a mind at…

6 Things Your Emergency Contacts Need to Know

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Why do we have emergency contacts? Ultimately, it’s because we will all need—at one point or another—a trustworthy person to represent us if we are incapable of doing so ourselves.…

9 Funeral Costs That Are Often Overlooked

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Funeral costs can be a tricky thing to pin down if you are trying to plan ahead and protect your family by setting aside funds for a funeral in advance.…

11 Meaningful Ways to Honor Your Loved One’s Ashes

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If you are considering cremation, whether for yourself or for a loved one, it’s important to think about all the options available to you. As a term, "final disposition" refers…

What to Expect at a Funeral Arrangement Conference

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None of us are ever truly prepared to lose someone we love. Whether the loss comes suddenly or has been long expected, you may experience a wide range of emotions:…

The Truth About Life Insurance and Funeral Expenses

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It’s not uncommon for families to expect to pay for a funeral with life insurance benefits. Sounds like a simple plan, doesn’t it? The truth is, there can be many…

What is the Average Cost of a Funeral?

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Similar to a wedding, a funeral is a very significant event, commemorated by a gathering of family and friends and a ceremony, followed by a reception. The funeral fulfills a…

Does the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Pay for a Veteran’s Funeral?

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How much do you really know about Veterans' Burial Benefits? Do you know how much the VA will pay toward a veteran's funeral? Do you know which benefits you or…

What is a Gathering?

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Also known as a post-funeral reception, the gathering is a final opportunity to experience community with others and to offer support before returning home. The gathering allows friends to strengthen…

Living Better: Positive Psychology and Health

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Positive Thinking Want to feel younger and healthier? Being happy may help. Studies suggest that positive thinking can significantly improve physical and mental health. It’s not always easy to view…

Why Plan Ahead Infographic

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This infographic shares important information and statistics on planning ahead for funeral wishes.