Traditionally, many families put out guest books at their loved ones’ funerals. Many funeral homes include this guest book in their service package for no extra charge. These books can simply be a place for attendees to note their presence and sign their name, but you can also take this concept further and turn the guest book into a keepsake that can be enjoyed for years to come. Here are two ideas to help you. Continue reading “Make Your Funeral Guest Book Into a Treasured Keepsake”
Category: Articles
How to Remember a Loved One After an Unattended Cremation
While organising any cremation service is stressful, an unattended cremation reduces the number of difficult decisions you need to make. All you have to do is arrange for a funeral director to pick up the deceased’s body and to have it cremated privately. You are then given the ashes if you want them. Continue reading “How to Remember a Loved One After an Unattended Cremation”
3 Ways to Help Children Cope With Death
The death of a close friend or relative can release feelings of loss and intense sadness. While adults may struggle to deal with these feelings, children can have an even harder time coping.
If you have recently lost a loved one, you may be concerned about how their death may impact the children in the family. Children can often struggle to understand death, so adults must be there to offer the support and guidance the child needs to overcome their loss. Below is a guide to some of the things you can do if you know a child who has lost a loved one.
What Is Funeral Preplanning and Why Should You Consider It?
Funeral preplanning is when you plan your own funeral before your death. You work directly with the funeral home to plan your final arrangements, and you pay for the services upfront. This option has grown in popularity, so you may want to consider funeral preplanning for the following reasons.
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3 Cremation Urn Options for an Outdoor Memorial
There are many reasons why families choose to keep a cremation urn outside. You may be considering it because your loved one was an outdoor enthusiast, or perhaps you just feel more comfortable keeping ashes out of the home.
Whatever your reason for purchasing an outdoor urn, it’s important that you buy one made from the right material. Wood urns may be a timeless and beautiful option for storing cremains, but wood is very sensitive to changes in moisture and temperature. This makes wooden urns unsuitable for outdoor placement. Thankfully, there are many other options available that are perfect for use outside.
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The Benefits of Having a Celebrant at a Funeral
When you’re organising a funeral, you need someone to lead the service. While this was traditionally a role for religious representatives such as ministers or priests, this isn’t as much of a requirement today. As an alternative, more people choose non-religious celebrants to take charge of funeral services. For example, you can hire a celebrant to do this for you. Here, you can learn more about what celebrants are and how they can enhance your cremation service. Continue reading “The Benefits of Having a Celebrant at a Funeral”
When Should You Buy a Cremation Urn?
For many families, choosing and buying an urn is one of the most important and significant parts of planning a cremation and laying a loved one to rest. However, many people are unsure of when the best time to buy an urn is.
If you’re looking for guidance, here’s all you need to know about the two main timeframes for buying a cremation urn.
4 Things You Didn’t Know, but Should, About Cremation Options
Pre-planning for a funeral is a common method to ensure you do not leave loved ones with unexpected funeral expenses. The pre-planning process can include not only traditional burial options, but also cremation services. Here are four aspects of pre-planning your funeral and cremation you may not know, but should know. Continue reading “4 Things You Didn’t Know, but Should, About Cremation Options”
Selecting Meaningful Flowers for Your Loved One’s Casket Spray
You have a lot of options when choosing flowers for your loved one’s casket spray. For some, choosing a set of flowers that look pretty is enough. You may also like to remember the person with their favourite flower. However, if you aren’t sure what to opt for, you may like to pick flowers that convey a specific meaning.
While not everybody is well-versed in flower language, you may be comforted knowing that your loved one is surrounded by flowers that are subtly tailored to them and their life. Here are a number of popular flowers and their meanings to guide you in your selection. Continue reading “Selecting Meaningful Flowers for Your Loved One’s Casket Spray”
Living With Grief: How to Begin Moving On
Losing a loved one is one of the universal experiences that unites every adult person. It is a unique time of heightened emotions, filled with both a very conspicuous absence and a wealth of happy memories.
Thankfully, most of us will never experience enough loss to get used to the feeling — but this does mean that living through these times can be a challenge. You may be unsure how to direct your emotions or how to cope with the minutiae of everyday life with so much weight on your shoulders.
