Karen Roldan, Author at US Urns Online

How to Help a Friend Plan a Funeral

September 24, 2024July 9, 2023 by Karen Roldan

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.

How Does Cremation Work? +35 Weird Questions About Cremation

March 27, 2024June 21, 2023 by Karen Roldan

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?

Symptoms of Grief: What’s Normal? What’s Not?

September 24, 2024June 21, 2023 by Karen Roldan

Grief can cause damage to your body, physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

How can you tell if what you are feeling is “normal” grief? When should you seek help? How long will you feel like this?

Read on and learn about grief and its symptoms.

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

July 24, 2023June 15, 2023 by Karen Roldan

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.

How to Plan Your Own Funeral (for Peace of Mind)

September 24, 2024June 7, 2023 by Karen Roldan

Planning your own funeral is not something most people like to think about. All too often, we don’t want to talk about the subject of death, much less actually plan it out.

Military Funerals: How to Plan a Veteran’s Funeral

September 24, 2024May 10, 2023 by Karen Roldan

Your beloved armed forces veteran has passed on. How do you plan the perfect funeral to honor his or her memory?

You probably have a lot of questions. How do you schedule a military funeral? Which papers need to be signed and submitted? Is there a specific protocol you need to follow? Who is going to help you with all the government forms?

Read on, and I will walk you through the ins and outs of scheduling a military funeral.

How Long Does Grief Last? The Grief Timeline You Can[‘t] Ignore

October 31, 2024April 27, 2023 by Karen Roldan

If you or someone close to you have experienced the loss of a loved one, at some point you’ll probably wonder, How long does grief last?

How to Honor Your Loved One with Victorian Mourning Jewelry

September 24, 2024April 19, 2023 by Karen Roldan

What is Victorian mourning jewelry? How did this trend start, and do people still wear it today?

The broad appeal mourning jewelry holds might be surprising: It can be the hard-core skeleton and casket jewelry favored by Goth types or the soft cherub-winged and heartfelt pendants that your Willow Tree loving auntie might adore.

Read on to discover examples of both modern and traditional pieces of mourning jewelry, a truly meaningful history, and how you can honor your loved one with this beautiful style of memorial jewelry.

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

July 24, 2023March 1, 2023 by Karen Roldan

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!

What Does Grief Do to Your Body?

July 24, 2023January 2, 2023 by Karen Roldan

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?

Complicated Grief: 10 Things to Know When Grieving Goes Awry

September 24, 2024December 28, 2022 by Karen Roldan

Today’s discussion will cover complicated grief. This is a type of grief that almost always relates to the death of someone you knew and loved deeply.

Things You Should Know When Going Through Anticipatory Grief

Anticipatory Grief: Grieving a Loss Before it Happens

September 24, 2024December 21, 2022 by Karen Roldan

As modern medicine improves, extending life expectancy and prolonging battles with cancer and other illnesses, we’re also seeing an increase in what experts call anticipatory grief.

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Karen Roldan

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