When it comes to giving your loved one a fitting farewell, you might be tempted to say that no amount of money is too much to spend on the perfect funeral. After all, funeral planning is something you only get to do for somebody once, and after the decisions have been put into action, there is no turning back. (more…)
Posts Tagged ‘cremation’
How Much is Too Much to Spend on a Funeral?
Tuesday, May 31st, 2016How to Choose a Crematory
Monday, May 16th, 2016Most people already know that when they are ready to start funeral planning, they will need to select the funeral home and cemetery that will be handling their loved one’s remains. After all, the funeral home you choose determines who will be responsible for overseeing the entire funeral process, and the cemetery is where you will visit your loved one’s remains for decades to come. (more…)
What to Do When a Loved One Dies of an Infectious Disease
Wednesday, April 27th, 2016The death of a loved one is almost always a traumatic experience, but when death was caused by an infectious disease, it can become even more upsetting. Any time you are talking about an illness that has the potential to spread to other people (even after death occurs), you are probably going to have to deal with fear and revulsion from the community – and sometimes, even from funeral providers. (more…)
Importance of Pre-Planning and End-of-Life Discussions with Family
Tuesday, March 29th, 2016Conversations about death are never easy – and conversations about your own death are even more complicated. Not only are there financial issues to bring up (a tricky subject in many families), but there is no way to talk about your end-of-life plans without emotions getting in the way. (more…)
DIY Cremation Urns
Thursday, March 24th, 2016If you are hoping to lower funeral costs and also personalize a memorial ceremony beyond the usual lineup of music-slideshow-eulogy, you may want to consider making your own cremation urn. Although you will need to have some artistic and/or woodworking skills to reach your desired result, you might be surprised at how many unique (and affordable) options are out there. (more…)
How to Plan a Funeral Quickly
Monday, March 7th, 2016There are times when planning a funeral is something that needs to happen quickly and with a minimal hassle. Whether you are dealing with a busy schedule of your own, you have family coming in from out of town and can’t commit to a lengthy funeral planning process, or you simply cannot handle the idea of lingering over the details, there are ways to cut back on the time required—and to still enjoy a beautiful, memorable goodbye. (more…)
Hidden Costs of Cremation
Wednesday, February 10th, 2016We often see cremation offered as an affordable alternative to burial—a way to say goodbye without the heavy costs associated with buying a casket, purchasing a grave plot, and putting up a headstone. While it is possible to save thousands of dollars this way, not all cremations end up being less than burial. Because so much depends on the details, you could actually end up paying more for cremation than you would for a simple or direct burial. (more…)
When is the Best Time to Scatter Ashes?
Thursday, January 28th, 2016One of the primary benefits of cremation is that you don’t have to hold a memorial service right away. With cremated remains, you can take days, weeks, months, or even years to get everyone together to hold a scattering ceremony. This kind of flexibility is important in our modern society, when families are spread out over the globe and can’t always rearrange their plans to travel to a funeral. (more…)
How to Tell Your Loved Ones You’d Like to Be Cremated
Tuesday, January 5th, 2016Even though over 40 percent of Americans opt for cremation over burial, there are still many different kinds of religious, cultural, and personal taboos that make cremation a difficult decision. This is especially true if your family has traditional views regarding funeral planning or has a long history of burial in a particular cemetery.
If you’ve decided on cremation but aren’t quite sure how to tell your family, we suggest you set aside a time to have this important conversation. It’s never a good idea to leave this sort of thing as a surprise, so the sooner you can open up to those you love, the more time you’ll have to enjoy what’s left of your time together.