If you have recently lost a loved one or are planning a funeral for the first time, you might be intimidated at the prospect of writing a eulogy or giving a funeral speech. After all, this is your one chance to let everyone know in words just how important the deceased was to you and how he or she affected your life.
Posts Tagged ‘Funeral Planning’
Eulogy Ideas
Thursday, April 19th, 2012Maintaining Privacy at a Funeral
Tuesday, April 17th, 2012
Funeral planning can be stressful under the best of circumstances. Any family conflicts, unresolved arguments, or issues related to privacy that arise tend to make matters much worse than they need to be, often interrupting private grief and taking the focus away from where it should be—celebrating the life of the deceased.
Because death notices tend to be made public, it can be difficult to keep a funeral private and restrict attendance, especially if the deceased was a popular figure in any way. Here are a few tips to keep a funeral a small, intimate affair without hurting the feelings of those who aren’t invited to the funeral.
Tribute Videos and Funeral Planning
Wednesday, April 11th, 2012
If you’re planning the funeral of a loved one, you may come across a pamphlet or advertisement for a tribute video. Funeral videos are a way of creating an audio-visual tribute to the deceased through a series of photographs, images of favorite items, captions or titles, and music. Popular in recent years because of the blurring of the lines between the funeral industry and technology, video tributes are also a unique and beautiful way to provide a touch of personalization to the memorial service. For more in depth funeral planning guidance, download our guide “7 Insider Tips You Need to Know Before Funeral Planning”
How to Officiate a Funeral
Monday, April 9th, 2012
Nine times out of ten, funeral plans call for a religious official or funeral home director to oversee the proceedings at a memorial service. Although there are no rules about who can or can’t officiate a funeral, it is usually best to have someone who can provide comfort without breaking down in the face of such a sudden loss.
However, this doesn’t mean that you can’t opt to officiate a funeral on your own. If you would like to feel a deeper connection to the funeral planning process, or if you have a history of public speaking and would like to ensure that the funeral has a personal touch that everyone can connect to, you may wish to be in charge of the service yourself. If this is the case, here are a few steps for planning the ceremony.
Women and Funeral Planning
Friday, April 6th, 2012
When it comes to traditional financial planning, the majority of long-term fiscal decisions are made by men. For years, financial professionals have been trying to create specialized programs that focus on women and how they can plan for retirement or life after the loss of a spouse.
Funeral planning, on the other hand, is a process that has long been dominated by women. In fact, an estimated two-thirds of funerals are planned and paid for by women—usually because a wife outlives her husband, and is called upon to determine how to best lay her spouse to rest. Adult female children are also the ones most likely to act as caretakers for their aging parents, so the task of funeral planning often falls to them.
Funeral Planning: Moments of Silence
Friday, March 30th, 2012
One of the memorial service options that appears in almost all funeral plans, regardless of religious or personal preference, is the moment of silence. Defined as a period of silent contemplation (ranging from one to ten minutes), this time is used for everything from personal reflection and prayer to meditation. In funeral planning, it can be part of the decision-making process, memorial service, burial, ash scattering, or any other ceremony that comes with emotional weightiness.
Why You Should Pre-Plan Your Funeral if You Want to Be Cremated
Wednesday, March 28th, 2012
Funeral planning is one of the most personal and difficult things that anyone undertakes. It doesn’t matter whether it’s the funeral of a parent, a child, a brother, or a spouse—making the decisions that will lay your loved one to rest for all of eternity is something no one can be prepared to face.
Funeral traditions, those often somber practices that include ornate caskets, reverent music, and religious eulogies, exist to help those decisions become easier to make. There is a small measure of comfort to be derived from knowing that your loved one is following the same path that millions of people have traversed before.
Online Funeral Planning Resources
Monday, March 26th, 2012Our iMortuary Blog is typically aimed at consumers seeking funeral home planning information. However, today’s post from Minda Brusse, Principal of iMortuary.com, addresses funeral home owners and managers across the United States.
Funeral homes are facing the challenge of rapid change in the way businesses and individuals connect. Millions of consumers turn to the Internet to research funeral planning, creating an opportunity for businesses to connect with consumers who have not made firm plans and choices. Many funeral homes and cemeteries have websites and use email to interact with their customers. However, across the board, visibility and appropriate online branding continues to be a general weakness. Several marketing-oriented companies are stepping in to fill the gap.
What is a Home Funeral?
Thursday, March 15th, 2012
When it comes to funeral planning, the modern consumer has more options than ever before. From cremation and green burial to traditional interment, there is a ceremony for every type of person—and every budget.
Those hoping to reduce funeral costs even more—and to put the focus back on family—have one more option: the home funeral. Once the only way to say goodbye to those we love, a home funeral is exactly what the name suggests. Instead of having a memorial service at a funeral home and burying the deceased in a cemetery, the entire process takes place at home.
Is It Wrong for a Funeral Home to Market its Services?
Wednesday, March 14th, 2012
Most people have strong opinions when it comes to funeral planning and choosing the right funeral home. No one wants to feel like just another number, or to have their loved ones treated callously or in any way that isn’t tender and respectful—and that is a completely justified expectation. Even though funeral homes are a business, they are also an important part of the grieving process and of the community as a whole.
