Category Archives: cremation

Coping With Sudden Loss

All the planned events and trips have suddenly come to an end when you have to plan cremation services Waite Hill, OH.

The news of the sudden loss of a loved one upends your life upside down. For some time, it all seems unreal until your brain starts processing the loss and it follows an overwhelming grief journey that can manifest itself in several emotions ranging from shock, anger, confusion, exhaustion, and disbelief to acute pain.

Nothing can help you prepare to face this turbulent time, but you can make the grieving process slightly better with certain practical tips. Check them out below.

1. Acknowledge Your Loss and Emotions

Don’t come hard on yourself while trying to show that nothing has happened. You have lost a person close to your heart, and it is natural to feel weak and somber. At times, you may find yourself blaming yourself for the loss and feel guilty especially if the deceased had some unfinished business with you.

Give yourself space and time to process the loss and come to terms with it. Mentally prepare yourself for complex emotions and don’t hesitate to express them. Understand that everyone grieves uniquely, and it doesn’t follow a specific timeline.

2. Share Your Feelings with Close People

Research shows that spending time with friends and family hastens the healing process and brings normalcy to your life. It helps you believe that you’re not alone in the grief journey and that your friends and family understand your unique feelings and if they stand by you during such difficult times.

While it’s important to take out time for yourself, sharing your emotion with close ones can be greatly beneficial. Getting emotional support from others provides you an opportunity to come to terms with the loss rather quickly.

3. Adopt a Healthy Lifestyle

Grief can take a serious toll on your mental, psychological, and physical health. Even the small daily tasks may seem insurmountable while you’re dealing with the grief journey. Try to get involved in healthy activities to get your mind off the loss.

It can be your favorite sports, a walk in the park, hiking, fishing, cooking, or spending some time with your close friends in a comfortable environment.

4. Eat Balanced Diet

Grief makes it difficult to maintain a healthy eating schedule or even eat properly and it seriously affects physical health. Take in a healthy and balanced diet and consume a lot of water.

Also, do exercise for at least 10-15 minutes daily and sleep well. If you’re having trouble getting enough sleep, get prescriptions from a health specialist.

5. Take Professional Help

If you’re unable to get over the loss even months after the loss or you’re experiencing symptoms of complicated grief, seek professional help from a therapist or grief counselor. They are trained to understand your emotions and prescribe ways to get back to normal life.

Remember that it doesn’t make you look weak or vulnerable as losing a loved one suddenly and having to plan cremation services Waite Hill, OH, can be overwhelming.

Common Types of Funeral Services

Cremation services Mentor, OH, is now considered a go-to disposition type for many families. Today, people are exploring more flexible and eco-friendly options to honor the final services of a departed soul.

Let us take a quick look at these funeral types to decide what’s best for you or your family when the time comes:

In-Ground Burial
Above Ground Burial – Public or Private Mausoleum
Cremation
Natural Burial

Below is a detailed description of these funeral types:

1. In-Ground Burial

It is exactly as it sounds. The deceased’s body is placed in a casket and subsequently put into a vault or other burial container and lower into the ground. The casket as usual is made of steel or concrete.

After the burial, a gravestone engraved with an epigraph is typically placed at the gravesite which serves as a memorial.

2. Above Ground Burial

In this type, the body is placed in a casket but instead of burying it under the soil, the casket is preserved in a public or private mausoleum or lawn crypt. Choosing either mausoleum or lawn crypt as the resting place depends on the family’s preferences.

The big difference between a mausoleum and a lawn crypt is that whereas the former is a building that families may enter, the latter is an underground structure. Note that a lawn crypt also allows two bodies to be buried in the same place.

3. Cremation

Cremation is the final disposition of a deceased body through burning. The last few years have witnessed a remarkable increase in the popularity of direct cremation funerals. Not only is it less expensive than traditional burials but also gives more flexibility to the families to honor the deceased.

However, the religious factor comes into play in cremation families. While Hindus are obligated to cremate the body, this practice is considered prohibited in Muslim and conservative Jewish traditions.

