Be informed. Be inspired. Celebrate your loved one.
Funerals are expensive – and the costs are rising yearly.
What happens if you can’t afford a funeral or cremation? Who is responsible for paying for the funeral, anyways?
Where can you turn for help? How do you lay your loved one to rest with no money?
Continue to read and find out the answers to these questions and more.
Here’s how to plan a funeral, step by step.
I am a funeral director. I have been in the funeral industry for 15 years, and have planned hundreds of funerals.
These events have ranged from very simple funerals to incredibly over-the-top “celebrations.” I have dealt with all kinds of families – the ones that get along to the ones that want to throw punches in the arrangement office.
And I have loved every minute of my job.
So continue reading to discover what goes into the the funeral process, one step at a time.
Organ donation is very common in the United States. Families find it comforting to know that their loved ones “live on” by saving or helping the life of someone else.
Body donation is different. Not just some organs, but the whole body is dedicated to scientific research. People don’t discuss body donation as often, yet almost anyone can donate their body to science.
If you or a loved one has had these questions, this article is for you. Read on to learn how to donate your body to science, and what happens when you do so.
Here is everything you need to know to make a funeral program yourself.
As a longtime funeral director, I’ve seen firsthand how important it is to have your funeral plans in order and to do your end-of-life arrangements ahead of time.
That’s why we created an informative, helpful funeral planning checklist. It’s free, and it’s printable.
Actually, we created two. One for simplicity and ease of use, and another to provide a comprehensive go-to trove of information, should you ever need it.
Our goal is to help you know and understand your options as you arrange the funeral and other services.
What can you quote or read at a funeral that will honor your loved one and encapsulate how much they mean to you?
This is a difficult task to undertake, especially when you will be reading or reciting in front of a group of people. Your emotions are heightened; you want to say something relevant and meaningful. But what?
Take a deep breath and read on.
We have compiled a list of funeral readings for you. You are welcome to borrow one or two, combine them to make your own, or even read them verbatim.
So, Grandma has asked you to be a pallbearer for Grandpa’s funeral. Don’t hesitate to accept the role of pallbearer. It’s a time-honored tradition.
If you’ve never carried a casket, don’t worry. We’ve put a bunch of information together for you. Once you have finished reading this article, you will be able to give all of the other pallbearers a lesson!
Here is an important yet often overlooked funeral planning tip:
Bring a friend with you to the funeral home. (And cemetery/crematorium/flower shop/venue, etc.)
Having a friend to help plan a funeral is a brilliant decision. Not only for moral support but to help you make (or avoid) some impactful, weighty, and often expensive decisions.
After all, when you are burying a loved one you don’t want to make an emotional choice that you later regret. A good friend at your side can make all the difference between agonizing stress and the freedom to mourn, honor, and remember a loved one.
Anyone can conduct a non-religious ceremony, including family or friends. But with that being said, your pun-loving uncle might not be the best choice.
So how do you choose someone to facilitate the funeral service? Do you have to pay an officiant, and if so, how much? How do you become a funeral officiant?
Below are some guidelines to follow on how to choose a funeral officiant.
Every year the cost of dying goes up. So the question is, how do you deal with the rising cost of a funeral? Now is the time to start thinking about your funeral before you “need” it.
Don’t wait until your time has come or your loved one has passed. Plan your funeral and plan for the funeral costs associated with it now. Doing so, you’ll get ahead of the inflation that is sure to come.
Read on to find out some helpful suggestions and insightful information on how to plan and pay for the funeral arrangements.