Blog | Lifesong Funerals - Page 7 of 34 -

How to Set Up a Memorial Display

There are endless ways of personalizing the place where the funeral service of a loved one will be held. The service can be made more warm and personal by displaying memorabilia, photos, and collections of the time spent before passing on. While it might take a while to find the best photos and memorabilia to put on display, it’ll be worth it. The venue where the funeral service would be held would likely have several places for setting up memorial displays to honor the dead and remind the living of joyful memories. You can check out the funeral homes in Quincy, FL if you’re looking for a funeral home that offers cremation memorial services.

Display Photographs

Search through the family photo album (or on Facebook) and select pictures that show the deceased in all stages of their life. You shouldn’t try looking for perfect pictures as the aim of the photos is to remember all times of their lives. Pick photos from all stages of their lives and then prepare them for display by cleaning the glass and wiping down the frames.

While it can be especially difficult to go through old pictures, especially before a funeral, psychologists say it’s a great bonding idea for the entire family or group of friends. Be sure to have a private look at the pictures with family and close friends, giving time for the emotions that will inevitably well up. If you find just small photos of the deceased, it is a good idea to enlarge them before displaying them. You could delegate this task to friends who have asked how they can help you, so you do not have to do all of it alone.

Place a large recently taken photo at the entrance and by the guest book and spread the other photos around the space where the funeral service is holding. Most people recommend standing a large photo on the casket in a way that is easily seen by everyone gathered.

Showcase Hobbies

If the deceased was an avid admirer or follower of any hobby, you could add this personal touch into the funeral service. If they were an enthusiastic gardener or an intense fisherman, you could bring in their favorite plant, favorite fishing rods or display a photo of a notable achievement. It can be an especially big catch. Family and friends will take a look at these and recall fond memories of time spent with the deceased.

Display Their Collections

This is especially recommended if the deceased were a collector or if they had a favorite item. It is a great idea to add their collections to their funeral services. You could hang them around, pin them up or simply strew them on the floor depending on what the collection is. Filling the funeral space with the deceased collection is an especially moving and beautiful way to add to describe their life story. It can also be a practical way of getting rid of most of these collections in a touching way, especially if the family has decided against holding onto the entire collection. Guests should be encouraged to pick a piece in memory of the deceased.

Avoid Overcrowding

The options above open up several excellent ways to design the funeral space, however, remember to be choosy when selecting items to be displayed. While you could tell a beautiful story of their lives and recall fond memories to the mind of visitors, picking too many things and then overcrowding them can leave friends, family, and other guests feeling overwhelmed by too many memories. Be very selective when selecting items to display as funerals should be a time of acceptance and the beginning of the healing process.

You can learn more about cremation services funeral homes in Quincy, FL. Talk to us at Lifesong Funerals & Cremations to schedule a consultation and learn about cremation services/funeral home services. Visit our offices in Florida or call one of our locations.

Things To Do When You Can’t Attend A Funeral

Attending the funeral service of a loved one can help you find closure when grieving a loss; however, what happens when you miss the funeral service? While attending the funeral service should be high on your priorities, you should cancel less important plans to accommodate it, sometimes things happen, and you might miss the funeral service. It can be anything from sickness, being far away, or an inability to travel. The importance of attending a funeral service has been discussed; however, there are several other ways to mourn with and show support to the grieving family. This article shall discuss a few thoughtful things to do if you cannot make it to the funeral. To see a list of funeral homes that have a virtual guest book, check out funeral homes in Quincy, FL.

Sign the online guest book.

Online guest books are a straightforward, cost-free, and quick way to honor the person that passed and show your sympathy. In today’s world, an online guest book is a norm, and every funeral home has one along with the obituary of the deceased. A Google search should bring up the virtual guest book of the person that passed on. You should write a note similar to what you would say if you were at the funeral in person while expressing your regret for missing the funeral. However, virtual guest books are accessible to everyone who visits the page, so you should be reserved when sharing memories of the deceased.

Make a donation.

Another thing to do when you miss a funeral is to donate in the name of the person who passed on. This is a kind and brilliant way to honor their memory. However, ensure you donate to a charity that represents the interests and values of the deceased. It shows the mourning family that they are in your thoughts as most charities will notify the family of your donation.

Bring a meal.

For centuries, bringing a meal has remained a popular way of showing your support for friends or family during challenging times. When offering to bring a meal, especially to a grieving family, you shouldn’t ask as they’ll likely prefer to focus on mourning rather than eating. Send a direct message letting them know you would love to bring them a meal at a so and so date, then ask if it is convenient for them. However, the option of bringing a meal is reserved for family and close friends. You should have extensive knowledge of their food preferences or allergies so you can bring a meal that everyone will enjoy.

Send a kind note.

