Say Goodbye to a Terminally Ill Friend

All the memories and happy times you spent together flash in front of your eyes as your friend prepares for cremation services Willoughby Hills, OH. And if anything, saying a final goodbye to a terminally-ill friend is one of the most overwhelming experiences of life.

Many people shy from visiting a friend who may breathe his or her last in the coming days, but the one thing the dying wants is the presence of close ones near him to share and relive the good old memories, to have one last laugh, to know that someone will remember them after their passing.

That’s why you should go and visit a friend if you care about them. Saying a final goodbye will make both you and your dying friend feel good and satisfied.

Here are some simple tips you should bear in mind while visiting a dying friend.

1. Be Supportive and Optimistic

Many people feel anxious to visit a dying friend as they don’t want to face or say goodbye to her. The very acknowledgment of the fact that someone is about to die can make most feel uncomfortable and it’s natural. You may feel weak and restless knowing you can’t do anything to help your friend.

But just imagine the comfort and solace your visit will bring to the friend. You don’t need to talk about death or say goodbye; just being there and having a conversation like a friend will give you enough strength and comfort to passing through that critical time.

2. Listen More, Speak Less

You need to control your emotions and be as supportive as you can be. Don’t take the lead yourself, instead of respecting the patient’s choice and letting them set the topic of discussion or standard of interaction.

Those last few minutes of your company should be all about the dying friend. Once you have initiated a conversation, just be there, holding their hand, and let them speak whatever they want to. If they want to talk about illness, let be it; if they want to avoid that topic, then find other topics that give them comfort and a few moments of happiness.

3. Do Share Your Thoughts

The most awkward part of visiting a dying friend is starting a conversation. Your friend may also feel awkward about what to speak. No matter how difficult it’s for you to talk to a dying friend, you have to speak.

The easiest way is to start asking questions on random subjects to get rid of the elephant in the room. Don’t directly jump onto the topic of illness or death, instead, let them decide what they want to talk about.

4. Say Goodbye

And lastly, you have to say goodbye, and that’s the hardest part. You have to control your emotion and say a final goodbye to your friend. It should be heartfelt for both you and your friend and help them get ready cremation services Willoughby Hills, OH.

Why Do Funeral Rituals Matter

Funeral homes Waite Hill, OH have gone through a lot of changes in the last few decades. During this time, funeral traditions have changed quite a lot, but the primary rituals have somehow remained the same.

Regardless of your faith or the socio-cultural traditions you follow, funeral rituals hold a special status in our lives. If you’re having doubts about the very need or importance of following specific funeral rituals, we have some convincing reasons in store for you.

Give it a read and find out how funeral rituals can help the grieving family navigate through the grief journey.

1. Offer One Last Tribute to the Deceased

Funerals carry immense importance not just for the surviving family, but for the departed soul as well. It gives the family a chance to offer a perfect send-off to the loved one, the one they deserve for the wonderful life they have spent.

The funeral traditions and related services you arrange for them remind them of their contributions. We think of our relationship with the deceased, the moments we shared – both, good and bad – with them, and how they sparked a positive change in our lives.

And more importantly, you get to fulfill their last wishes one last time.

2. Get Emotional Support from Loved ones

The very purpose of a funeral service is to express your grief and sorrow to your loved ones and the community. They are public statements asking “Come, Stand By Me” and unsurprisingly, your family and friends voluntarily choose to support you, sympathize with you, and don’t let you feel alone and isolated.

You get hope and confidence by seeing your friends and family around you during the lowest phase of your life. And is probably the most powerful aspect of arranging funeral ceremonies.

3. Adapt to the New Reality

Funeral rituals are vital to helping the bereaved accept the reality of death and that the loved one has gone forever. During funeral services, you get enough time and space to process the loss and slowly, adapt to the changed reality.

Purposeful funeral ceremonies also offer a gentle understanding of the divine reality for the visitors as well. When they see the dead body lowing into the casket for one last time, they are made to think about the inevitable end of man.

4. Start the Healing Process

Research shows that arranging funeral traditions begin the healing process for the bereaved. Meaningful traditions help us transition from “Mind Understanding” to “Heart Understanding” and we are left with no option but to embrace the pain of loss.

Knowing that you have fulfilled their last wishes and given a perfect send-off brings comfort and solace. Also, grief counselors argue that it’s absolutely normal to grieve or cry over the loss as it helps our defense system to expedite the healing process.

