Although it might seem like an archaic practice to those accustomed to modern funeral planning, sea burials have long been an acceptable way to dispose of human remains. For some cultures, the act of returning the body to the sea is part of a long-standing relationship with the water and its life-giving properties. For others, it is a military honor bestowed on those who gave their life to service at sea.
Posts Tagged ‘Funeral Planning’
How to Have a Sea Burial
Tuesday, October 9th, 2012How to Plan a Post Funeral Gathering
Friday, September 28th, 2012
Whether your funeral planning efforts resulted in a traditional ceremony and burial, or if you opted for a private cremation scattering, it’s a common practice to invite everyone in attendance to a post-funeral gathering. Also commonly known as the funeral reception, this event provides an opportunity for friends and family members to mourn the deceased (and to celebrate the life he or she had) in a setting that is less formal than a memorial service.
The responsibility for planning the funeral reception typically falls to the immediate family—more specifically, to the same individual who handles the bulk of the funeral plans. If this is too much of a responsibility, however, it might be a good idea to ask for help. Many people come forward to offer their assistance in the aftermath of a loss, and this is a good way to allow them to do their part.
What are Funeral Concierge Services?
Wednesday, September 26th, 2012
Even with the recent popularity of pre-arranged funerals and so many people taking steps to ensure that funeral costs are covered years in advance, few individuals know exactly how to plan a funeral. The actual details of the process, including things like selecting a casket, comparing funeral homes, negotiating a memorial service time—those can be a real challenge for someone facing this crisis for the first time.
Funeral Planning: Create a List of Contacts and Personal Information
Friday, September 21st, 2012
Some of the best (and lowest-cost) funeral planning efforts don’t involve buying or arranging anything. In fact, before you do any concrete planning, it’s a good idea to sit down and organize your fiscal and personal information so that everything you need is in one place. By taking an extra step to outline your funeral wishes and to provide a copy of this information to the individual who will be responsible for your estate after your death, you can save quite a bit of time and effort.
Funeral Customs for Fire Fighters
Monday, September 17th, 2012
Whenever someone dies in the line of duty—whether it’s a soldier, police officer, or fire fighter—funeral planning becomes more important than ever before. That’s because the deceased is more than just a beloved son or daughter, mother or father. He or she is a hero, and that’s someone that entire communities want to band together to commemorate.
In almost all cases, there are protocols in place regarding funeral planning for a fallen hero. The International Association of Fire Fighters oversees the process of line-of-duty deaths for fire fighters, including how to plan a funeral in keeping with the honor due the deceased.
Funeral Planning and Technology: Virtual Showrooms
Friday, September 14th, 2012
These days, more and more funeral planning consumers are turning to online sources for information on choosing a funeral home and knowing their options when it comes to burial, cremation, or alternate body arrangements. Whether they’re researching funeral costs via an Android or building a memorial website from home, people are using their web-savvy skills to make smart choices and plan funerals that bridge tradition and technology.
Whimsical Funeral Themes: Too Far?
Monday, September 10th, 2012
Funeral planning is not immune to the power of popular culture. Although this industry is one that has a tendency to adopt change at a slower pace, technology has made it easier to incorporate thing like webcasts, memorial websites, and QR codes on headstones into your funeral plans. For some people, these types of things are part of the ever-changing world in which we live; for others, they’re too much of a departure from tradition to be a comfortable funeral planning choice.
Of course, today’s funeral innovations go beyond computers and technology. One of the most recent images to hit the newsstands is of a casket that takes advantage of the favorite pop culture item of 2011/2012: bacon. That’s right. A bacon casket.
What to Do When a Loved One Dies Overseas
Friday, August 31st, 2012
Although it’s a rare occurrence and few people think it can happen to them, there are incidences in which a United States citizen dies while living or vacationing abroad. This can be a trying experience. In addition to dealing with the grief of loss, there is quite a bit of red tape to go through in order to transfer the body of the deceased and to get all the appropriate paperwork to settle the estate.
Funeral Planning: Online Wills
Tuesday, August 28th, 2012
One of the biggest steps you’ll take during the process of estate and funeral planning is to create a will. This legally-binding document contains directives how to disburse your estate after you are gone, including how and where your property and assets are divided (as well as the care of any dependents you leave behind). Although the traditional method has always been to draft a will under the direction and guidance of a lawyer, the ease of online transactions has made online wills more popular than ever before.
And while there are benefits to drafting an online will, it’s not the right solution for everyone. If you’re in the funeral planning stages and are considering looking to the Internet for your will and estate needs, here are a few considerations to keep in mind.
Funeral Planning Warnings
Friday, August 17th, 2012
As is the case with any major life purchase, funeral planning comes with its own red flags and warnings. Although the death care industry is regulated at both the federal and the state levels, there will always be dishonest practices by a select few organizations that care more about making money than providing you with the comfort and services you need.
If you or a loved one is preparing to plan a funeral, here are a few issues to keep in mind before you sign a contract or open your wallet.