When you discover you wouldn’t be available to attend the funeral, the first gesture is to send a note. The note should express your regrets that you wouldn’t be available and convey your sympathies. Depending on your relationship with the bereaved, your message can explain the reason for being the funeral. However, it’s generally recommended that you not go into details as the note is to mourn with the grieving family and not discuss your schedules. Sending a note lets the bereaved know that you have them in your thoughts.

Offer a gift card or send a care package.

The last way we’ll be discussing in this article is sending a gift card or a care package. This lets the grieving family know that they are in your thoughts and you regret missing the funeral. While a gift card is simple and doesn’t warrant much thought, a care package might require more extensive planning. You should include practical items such as basic food items, beverages, and toiletries. You can also include some treats and scented candles. The monetary value of the care package or the gift card isn’t important here, and you shouldn’t put off sending a care package until you feel it is rich enough. Like most things when it comes to relationships, it is the thoughts that matter. The grieving family will remember that you thought of them and tried to make their life better even in your little way.

You can learn more about funeral homes in Quincy, FL. Talk to us at Lifesong Funerals & Cremations to schedule a consultation and learn about cremation services/funeral home services. Visit our offices in Florida or call one of our locations.

What Should I Wear To A Funeral

Choosing an attire for a funeral can be incredibly challenging. While the color black is deep-rooted in funeral tradition, every funeral or service is distinct. You will have to consider several factors when deciding what to wear to a funeral, such as the time of the year, the location, the family’s wishes, and formality. However, here’s a reminder that what the grieving family requires is your support, and unless you get your attire incredibly wrong, no one would even notice what you wear. If you wish to check out the cremation options available in Tallahassee, you can Google cremation services in Tallahassee, FL for a list of the available options.

Why Is Black Worn to Funerals?

Throughout history and in various countries, people have symbolized their grief with different colors other than black. In Egypt, gold is the most popular color for funerals. In Hindu culture, white is used as their symbol for mourning, while Ghana uses red. However, in the United States, black remains the popular choice to symbolize mourning.

Historians say that while many cultures in the early Roman Empire used dark-colored attires to signify mourning, Queen Victoria of England made it popular as a mourning color. In 1861, when Prince Albert, her husband, passed away, the heartbroken queen wore black to symbolize her loss for the rest of her life. The British upper class and the entire West mimicked the queen after a while, and black became the popular symbol for mourning.

Should I Wear Black?

Today, wearing black to funerals is not always required; however, several people prefer to wear it because it denotes a respect for the dead. Wearing subdued colors shows you are at the funeral to mourn or offer support to a grieving family for the passing of a loved one and not to make yourself stand out. While there are several subdued colors that aren’t black – gray, dark gray, olive green, navy, etc. – black remains the most popular choice. A good rule of thumb to follow is to avoid wearing boldly patterned or bright colors and get rid of flashy fashion accessories.

Whether subdued color you decide to wear, strife to maintain an appearance of formality. Your chosen attire for a funeral service should be one you can wear to a formal engagement like an interview, a business presentation, or a networking event.

Special Funeral Services – Celebration Of Life

Many families are deciding to forego several traditional elements of mourning and funeral services, and most people specifically request that guests do not wear black. This is especially common when the deceased is old and lived a full life. The funeral service is tailored to celebrate the decease and the joys they brought into the lives of everyone they know. Families can request that guests dress in joyful and warm colors instead of black and other subdued colors.

The three primary goals of a funeral service are to honor the deceased, find closure, and comfort grieving friends and family. Your attire is secondary to this, and you shouldn’t be overly perturbed about what to wear.

You can learn more about cremation services in Tallahassee, FL. Talk to us at Lifesong Funerals & Cremations to schedule a consultation and learn about cremation services/funeral home services. Visit our offices in Florida or call one of our locations.

A Guide to Selecting an Urn or a Casket

There are several factors to consider when choosing an urn or casket for a loved one or yourself. You have to consider various factors such as your budget, the type of ceremony being planned, and your personal preferences. Urns and caskets are available in various styles and materials, so they naturally vary in price depending on what you are interested in. If you’re looking to cremate or bury a recently deceased loved one, check out these funeral homes in Tallahassee, FL.

Caskets

Popularly called a coffin in some climes, a casket holds the body that’s about to be entombed or buried. A casket is also an attractive and respective way to transport the body before it is cremated or buried.

Types of Caskets

Metal Caskets – Metal caskets are constructed from materials such as plain steel, bronze, copper, gold, and other precious metals. These are popular choices because they provide extra protection from the elements, and they are exceedingly durable. Professionals often refer to them as sealer, protective or gasketed caskets because they contain a thick rubber gasket surrounding the lid, creating a sealed enclosure.

Wood Caskets – Constructed from wood, these caskets are another popular option because of the vast selection available and their unique hand-crafted design quality. If you decide to purchase a wood casket, you should pay extra attention to the details to ensure you are not paying higher for lower-quality wood that has been veneered or finished to look like premium wood.