In any case, cremation can be a great option for those who wish to take part in a scattering of ashes. Not to mention, direct cremation is the most cost-effective funeral type.

4. Natural Burial

With the increase in environmental consciousness among people, natural burials have become a go-to alternative to traditional burials. It is a great option for people who wish to pursue an eco-friendly funeral.

Unlike traditional burial, it process does not use embalming fluid, a casket, or a vault. It instead allows a body to decompose naturally into the earth. This also preserves wildlife aside from saving invaluable natural resources.

Choosing the Right Funeral Type

A funeral is a highly personalized event. Which funeral type to select is the sole prerogative of the bereaved family – if the deceased hasn’t left a Will.

But these factors also come into play when choosing the type of funeral:

Any cultural or religious factors
Personal wishes or preferences
How much you’re willing to spend.

After making a choice, you have to make the below decisions:

Should there be a religious reading at the funeral?
Where should the funeral take place?
Who should read a eulogy?
Who should attend the funeral?
How should attendees dress for the funeral?
When should I host the ceremony?

You may decide that cremation services Mentor, OH, is the right choice. Contact us today.

Guide for Organizing a Funeral

Soon after the loss of a loved one, the bereaved family needs to start thinking about the funeral process and cremation services Willoughby Hills, OH. The deceased deserves a perfect final send-off for the amazing life they have spent.

But planning a funeral is amongst the most challenging experiences. The raw grief and the painful emotions it accompanies limit a person’s ability to make scrupulous decisions.

That’s why it’s important to have a basic idea of funerals and their related services. It will give you a head start when you have to arrange a meaningful and appropriate funeral for the departed loved one.

1. Hire a Funeral Director

Many people have a misconception that hiring a funeral director costs extra money. And that one saves all that amount by arranging the services himself. Truth be told, hiring a funeral director is the best thing to do.

A funeral director has years of experience in handling various tasks associated with funeral services. Because of their direct contacts with all the funeral service providers such as catering, music, burial, religious clergy, florists, etc. you can get these services at a discounted price without lifting a finger.

They can take care of all the details that allow you to spend more time with your family and friends. In addition, the person is trained to provide you with emotional support and strength during such tough times.

2. Choose Either Burial or Cremation

If the deceased has not already expressed his or her wish about their final disposition type, the responsibility falls on the surviving family. The two most common types of funerals are burial and cremation in America and elsewhere.

If your family is a religious one or follows a longstanding tradition, then you have to go with it, else the family can make a consensus on whether to burn the body (cremation) or bury it – depending on your budgetary allocations.

In the last decade, cremation has become more prevalent in America due to fewer costs associated with it.

3. Include Religious Element or Not

The most critical aspect to consider while making this decision is the religious beliefs of the deceased. If the person had a strong faith in the denomination, then the final services would follow religious rites and rituals.

Else, there are many secularist human traditions that you can choose from. The concept of non-traditional funerals is gaining traction in the States and your funeral director can better guide you on what’s best for you.

4. Funeral Hearse or Not

Mostly, the casket is transported in a hearse, but now people are increasingly opting for non-traditional ways of transporting the casket like floats and horse-drawn carriages. It all boils down to the choice and financial capacity of the surviving family.

5. Hold A Memorial Service

Post-ceremony gatherings are arranged to honor and remember the deceased. Mostly, a memorial service is held by the bereaved family where close friends and family are invited to the deceased’s house. But they can also be performed at funeral homes or other convenient places like a beach, restaurant, or the deceased’s favorite place. The memorial can be held after cremation services Willoughby Hills, OH, as well.

Common Questions About Funeral

Many people do not have an understanding of cremation services Waite Hill, OH, funerals, and their related services. After all, the funeral is not a topic that many people would love to talk about until they have to visit one.

Because of this, there’re a lot of questions about funerals that need clear answers. Below are some common queries of people that we find necessary to answer. Give it a read to improve your understanding of funerals and how to better take care of bereaved people.

1. Should You Hire a Funeral Director?

That’s the question that crosses the minds of many people, especially ones who are likely to arrange a service in near future.

