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Karen Roldan

Karen Roldan has been in the funeral industry since 2006, and a licensed funeral director and embalmer since 2008. She is currently licensed in the states of Indiana and Pennsylvania. She attended Worsham College of Mortuary Science in Wheeling, IL, and graduated with an associate degree in Mortuary Science. Karen enjoys wring about the funeral industry because her passion is helping families in their deepest time of need. She feels being a funeral director is a calling and she is proud to fulfill this role. Karen is a wife and the mother of four sons. She, her husband and their youngest son call Pennsylvania home.

Latest from Karen Roldan

Ultimate Guide to Hearses

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Hearses

Hearses are vehicles that take people for their final ride. That’s one of the the most straightforward answers we can give, anyway.

Everyone has questions about the death industry, and it’s perfectly natural to wonder about macabre curiosities (and sometimes practical necessities) such as hearses.

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Questions about Cremation

How Does Cremation Work? +35 Weird Questions About Cremation

Sometimes the questions we have (especially questions about the cremation process) can be a bit weird, but we still need to ask them.

Thankfully, we have the internet!

You probably have a bunch of odd, quirky questions about cremation, and that’s completely normal.

How does cremation work?

Do bodies sit up during cremation?

What happens to the teeth, internal organs, casket?

Do dead bodies scream during cremation?

Is there a smell?

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How to Write a Death Announcement

Death Announcements: Examples, Tips, How to Write & Post

What do you need to know about death announcements?

Today, we’ll be exploring these questions and more:

  • What is a death announcement?
  • Is an announcement of death necessary?
  • What is the difference between a death announcement and an obituary?
  • The difference between a death announcement and a death notice – is there one?
  • What is the appropriate way to inform others of a death?

If you’re unfamiliar with the proper etiquette for how to announce a death, well, that’s understandable. We’ve written this guide to help you know what to do, when to do it, and how to do so in an appropriate and respectful way.

Let’s dive in.

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70 Best Memorial Plaques for Outdoors, Gifts, Photos, & More

Memorializing a loved one means something different to each of us. Some people will dedicate a park, a bench, or a tree in memory of someone. Others are happy to place a picture, a keepsake urn, or a memorial candle to honor their loved ones.

It doesn’t matter how big or small, how expensive or affordable; they are all important ways to say, “Your life mattered to me!”

If you’ve decided to honor your loved one’s memory with a memorial plaque, then we believe this list we’ve compiled will be very helpful for you. With so many beautiful options, it may be hard to pick which one would suit them best! 

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What Does Grief Do to Your Body?

Grief affects everyone. At some point in your lifetime you will experience grief, whether it is the death of a loved one or a pet, a breakup, or a dream that has fallen through.

Are you experiencing the physical effects of grief? Or have you ever wondered what happens to your body during this most stressful time?

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Pet Cremation Costs: What to Expect & How to Save

Pet cremation is becoming the go-to choice when a beloved pet passes. After all, most pets are part of the family, and we want to treat them that way even in death.

As this service becomes more popular, it also becomes more affordable to the “average” person. Many funeral homes offer pet cremation, though they may not list it in their regular brochure. But you can rest assured your human loved one is never cremated in the same receptacle that your beloved pet is. Funeral homes actually outsource pet cremations to a third party.

Read on to learn more about cremating your pet and the ins and outs of making this decision.

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60 Comforting Sympathy Messages for Loss of a Child

There can be no greater pain than the loss of a child. No parent should have to go through it, yet it happens every day. Someone, somewhere is saying a final goodbye to their child

Just a few words of advice from a funeral director, please don’t say, “I know how you feel.”  Because you don’t. Even if you have been in the same situation, we all handle grief differently. Simply offer your love, support, compassion and a listening ear…

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