5. Unite the Community

Rituals are expressions of our values and beliefs that are meant to bring people together. Visiting a person who is mourning a loss of a loved one and extending both moral and sometimes financial support develops a true sense of community spirit around funeral homes Waite Hill, OH.

Arranging a Funeral Service

No words can justify the pain of cremation services Waite Hill, OH. Your life suddenly comes to a stop as you try to process the loss.

During such an emotionally trying time, you have to hold together to arrange for the one last goodbye to the deceased, the one they truly deserve. Planning a funeral is amongst the most challenging events, as grief and sorrow of losing the beloved can cloud your judgments.

Because of this, we are here with a list of tips to help you get started with the funeral arrangement when the time comes:

1. Look for a Funeral Director

The first thing you should do is start looking for a professional funeral director. He or she is the person who will guide you throughout the funeral process along with providing emotional support and comfort.

Many people have a misconception that hiring a funeral director costs extra money, but it cannot be further from the truth. You just cannot save anything by arranging all the services yourself, rather most people end up spending more.

A funeral director has years of experience in handling various tasks associated with funeral services. Because of his direct contact with all the funeral service providers, such as catering, music, burial, religious clergy, florists, etc., he gets you discounted prices.

2. Choose the Type of Service

If anything, the surviving family needs to honor the deceased’s last wishes about the type of service they wanted. But if they haven’t made a will, then the onus lies on the family to choose how to say goodbye.

In America, the two most common types of funerals are burial and cremation. Religious and cultural traditions play a key role in deciding whether to go with a burial funeral or cremation. Else, the family can make a consensus depending on the budgetary allocations.

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

3. Funeral Rituals

Another critical aspect of funeral planning is honoring the religious propensities of the deceased. If he 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. Think About Hearse to Transport the Body to Gravesite

Mostly, the casket is transported in a hearse, but that’s not the only option you have. Now, people are increasingly opting for non-traditional ways of transporting caskets like floats and horse-drawn carriages.

5. Plan for Post-Funeral Service

Many families plan a wake or memorial service to honor and remember the deceased. Close friends and family are invited to the deceased’s house or a private location like a hotel or funeral home.

Compared to the funeral, this event is less formal, where the guests commemorate the life of a person. But you can skip this event if you want or hold it anytime you deem suitable. You control the events at cremation services Waite Hill, OH.

Tips for Coping With Loss

Dealing with loss and funeral homes Waite Hill, OH can be very difficult. The feeling of not getting a chance of saying one last goodbye can take a toll on your emotional and physical health.

But life continues to move on. Here are a few tips you should keep in mind while coping with the sudden death of a loved one.

1. Don’t Hide Your Emotions

Grief can be extremely overwhelming and can make you feel alone and depressed. It’s necessary to share your emotions with loved ones and seek emotional support.

As the adage goes: if you can’t feel it, you won’t heal it. Hiding your feelings and emotions have adverse effects on your physical and mental health. Talk to a friend you trust or a priest and let the pain out.

Shedding a few drops of tears or getting a shoulder to cry on will make you feel slightly better as well as lighten your heart and mind.

2. Indulge in Healthy Activities

Try spending time on your favorite activities, be it eating, exercising, or getting extra sleep. It takes your mind from the tough thoughts and memories of the deceased and gives you enough time to think of all the positives in life.

Psychologists say that one can catalyze the healing process by indulging in activities that make one happy.

3. Honor the Deceased

Look for ways to celebrate the deceased and reminisce about the golden time spent with them. You can arrange a family dinner, invite close friends and family, and cook the favorite meals of the deceased. Ask the guests to share something about the lost loved one.

Similarly, you can arrange a music celebration and play their favorite songs whenever you miss them. Create a playlist of songs that you used to listen to together, as it will help you channel your emotions and feelings in a more healthy way.

4. Seek Support from Friends and Family

Never isolate yourself or restrict social interactions or start taking medications or drugs to relieve pain. It further plunges you into depression. Try to spend time with close friends and family, particularly the ones who care about you.

Seek as much assistance as offered and be open to sharing your feelings with them, you’ll get comfort and solace.

5. Don’t Hold on to the Grief

Try to stick to your normal routine, as the deceased would also want you to move forward and adapt to the new reality. Let your pain out and give all the energy and crying it needs and return to normalcy.

Hiding in loneliness won’t do any benefit to the lost loved one or to yourself. The grief process starts even before you contact funeral homes Waite Hill, OH.