The answer is YES. A funeral director is responsible for arranging all the funeral services for the deceased. Some of these tasks include:

Preparing the body for burial or cremation
Handling all types of paperwork
Provide emotional support to the bereaved family
Providing transportation for the body
Working with a church to schedule non-religious services
Managing tasks such as catering, music, and after-burial services

Since funeral directors have contacts in the industry, they can provide all these services at a discounted price. That’s why it’s always a recommended choice to hire a reliable and professional funeral director.

2. What is The Most Appropriate Funeral Attire?

For most people, all-black is the go-to attire to attend a funeral. And you probably have already seen it in the movies but it’s not the only attire you can wear.

You can wear dark-colored attire or any color of your preference as long as they don’t look too casual. Also, depending on where the services are being held, you have to choose whether to dress more conservatively or wear casual attire.

However, if you’re unsure, an all-black is still the go-to attire.

3. Is There Any Difference Between A Funeral and A Memorial Service?

The answer is yes. A funeral service involves the body of the deceased, while a memorial service is held without the presence of the deceased’s body. The latter is a gathering of close friends and family after the body is cremated, donated to science, or buried, where the attendees pay tribute to the lost loved one.

Both events are meant to offer the bereaved an opportunity to get in touch with close relatives and friends and honor the life of the decedent.

4. Can You Bring Children to the Funeral?

Yes, no rule bars guests from bringing their children to the funeral. It’s understandable if someone doesn’t bring their children to a funeral.

But if the child is a sibling or a son/daughter of the deceased, then they should be allowed to mourn the loss and be with the grieving. If you’re taking a child to a funeral, be sure to give the necessary information child about what’s going to happen at the funeral or memorial services.

This would help them prepare their mind beforehand. If they have any questions, answer them politely and remember that children are vulnerable and don’t cope with grief as adults do. They may not understand cremation services Waite Hill, OH.

What You Need to Know About Cremation Urns

If you’re reading this article, chances are you’re thinking of getting some information about cremation services Willoughby Hills, OH, and cremation urns. Maybe your loved one is cremated and you’re tasked with buying a cremation urn, or maybe you want to understand more about cremation and its related services.

Either way, knowing about cremation urns always comes in handy given that more and more families are choosing cremation as the final disposition method in the last few years. Keep reading and find out!

Cremation Urn Facts

Here are some amazing facts about cremation urns.

1. A cremation urn is a container

The primary purpose of a cremation urn is to hold the remains (also called “ashes”) after cremation. Consider it as a small box or vessel which can be made of anything, but mostly decorative wood or ceramic.

You can also get an urn made of metal, paper, sand, and even cornstarch. The bereaved family has got tons of options to choose an urn of any shape, style, or design.

2. It’s not compulsory to buy a cremation urn from the funeral home

You don’t necessarily have to buy the urn from the funeral home where you plan to have the cremation service performed. Hit the local market and go through different designs and styles, in varying price ranges, to choose the best cremation urn to hold the remains of the lost loved one.

Many families choose to buy cremation urns online via their smartphones. But lately, funeral homes have become more competitive in their pricing of funeral products. Still, the choice rests with the bereaved family.

3. Renting an urn is an option

Want to save some bucks? Consider renting your preferable urn. The good thing is many most funeral homes offer a selection of nice cremation urns which you can “rent” for use during the memorial service.

4. Capacity, not size is what matters for urn size

The size of the urn is very important to make sure it can accommodate the remains of the departed soul easily. But often, the customer is thinking about the outside measurements of the urn.

Remember that urns are generally decorative and can have visible accents or edges. So, the exterior dimensions are not the best way to figure out if the urn is the right size to hold the ashes. What you really want to know is the capacity. Urn capacity is measured in cubic inches. A 200 cubic inch urn can hold the remains of an individual weighing roughly 200 lbs.

But exterior measurements also play a key role in deciding where the urn is going. For instance, an urn that fits onto a mantle or shelf or some other specific location needs different external dimensions than the one you would like to place into a columbarium niche.