However, you should not feel helpless in this. There are ways that you can help yourself to start recovering from your loss. Continue reading “Living With Grief: How to Begin Moving On”
Helping Your Kids Say Goodbye to a Grandparent
If your kids are lucky enough, they’ll get to spend several years enjoying their grandparents’ company. However, since their grandparents are probably the oldest family members in your children’s lives, it’s likely that they’ll have to say goodbye to these beloved family members sooner than they’d like.
For some kids, their grandparents’ deaths are the first they’ve experienced, which can make the funeral and the events leading up to it particularly rough. But if you’re dealing with the death of your own parent, you might have a hard time knowing how to comfort your kids and help them through this difficult time.
Continue reading “Helping Your Kids Say Goodbye to a Grandparent”
Creating a Space to Remember a Person After Cremation
Where burial was once the standard, many people now prefer to be cremated when they die, with 66 percent of Australians now choosing this option. There are many reasons for cremation becoming a more popular choice, for example, concerns about land use and other environmental concerns, but a gradual change in social norms is one of the main factors.
Although cremation has many benefits, one reason someone might decide to bury their loved one is so that they can have a special place to visit and remember their lost loved ones. A grave is a good place to spend time paying respects, but cremation doesn’t have to mean missing out on this benefit. In fact, there are plenty of ways you can still have a dedicated memorial for someone who has been cremated.
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How to Decide Where to Scatter Your Loved One’s Ashes
Deciding where to scatter your loved one’s ashes after cremation is a very personal decision, and the process will look different for everyone.
Some families might have a definite idea of where their loved one’s ashes should be scattered, some might have received direction from their relative before they passed and others might have no idea what to do with the ashes.
The following pointers will help you consider your options, without making you feel rushed or overwhelmed.
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Unique Cremation Keepsakes You May Not Know About
Over the last few decades, there have been many changes in urns and cremation services. These changes have opened the door for an increasing number of more personalised ways to keep your loved one’s cremains safe and cherished. If you are looking for something that is different and more unique than the traditional options, here are a few unique cremation keepsakes to consider.
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Eco-Friendly Cremation Urns for Green Funeral Services
Eco-friendly and green funeral services are becoming increasingly popular. If cremation is part of your eco-friendly or green funeral plans, here are some cremation urns that may be ideal. Continue reading “Eco-Friendly Cremation Urns for Green Funeral Services”
7 Facts You Need to Know About Scattering Ashes
After a cremation, you can inter your loved one’s ashes in a columbarium, bury the ashes in a cemetery or keep the ashes. You can also opt to scatter the ashes. Here’s what you need to know about that option. Continue reading “7 Facts You Need to Know About Scattering Ashes”
5 Ideas for Personalising a Funeral or Memorial Service
If you’re planning a memorial service for a loved one, there are a number of ways you can personalise the service. Whether you want a religious ceremony or a secular service, there are all kinds of options. Consider the following ideas.
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Untangling the Truth Behind Myths About Cremation
Although cremation is becoming a more popular option throughout Australia, many misconceptions still abound about this process. Whether you’re setting up your own pre-need or planning cremation for a loved one, we’re going to help you untangle some of those myths. Here’s a look at some of the most common misconceptions and an explanation of the truth behind them.
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3 Beautiful and Memorable Ways to Celebrate a Loved One’s Memory After Cremation
Historically, funerals have been sombre religious occasions followed by a traditional burial. As society has become more secular, civil ceremonies have increasingly replaced religious services, and the idea of a funeral as a celebration of life rather than a sad and serious occasion is becoming the norm. More than 85% of Australians would prefer a relaxed, celebratory or fun final send-off than a more solemn funeral.
Continue reading “3 Beautiful and Memorable Ways to Celebrate a Loved One’s Memory After Cremation”
Is a Companion Urn Right for Your Loved One?
When you lose a loved one, one of the most important aspects of organising their cremation is choosing an urn. Urns hold the cremated remains (also known as ‘ashes’ or ‘cremains’) of the deceased and serve as the perfect memorial of their life when displayed in the home. If someone very close to you has passed or you’re in the unfortunate position of having lost two loved ones, you may want to consider opting for a companion urn.
Continue reading “Is a Companion Urn Right for Your Loved One?”