Understanding Direct Cremation

In the last few years, the trend of choosing cremation services Waite Hill, OH as a type of final disposition is on the rise. Today, many bereaved families consider it as a natural alternative to traditional burial funerals. It is quick, simple, and can cost significantly less compared to burial.

If you’re planning to arrange a direct cremation for your loved one in the near future, read on to get insights into this trending final disposition option.

What is Direct Cremation

A direct cremation is a type of funeral service in which no service is performed before or after the cremation. It is also known as simple or immediate cremation, and no viewing, ceremony, or visitation is required.

The body of the deceased is put in a simple cardboard container, also called a cremation container, and burned to ashes in the presence of a few immediate family members. Direct cremation doesn’t involve any pre-funeral services, so there is no need for a casket.

How Much Direct Cremation Cost

Direct cremation is the least expensive of the funeral types and, on average, can cost half of what you spend on average burial services. The main reason is you don’t need a casket, embalming, or services of a funeral director to arrange a direct cremation which reduces the funeral costs.

That is why cremation is considered a low-cost alternative to a burial funeral.

The Family Require Authorization

Even though the name Immediate cremation reflects the burning of the body soon after death, but you cannot cremate a body without the necessary paperwork.

What documents and certifications you need vary from state to state, but in any case, it may take you 24-48 hours to complete the paperwork. Meanwhile, immediate kin fills in the cremation authorization form, and then a cremation permit is issued by the county where the person has died.

Scatter The Remains Anywhere You Want

The whole cremation process takes almost three hours, and the remains are filtered and delivered to the family within five to ten days in an urn of your choosing. It is upon the bereaved family to decide what to do with the remains.

They can bury it in any special spot, disperse in the air, bury under the sea, display it at the house, or turn it into pieces of jewelry.

Cremation is Quick, Simple, and Cost-Friendly

Direct cremation, unlike burial services, doesn’t require rigorous shopping and making dozens of decisions. You don’t have to worry about services such as catering, floral arrangement, coffin type, venue, and inviting members of the clergy.

The cremation process is simple and straightforward, and it appeals to people who want to make the last services of the deceased as simple as possible.

The aforementioned points show why direct cremations are on the rise in the US and elsewhere. It is the most affordable, simple, and quick type of funeral to say a final goodbye to the lost loved one.

Now, the choice is yours to decide if cremation services Waite Hill, OH is the right disposition method for your loved one or yourself when the time comes.

Etiquette Tips for Funeral Service

Planning to attend the funeral or cremation services Willoughby Hills, OH, of your friend or colleague? Bear in mind that a funeral is an event where everyone is expected to be on their best behavior.

So, if you’ve never attended a funeral service before, here is everything you should remember when visiting one.

1. Be on Time

There is probably never a more important time to be on time, than a funeral. Try to reach the venue 15 minutes before the scheduled time.

If you are late for a funeral the chances are that you will miss out on the part of the service you aren’t there for, because it is almost impossible for us to hold up service and wait for someone to arrive.

2. Record Your Attendance

Most funeral services will have a memorial or guest book that they want people to sign when they arrive. When you record your details, it is best not to simply sign your signature. Also, add a couple of lines in tribute to the deceased.

It helps the grieving family have an easily legible record of who attended. They may choose to send thank you cards or messages to those that attended, so make sure your name is easily understood.

3. Interact with family

Don’t shy away from approaching the bereaved family and offering your condolences. But don’t try to take a lot of their time.

For families, it can be particularly overwhelming when masses of people are trying to seek them out. Sometimes a grieving person just needs a little space before a funeral to collect their thoughts and emotion.

So, if possible, spend time with the bereaved family members after the service. This is a much more relaxed time and means that you can support them when they need it most.

4. Be Respectful

A funeral is one of those times when nothing less than the utmost respect is acceptable. This means respecting the family, the gathering of mourners, the funeral directors, the clergy, or the celebrant, but most importantly, it means respecting the deceased.

So, conduct yourself with respect, courtesy, and dignity. Never even think of disrespecting the mourning person, even if you have had a strained relationship for years or whatever. Do your very best to be supportive of each other and the family of the deceased.

Be patient if you don’t like something in the event. Just remember where you are and why you are there.

5. Dress Up in proper Attire

Wear what you feel most comfortable in and what you feel is the most respectful outfit for the occasion. It doesn’t have to be all black, but the darker attire is taken as a symbol of grief.

But anything that is not too shiny or attention-drawing is acceptable. Remember that it is a funeral so it is one of those occasions where it’s acceptable to dress up during the day!

In short, there are no hard and fast rules when it comes to funerals. But always be on your best behavior before and after cremation services Willoughby Hills, OH.