But the main catch is that unless you have a particular placement in mind for displaying the urn, you need not worry about the exterior dimensions of the memorial. The capacity of the urn should be the determining factor for sizing.

These tips can help you find the right urn for cremation services Willoughby Hills, OH.

How to Choose Between Burial or Cremation

Today, choosing a final disposition method for the lost loved one boils down to either cremation services Mentor, OH, or burial. What option you select depends on many factors, including the deceased’s preferences, beliefs, priorities, finances, family situation, and so on.

Still confused?

Let’s look at the two options in detail to give you a great start on deciding whether burial or cremation is best for you.

What is Burial?

Burial is considered the “traditional” option in the United States and much of the Western world. A body can be buried in the ground at a cemetery or on private property.

Most families decide to bury their loved ones in a cemetery or other designated burial grounds. But some choose to place the body in a mausoleum – also called above-ground burial.

The last few years have also witnessed the resurgence of green burial or natural burial. This is the practice of returning the human body to the earth in the most natural, eco-friendly way possible. It doesn’t involve the use of embalming fluid and metallic or wooden casket.

Pros of Burial

It provides a burial place the family can visit. A graveside funeral can be very comforting and emotionally satisfying for family and friends.

It gives enough time to the family to plan and execute a perfect plan that speaks to the personality of the deceased.

With the availability of eco-friendly and sustainable options, such as the “natural burial” methods, you have plenty of choices.

Many religious traditions prescribe full-body burial.

Cons of Burial

Generally, burial costs more than cremation. Casket/coffin costs are much higher than cremation urns. Similarly, the costs include a cemetery plot, digging expenses, grave liner, and headstones.

Traditional burial is not an eco-friendly option. Involves expensive and environmentally harmful chemicals used in embalming.

Moving a body after burial is very difficult or even impossible due to laws, regulations, and logistics costs

What is Cremation

In simple terms, cremation is a final disposition method where a dead body is turned to ashes through burning. Compared to burial, it takes significantly less time and thus, it doesn’t need any embalming or the use of caskets.

The fact that the cremated remains are returned to the family gives much more flexibility and a variety of options for memorial services after the cremation. The family can scatter the remains in whatever way they like, be it scattering on land or at sea, burying them in the garden or the deceased’s favorite place, turning it into jewelry, or keeping some of the ashes in a locket near your heart, and so on.

Even with cremation, you can choose just about all of the services and options offered by the funeral home. But the simplest and cheapest option is direct cremation in which the person’s body is cremated “directly” after death without viewing services.

Pros of Cremation

The biggest advantage is the lower cost associated with cremation.

Flexibility in disposition options, personalization choices, and the ability to move the ashes.

No additional shopping aside from buying the urn.

Schedule the memorial or scattering service anytime you want.

Cons of Cremation

Cremation is permanent. The process cannot be undone.

Some religions or cultures do not approve of cremation.

With this information, you’re in a better position to decide what’s best for you, a burial or cremation services Mentor, OH.

The Grief Journey

First of all, remember that there is no set time frame for when you will return to normal after cremation services Waite Hill, OH. This article aims to highlight the main phases of grief that most people go through before and after losing a loved one.

It’s not written in stone that every person must go through all these phases or they come in the same order. Each person, each death, and each relationship is different – and so does the grief timeline. There’s no way to predict your exact grief journey. However, we can guess the general outline.

Check out what you might expect from a grief journey:

1. Before the Death: Anticipatory Grief

This happens when the loved one was experiencing a terminal illness and you knew all the way that the death was coming. Now the grieving begins.

Anticipatory grief can add a whole new layer to the grieving process and often extends it. The grieving person grieves over time lost, or perhaps a future that will never be. This grieving stage can be just as fierce as the grief after your loved one has passed.

2. Immediately After Death

Shock and anger are the two initial reactions from the grieving person. This can last for hours or days depending on how the loved one has died. The shock will affect everyone differently, from tears to hysterical laughing and often, complete denial.