Rental Caskets – This kind of casket is made for display purposes only. They are designed to be displayed during the wake or a funeral but wouldn’t be used to bury the body. These caskets are mainly required when the deceased opted for being cremated, but a traditional funeral service is still needed.

Eco-Friendly Caskets – There currently exists a wide variety of environmentally friendly burial container options, and eco-friendly caskets are just an example of such. These are biodegradable caskets commonly made from bamboo, unfinished wood, banana leaf, willow, and other natural materials. While this kind of casket will obviously come in the natural color of the material used in its production, it can be beautified by dyeing.

Cardboard Caskets – This is another environmentally friendly casket option. Made using biodegradable cardboard, these eco-friendly caskets are popular choices for green burials or cremation. They are also the cheapest casket option available.

Cremation Urns

An urn is a vessel specially crafted to carry cremation ashes. While wood is a popular material used to create cremation urns, it can be made using other materials such as metal and marble. They differ from simple cremation urns to exquisite styles designed to be artistic displays in the house.

There are several diverse types of cremation urns.

Types of Urns

Keepsake Urns – This type of cremation urns is primarily used when the ashes of a lost loved one have been scattered, but the family wishes to keep a portion of the ashes. It is also a popular option when the ashes are shared amongst several family members. They come in small sizes and can be made from a variety of materials.

Wood Urns – This type of cremation urns are made from an extensive type of wood such as walnut, oak, pine, maple, or cherry. Wood cremation urns are usually stained and frequently beautified with laser etchings and inlays.

Biodegradable Urns – In today’s world, the popularity of environmentally friendly or green burial has surged throughout the funeral industry, and green burial containers are continually being demanded. Biodegradable cremation urns are ecologically friendly urns made using 100% natural materials that naturally biodegrade over time.

Companion Urns – These types of cremation urns are special urns used to store the ashes of two individuals. Like all other types of urns, companion urns can be made from diverse materials and are available in different styles and designs. Two models of companion urns are available for purchase; double or single-compartment models. As expected, these urns are usually larger than other types of cremation urns as it houses the ashes of two individuals.

Photo Urns – These types of cremation urns are designed for families who wish to discretely display the cremated ashes of a loved one in their houses. Photo urns look just like a regular picture frame; however, they possess a hidden compartment where to store the deceased’s ashes.

Religious Urns – Typically distinguished by the design and mural, religious cremation urns are feature words and scenes that are directly linked to spiritual and religious practices. There are religious urns that represent all religions and faiths. They showcase a diversity of religious signs, pictures, and symbols, such as praying hands, crosses, and quotations from religious texts.

You can learn more about funeral homes in Tallahassee, FL. Talk to us at Lifesong Funerals & Cremations to schedule a consultation and learn about cremation services/funeral home services. Visit our offices in Florida or call one of our locations.

Burial Options After Cremation Service

Are you planning a cremation service in Havana, FL? If so, you’re part of a trend that is seeing more and more people arrange cremations rather than funerals. While the lower cost for cremations is a primary reason why people are going that route, there are other reasons. One of them involves the various things that can be done with the cremated remains after the cremation. If you’re interested in burial options after the cremation, here are some options.

Bury Urn on Private Property

Some families choose to bury the urn containing the cremated remains of their loved ones on private property. If this appeals to you, all you need to do is let the funeral director know. They’ll help you to find the right urn for whatever you wish to do with the ashes. Where on your property do you wish to bury the urn? Is there a place on the property that had been special to the deceased? If so, you can bury the run in such a location. Was the person passionate about the environment? You might want to consider getting an urn that is biodegradable.

Bury in a Cemetery

Another option is to bury the run at a cemetery. Some cemeteries will allow people to bury an urn on the burial plot of a family member who had previously been buried there. You’ll want to ask if this option is available and how much it will cost. It’s also important to know that some cemeteries have special areas reserved for the burial of urns. These urn gardens will provide you with the option you need if you desire to bury the urn containing your loved one’s ashes. If you choose to go this route, you and your loved ones will be able to visit the site whenever you want.

Bury in a Columbarium

You can also bury your loved one’s urn in a columbarium. Of course, this would not constitute an underground burial. It would constitute an above-ground burial. A columbarium is a structure or building where urns are stored. These structures contain niches, which are like cubby holes, where urns can be placed. If you and yours choose to go this route, you’ll get to visit the columbarium anytime you wish. Going with an above-ground burial over an underground burial will also make retrieving and relocating the urn easier if you need to move to another city or state.

When you need the help of a provider of cremation services in Havana, FL, get in touch with us. We’re a small, family owned funeral home dedicated to helping people make body disposition arrangements. We will explain the process, answer your questions, and help you make plans. With almost two decades of experience, we have a track record of success. For the help you need, give us a call or pay us a visit. We’re here to help in any way we can. Let us help you plan a fitting final send-off for your loved one.