Willow Tree figurines are incredibly popular carved wooden figures designed by artist Susan Lordi. Each original design is hand-carved by the artist in a simple yet captivating style that has become a modern classic. The Willow Tree figures are highly collectible and are often given to newlyweds, new parents, as Christmas gifts, and as bereavement or sympathy gifts.
10 Most Beautiful Pet Memorial Tattoos
Pet memorial tattoos offer a creative and meaningful way to show how much you loved your little friend. A tattoo is a permanent reminder of the impact they had on your life. At the same time, it is also a way to honor their memory and celebrate their life.
The 5 Best Funeral Blogs (That Post Regularly)
I do a lot of writing about funeral topics, so I keep up on funeral blogs, industry news, trends, and the questions people are asking about end of life issues. Below are five of my favorite funeral blogs that actually post regularly.
If you were to follow some of these funeral blogs, you’ll learn things that are truly fascinating. And not just about funeral industry news, although they certainly do cover a lot of that. Rather, if you follow each of the funeral blogs listed below, you’ll educate yourself about the deathcare industry with an inside scoop. You’ll learn how to effectively plan a funeral for yourself or a loved one. You’ll see a little bit of the day-to-day life of industry professionals.
Plus, you’ll also have great fodder for cocktail parties and workplace water cooler conversations. (Or pub crawls and your Twitter feed. Whatever.)
22 Tips on How to Help Someone Who is Grieving
Let’s talk about how to help someone who is grieving.
Someone you know has lost a loved one. It might be a spouse, a parent, a child, or a close friend or relative. How can you support them in real, tangible ways during this time of mourning?
This sort of loss is devastating, and you want to be there for your friend. And you want to go beyond sending flowers and lame offers (that they’ll never take you up on) of “How can I help?” or “Let me know if you need anything.”
Here are 22 simple – yet meaningful and effective – tips on caring for someone who is grieving.
Should I tip the funeral director? Minister? Florist? Funeral Gratuities Explained
How much should I tip the funeral director after the funeral is complete? Or should I tip her?
What about the minister, the florist, the hearse driver, the pallbearers…?
Who gets a gratuity, and who doesn’t?
If you are confused about who to tip for services related to funerals, here is our guide to funeral gratuities. Skip to the end to find a handy condensed cheat sheet.
Fish Urns for Ashes: 21 “Gone Fishing” Cremation Urns
If you are searching for the perfect fish urn to honor your beloved fishing enthusiast, we’ve done all the hard work for you. Not only are these the very best made-in-the-USA wood urns with fishing themes from our online cremation urn store, we’ve searched the web high and low to find all of the best fish urns for ashes to serve as the memorial urn for your fisherman.
Euphemisms for Death: 200+ Ways to Describe Death & Dying
Euphemisms for death abound. This is because there are many ways we talk about death.
Sometimes we talk evasively, in a way that avoids really talking about death. Other times we are trying to be polite and sensitive, especially around the family of the one who has died. Still other times we turn it into a big joke, blunting the razor edge of death’s horror with humor.
We can talk about death clinically, with a focus on the physical symptoms that avoids the emotional aspect. And of the flip side we can use purely emotional, whimsical terms like “living on in our hearts” as a way to deflect the crushing reality.
12 Headstone Inscription Tips To Get It Just Right
Headstones are big, expensive, and permanent, so you want to get it just right. The headstone inscription can be a lengthy description or a short sentence or anything in between, but whatever length or style you want it done well.
To that end, here are 12 tips to help you get the headstone inscription just right. These tips work equally well for inscriptions on cremation urns, niche cover plates, memorial gifts, and more.
15 Memorial Ideas Made From Cremated Ashes
A memorial made from cremated ashes is simply the ultimate way to keep your loved one close to your heart. Here are 15 creative and unique memorial ideas made using actual cremated remains. These include decorative accents, jewelry, and even trees.
How to Write a Condolence Letter
Let’s talk about how to write a condolence letter. Have you ever written one? Maybe not. It’s a lost art.
But, like many things that have gone by the wayside in our modern age, it’s still a worthwhile show of love and support. When you personally write to someone who has lost a loved one, it shows that extra touch of care and compassion.
If you’re thinking about writing a condolence letter and you just don’t know how, you’ve come to the right place.
First of all, I commend you for wanting to do this. Your letter will be saved and re-read long after all the store-bought cards are discarded. Second, I’ve gleaned some tips and would like to share them with you.
What is a Death Doula? (Or “End-of-Life Doula”?)
What is a death doula? Or, what is an end-of-life doula? In this article we will detail who they are and how they can help in your final days (or those of a loved one).
21 Beautifully Christ-Centered Funeral Hymns
There are few things more powerful, encouraging, and comforting than singing a beloved and Christ-exalting hymn in the midst of a difficult time.
When a Christian dies, they have the solid hope of being together with the Lord, free from sin and pain and the troubles of the world. Yes, it is a grievously sad day, but it is not a sadness without hope. Those of us who remain, including the believer’s family and loved ones, can draw much comfort while expressing our hope and grief through a well-chosen hymn sung in faith.