3. Grief During the Funeral

While arranging for the last services of the loved one, the toughest phase of grief sets in. But it is also a vital part of the healing process. Your life is still far from normal, and your grief is still raw but there’s no escaping it.

Acknowledging the changed reality is the best way forward.

4. Grief After the Funeral

Now, that’s the part that often hits the hardest. Friends and family go home and return to their everyday lives and you need to cope with grief alone.

In addition, the grieving person needs to handle several important tasks related to closing bank accounts, and credit cards, and collecting life insurance and pensions of the deceased. During this time. You need self-reflection too.

Don’t resort to loneliness or locking yourself in the room. Try keeping track of the things you need to get done and slowly start accomplishing that list. With time, you will begin to learn a new normal for yourself. Beginning to adjust to a new lifestyle will help with your grief.

5. Months or Years Later

And life continues to go by, and generally, the grief starts to lessen as you live from day to day. But that’s not the rule. You may often find yourself asking the same why and how questions.

But hopefully, the sharp edges of your grief will soften. The grief will not subside completely but like a shadow that follows you. Not always visible or always felt, but still there. The person finds comfort in the memory of the lost loved one until they completely adapt to the changed reality after cremation services Waite Hill, OH. Contact us today.

Sympathy Gifts Ideas

Gone are the days when funeral flowers were considered the most suitable option to send to a bereaving family after cremation services Mentor, OH. But the trend is changing fast and not to mention, and many people find them depressing.

After all, a sad collection of wilting flowers isn’t exactly the image you want to leave with the recipient of your memorial gift. Thus, we are here with some creative yet thoughtful options you can choose to send when someone dies.

1. Send A Practical Gift

While flowers offer a great way to express your sympathies and condolences, why not send something useful for the funeral? If you share a close relationship with the bereaved family, call a family member and ask to provide something that will help with the funeral.

Avoid asking “How can I help?”, as it is almost always turned down. Instead say that you would like to help by taking care of one of the following items, and ask which would be best:

Guestbook for the service
Framed and printed photo for a memorial table
Funeral/memorial service invitations
Any creative items for the themed memorial tables
Funeral favors to pass out to attendees
Pre-printed thank-you cards
Reception table centerpieces

2. Send a Sympathy Meal

Sending a sympathy meal can be a lovely way of supporting the family who is grieving the death of a loved one. During such overwhelming times, cooking food is the least of the priorities of the bereaved family.

Gifting them food is a considerate way of showing that you care for them. It gives an even more personal message if you made the food yourself. But ordering the food for them or giving them food vouchers still serve the purpose. It takes away the stress of preparing food and enables them to navigate through this emotionally challenging time without additional worries.

3. A Collection of Candles

Since time immemorial, candles have been associated with mourning. They can be a perfect alternative to sympathy flowers. Many people find that lighting a candle and taking time out can be a positive way of remembering the life of their loved ones.

4. A Charity Donation

What is more personal than donating money in the name of the departed soul? And more so, if the deceased had a favorite charity.

Making a charity donation is one of the most popular alternatives to sympathy flowers. Want to take it a step further, give donations to the family to handle the funeral expenses – particularly, if the deceased didn’t have insurance in place or their family has little money to put towards the funeral service.

The family would remember this gesture for a long time to come.

5. Write a Heartfelt Letter

Last but not least, a few words from your heart can mean the world to the grieving family. Write a letter and tell the family how much you appreciated their loved one. You could tell stories about their loved one that you were part of. It leaves a lasting impact on them after cremation services Mentor, OH. Contact us today.

Questions About Grief

Cremation services Willoughby Hills, OH, may help with grief. While a lot of information on funerals is available on the internet, the same can’t be said about grief. People have plenty of misconceptions about grief and how it relates to mourning.

In this article, we are going to present a basic overview of grief. This will help everyone navigating through the grief journey to get a new, realistic perspective of bringing positivity into their life.

What are the symptoms of grief?

They vary from person to person, depending on the relationship and closeness with the lost loved one. But in any case, grief can manifest in physical, emotional, or mental symptoms.

