One increasingly common trend that we’re seeing in funeral planning today is the presence of a funeral photographer at the services. As the name suggests, this professional is on hand to take pictures of a memorial ceremony, the sprays of funeral flowers, the guests, and, in some rarer cases, the coffin or deceased.
While some people consider this practice macabre, funeral photography has actually been around for centuries. And as a recent photograph at the funeral of fallen Navy S.E.A.L Jon Tumilson (with his grieving pet Lab) proves, pictures can be a powerful way to capture the emotions of the day and pay a lasting tribute to those who pass on.
One of the most traditional and time-honored funeral customs is to send sympathy flowers to the newly bereaved. Whether these are sent to the funeral home for display during a memorial service or delivered right to the deceased’s home as a way to show your support, funeral flowers have long been associated with comfort and bereavement.
Many of the sprays sent during this time have particular sentimental value. Perhaps they were the favorite flowers of the deceased, were sent by an important relative, or carry other personal meaning. They can also be elaborate and expensive, and therefore worth preserving. All of these contribute to a growing trend in the funeral planning community to save funeral flowers so that they can be displayed or placed in safekeeping.
When it comes to funeral planning, people are faced with more options than ever before. You can completely pre-plan a funeral while you are still in the peak of health. You can donate your body to science. You can even shoot your cremated remains up into space or become part of an eco-friendly coral reef project.
A new wave of funeral planning innovations is the destination funeral. Like a destination wedding, this is a celebration planned for somewhere far away from home: maybe a tropical beach or a favorite location overseas. For those with enough money to turn this dream into a reality, the result can be an unforgettable funeral experience that brings people together in ways you never imagined.
Within the funeral industry, Canton, GA is best known as the site of the Georgia National Cemetery, a 775-acre national cemetery designed to serve veterans of the United States and their families. Almost all Canton funeral homes are able to accommodate those wishing to secure a plot in the national cemetery, and many of the services that go along with a traditional military funeral can be accessed through them.
Of course, there are other cemeteries within the town and within the larger Cherokee County area, as well. If you or a loved one is looking into funeral pre-plans, or if you are planning a service for a recent loss, you’ll find all the support and information you need right here.
Choosing a cemetery is an important part of the funeral planning process. Unlike a casket or funeral clothes, which remain underground and eventually decay, the gravestone and cemetery are the visible and lasting reminders of the deceased’s legacy. Throughout history, humans have placed great importance on the final place of rest, even going so far as to construct elaborate structures for the purpose.
Although today’s cemeteries and gravestones tend to be more understated than what was expected just a hundred years ago, they still carry great importance to the family members and descendants left behind. Here’s a quick look through American history and our shared focus on this most important of burial rites.
Amarillo funeral homes are part of a long tradition of honoring those who have been a part of the local community. Although it is a fairly large area, this Texas locale puts a lot of effort into respecting all the people who have helped build the city, from the early pioneers and builders to local heroes and politicians.
Everyday families have a place here, too, and the funeral services in Amarillo are among the best you’ll find in the state. With a focus on honoring lives in the grand Texas tradition, every ceremony and burial wish is made a priority.
Historic Llano Cemetery
Llano Cemetery is the most famous cemetery in Amarillo, famed for its 140-acres of space and over 100 years of service. It was the first cemetery in the state to have been approved by the Texas Historical Commission as an official historical site. The oldest burial is an 1888 grave for a young child who passed away on her way through, and the land on which she can be found was bought and incorporated into a larger city cemetery in the ensuing years.
One of the aspects of planning a funeral that can be the most emotionally draining is writing thank-you notes in the days and weeks following the memorial service. From the people who helped you plan the funeral to those who sent flowers, it’s good funeral etiquette to acknowledge individual contributions with a thank you note.
Unfortunately stress and grief often make this simple task too difficult to even comprehend. If you find yourself facing the task of writing thank yous but aren’t sure where to start, here are a few helpful tips:
One way in which families are saving on costs during the funeral planning process is to consider direct cremation. This process, which entails cremating the deceased without a funeral service, embalming, or body viewing, is the most streamlined option currently offered by the funeral industry. Although there is a lack of ceremony about it that puts many people off, direct cremation is ideal in situations in which no funeral pre-plans were made or the deceased wished for little fanfare.
If you’re planning a funeral either for your own future or for the recent passing of a loved one, one of the options you’ll come across is direct burial. Like traditional burial arrangements, this plan involves purchasing a cemetery plot and interring the body into the ground. However, because you forgo embalming and a formal funeral service, you can typically save quite a bit of money on funeral costs with this option.
What is Direct Burial?
In direct burial, the body is buried very soon after death occurs. The deceased is typically buried in a simple casket or container rather than something ornate, and no embalming occurs to preserve the body. Additionally, there is no formal funeral service or memorial burial arrangements made, and the casket is not opened for viewing.
This doesn’t mean that you aren’t allowed to have a memorial service for the deceased. On the contrary, the sky is the limit when it comes to your funeral service options. You can have a formal gathering at your home, rent a space for a memorial service, or even set up a graveside service at the time the body is buried. In direct burial, you simply sidestep the formal funeral home arrangements in favor of something less traditional.
How Much Does Direct Burial Cost?
Burial costs vary depending on your location, the funeral home you choose, and the options that make this burial unique. Direct burial, which typically includes the funeral home fee, transportation of the body, and a basic burial container, can run anywhere from $1,000 to $4,000.
Additional funeral costs will arise for the purchase of a cemetery plot and/or graveside service held there, if you choose. These costs are considered separate from the funeral home fees.
Although one of the reasons to choose direct burial is to save money by avoiding embalming costs, local laws may require you to embalm. In some states, a body must either be buried within 24 hours or refrigerated (for up to 72 hours total) or be embalmed, regardless of your wishes. These laws are put in place for public health and safety reasons, and can not be disputed with the funeral home.
Saving on Funeral Costs
One of the primary reasons people choose direct burial is that it saves thousands of dollars on funeral costs. In many cases, financial strains require that you limit the amount of money you spend on a funeral. In other cases, it may simply have been the wishes of the deceased to be buried in a simple, informal manner.
If you are concerned about the financial aspect of death and burial, we encourage you to talk with a funeral planning organization to explore all the possibilities. From funeral pre-plans that cover all your needs to funeral insurance payable upon death, there are many different options that allow you to save money on your future burial arrangement needs.
If you’re funeral planning for a loved one and want to incorporate a touching memorial, a dove release ceremony might be the perfect choice. Dove release ceremonies are common in both funerals and weddings, with a similar role in each one. For funerals, the dove’s ascension represents the final journey of the soul into Heaven; for weddings, it is a message of hope for the future. The final outcome in both cases is that family members are comforted and able to look past the present emotions to a happy lifetime ahead of them.
One increasingly common trend that we’re seeing in funeral planning today is the presence of a funeral photographer at the services. As the name suggests, this professional is on hand to take pictures of a memorial ceremony, the sprays of funeral flowers, the guests, and, in some rarer cases, the coffin or deceased.
