Funeral Planning

Funeral Costs - What to Expect

Funeral Costs: Here’s What to Expect, and How to Pay

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.

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Funeral Crowning - Feat Image

Funeral Crowning: Here’s What You Need to Know

A funeral crowning ceremony – have you ever heard of it? Today we’re going to talk all about it.

A funeral is often thought to be a sad event. Yes, it is a time for mourning and final goodbyes. It’s that final moment, that one last glimpse, before they are committed back to the earth.

Many cultures have held the significance of a cherished death with different kinds of celebrations.

In America, traditionally most families would have a markedly similar funeral process: from the wake to the funeral service and committal, followed by a repast where more casual, informal unity can be expressed. 

In modern times, varied cultural expressions have come to the fore. One among the many cultures in the western world is the culture of African-descendants, African-Americans and Black-Canadians, whose ancestral practices mixed with Christian beliefs to form what is distinctly viewable as their own kind of Christian traditions.

Among those traditions is a fairly new one: the crowning ceremony. 

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Guide to Viking Funerals

Viking Funerals, Pyres, Ritual Ale, & How to Legally Have One

The Vikings have not been active for a millennium, but Viking funerals still inspire a sense of awe and wonder. The iconic ritual of a fiery sendoff is something that many people are interested in, and perhaps want to emulate for their own farewell.

But the stuff of legends may be just that. Did the Vikings really send their warriors out to sea on a flaming ship, an aquatic funeral pyre bound for Valhalla?

Here’s everything you need to know about Viking funerals and how you can (sort of… maybe…) legally have your own Viking send-off.

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New & Old Funeral Traditions

Funeral Traditions New and Old, At Home and Abroad

Funeral traditions are fascinating.

Whether you’re working on a research project, planning your own or a loved one’s funeral, or are simply interested in the rituals and traditions that various cultures have developed, this is a topic filled with meaning, mystery, and – sometimes – macabre mythology.

Historians have discovered funeral rituals dating as far back as 60,000 BC. Every culture has had three common denominators regarding death:

  1. Ceremonies
  2. Special places for burial or placement
  3. Some sort of memorial or monument

The things our culture may find strange are perfectly acceptable in other cultures. Read on to find out what we have in common and how we differ.

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Creative Funeral Alternative - feat image

15 Creative Funeral Alternatives to Celebrate a Unique Person

Why do people choose something different than the traditional funeral?

Well, for one thing, people are unique and thus love to honor and celebrate their unique loved one. Plus many of the burial alternatives you’ll see below have never been an option before now.

Thanks to new technology and incredible ideas, there are many ways to celebrate your loved one with a funeral alternative. Take a look below – we have put some great ideas together for you.

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What to Do with No Funeral Service

No Funeral or Memorial Service? Here’s What to Do

No funeral? No memorial service? What if someone doesn’t want a big “goodbye?” Is there anything you can still do?

Thankfully, there are alternatives to the traditional funeral. With a little thoughtful planning, you and your family can figure out what will work best. There are numerous ways to remember and honor a loved one that can be meaningful for you.

Continue to read on and find some ideas that will help you honor their memory without dishonoring their wishes.

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Funeral Repast: Pin It Image

Funeral Repast: How to Celebrate Your Loved One with Food

Once the service is over, the family and close friends can have a funeral repast as they share a meal, reminisce, grieve, and enjoy one another’s company.

This is frequently done as a post-funeral reception, but it can also be a private meal at someone’s home or at a local restaurant. No matter where or how it is done, nothing brings people together quite like food.

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Do's & Don'ts for Writing Obituaries

Obituary Examples: How to Write a Beautiful Tribute

Here are some obituary examples and tips on what to write as you try to sum up your loved one’s beautiful life in words.

I’m both a professional writer and a funeral director. I’ve seen all types of obituaries, and can give you helpful guidance on writing an obituary, what to include, and how to hit the right tone.

Here’s how.

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Posting Funeral Announcements

Funeral Announcements: How To Write, Print, & Post

There are times when words are hard to find. Announcing a loved one’s funeral is one of the most difficult of those times.

You probably have a lot of questions. How do you announce the funeral? What information should be included? Is a funeral announcement the same thing as an obituary? When should you post or publish it?

Death brings out so many questions, and you have found the right place to have these questions answered.

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