Here are common physical symptoms of grief:

Heart palpitations
Increased inflammation
Joint problems
Stomach problems
Headaches
Body aches and pains

Emotional symptoms include:

Bitterness
Anger
Irritability
Apathy
Confusion
Loss of joy
Feelings of guilt, shame, betrayal, fear. Often these emotions manifest in combination.

While anxiety and depression are the foremost mental reverberations of grief. If not addressed on time, it translates into complicated grief that takes a serious toll on your both physical and mental health.

How long does grief last?

If anything, grief is independent of time. It’s true that the intense emotions of grief, in most cases, die down with time, but that’s not the case with everyone. Everyone has their own time frame and it may take a person from a few days and weeks to months and even a lifetime.

If grief lasts longer and seems to run deeper persistently, then it’s time for you to get some professional help.

Compared to grief, mourning is the outpouring of grief, an expression that you show to the public to reflect you’re grieving the loss. That is why mourning may last for a set period of time, while grief has its own timetable.

In many religions, there’s a fixed mourning time as a symbol of respect and tribute to the deceased. The Jewish, Eastern Orthodox, Hindu, and Muslim religious sects have set mourning periods. But the grieving journey may last much longer than the mourning period.

Also, many cultures adopt certain traditions to highlight that you’re mourning the loss of a loved one. For instance, wearing black, no dancing or celebrations, a black wreath on your door, or covering the doorbell or knocker are just a few ways to let society know that you are in mourning.

How to mourn a death of a loved one?

There is no right or wrong way to mourn. What matters the most is recovering from your loss which takes time. If you’re a religious person, then talk to your religious leader and set up the services and viewings that your religion may require.

Remember that the support of family and friends at a time like this will help you both emotionally and mentally. Mourning the loss helps you get sympathy from the community. The people stand by your side and help you out in ways you would never have thought of after cremation services Willoughby Hills, OH.

How to Comfort a Friend

Cremation services Waite Hill, OH, let you say goodbye, but they don’t erase your grief. Imagine that your friend has lost their spouse or some other loved one a year ago. Their death anniversary is approaching and you want to show love and support to them.

Are you short of ideas on how to comfort the grieving friend? Check out the below tips:

1. Bring a Meal

Your grieving friend may not be up to doing much on this day. So, consider cooking for them or picking up take-out. If you can’t do either, have something delivered to their doorstep.

You can send anything as long as you know what your friend likes. If you’re having any doubts, ask what you should bring to them.

But what’s best is to cook for your friend while they sit and relax, talk with you, or just take a nap.

2. Share a Favorite Memory or Story

It’s better to meet them in person and share a memorable story of the loved one. If you cannot make it in person, write a card and briefly narrate a story of the loved one that they haven’t heard before. Don’t hesitate to give a call and assure them that you’re always present for them.

3. Bring a Gift Basket

There are plenty of gift baskets you can buy for your grieving friend. But if you want to make it more personal, consider doing it yourself.

Fill up a basket, bag, or plastic bin with comforting gifts and delectable treats. Go with a spa theme, chocolate and fruit, journals and art supplies, and coffee/tea, or get a popcorn tub and fill it with movies and movie snacks.

4. Babysit the Kids

If they have young children, offer to watch the kids (at your place or theirs) so that they can get some alone time. Maybe they would like to go out on a long walk or hike.

If it’s a couple who lost a little one, watch the other kids so they can go out together and strengthen their relationship in the midst of their remembering.

5. Share a Special Activity

Your friend needs some activity to get a fresh breath of air during such tough times. This can be anything that they love to do or play. But be sure to talk about it first. The activity shouldn’t be too overwhelming yet meaningful.

Here are some good ideas:

Go with your friend on a walk or hike to visit a favorite spot.
Take them out to the restaurant where they had their first date.
Watch a favorite show together.
Substitute your presence where their loved one used to be – not that you’re taking that person’s place, but rather you’re enabling your friend as they experience some of those things they used to do.

Hopefully, you’re now in a better position to show your love and support to a grieving friend after the service at cremation services Waite Hill, OH. Contact us today.

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