Debunking Myths About Preplanned Funerals

The last few years have witnessed an increase in the trend of individuals planning their final disposition at funeral homes Willoughby Hills, OH. Doing so helps them to communicate their wishes with the family members to get a deserving end-of-life celebration.

But unfortunately, many individuals have unfounded generalizations about preplanned funerals. The reason is people tend to avoid discussing funerals or their traditions for obvious reasons. After all, who would like to talk about death?

Let us kick some common myths related to pre-planning a funeral out of the park.

1. Only Old People Preplan

The outbreak of corona pandemic further highlighted the reality that no one can predict death. Never put preplanning off until tomorrow what you can do today while you’re fit and healthy and can make pragmatic decisions.

Because of this reason, many young people plan their funerals even if they believe the death is years in the future.

2. Only Low-Income Families Preplan Their Funerals

A common misconception is that financial issues convince people to go for funeral preplanning. They tend to minimize the burden on their families once they die. It couldn’t be further from the truth.

While the financial aspect is a popular factor for funeral planning, it’s not the only reason. Most people who preplan their funerals are not under any financial strain when and they rather want to have the final service their own way.

When you preplan your funeral and share every single detail of how it should go, the family is in a better position to honor all your desires.

3. I don’t have Enough Time to Preplan

Preplanning doesn’t take much time, and if anything, it is worth your time just as an exercise, higher education, and office work. If you’re too busy in your work routine, just think of all the things you want in your after-life celebrations and how you want the bereaved to remember you.

Start writing down your wishes and think of all the ways you can personalize the event without overspending your budget. You don’t have to do it all at once. Take your time to make pragmatic choices.

4. Only You Can Decide How You Want to be Celebrated

No matter how close you’re to your family, only you know yourself the best when it comes to your final wishes. You may have told them some of your wishes, such as if you want to be buried or cremated, but a funeral service entails a lot more than you might think.

Once you start jotting down the details and digging into your preferences, you realize the importance of various events associated with a funeral service. The things that might seem irrelevant to you at first become important, particularly in today’s funeral industry, where you have a plethora of options to personalize your final disposition.

Now, the next step is to get in touch with a professional funeral director and start preplanning your funeral, not tomorrow, but today. It will make sure all your final wishes are fulfilled while your family has one less thing to worry about at funeral homes Willoughby Hills, OH.

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.

Answering Questions About Visitation

If you’re planning a service at funeral homes Waite Hill, OH, you must also have a lot of unanswered questions about Visitation. In general, you don’t need to know much about a visitation event – unless you have to attend one.

Understanding the ins and out of this service before attending one is important to expect what you’re going to experience. Because of this, we have answered some common queries about visitation in this article.

Give it a read, and hopefully, it will clear out all your queries.

Question 1: What is visitation?

A visitation is an informal gathering held right before the funeral service when the funeral home has prepared the body. During the ritual, the guests pay homage and condolences to the bereaved family and reflect unwavering support.

Often, it is referred to as a wake or viewing.

Question 2: How does it differ from the funeral?

Viewing provides time and space for loved ones of the deceased to come together in a relatively informal setting. While the funeral is an organized gathering to formally say goodbye to someone who has died.

Both the visitation and the funeral may be held at either the funeral home or the place of worship. But mostly, families hold the visitation at the decedent’s home while the funeral is generally arranged in a funeral home.

Question 3: Is it okay to attend both the visitation and the funeral?

Absolutely yes, if the family gives you an invitation. It doesn’t matter if you knew the deceased well or were just an acquaintance, attending these services reflects your care and love for both the deceased and the bereaved family.

Question 4: What should I say at a visitation?

That’s a tricky part. Many people get confused about what to say to the bereaved family and often prefer avoiding them altogether. But truth be told, the family during such a tough time needs your empathy and support, albeit verbal.

One of the worst things that a grieving person faces is the void left by the death of someone they loved. Emptiness. Loneliness. When you see a person who has lost a loved one and you turn away, say nothing, or avoid talking about their loss, you’re virtually adding to their misery and grief.

Thus, try to introduce yourself at some point during the evening. Start with how shocked and sad you’re on hearing about the loss. Feel free to share with them any fond memories you have of the person who has died.

Psychologists conjure that hearing stories about the deceased gives solace to the mourners. Not to mention, this is the reason for the visitation in the first place. So know that anything you have to share will be welcome.

If you are having trouble finding the right words to say, simply expressing that you are sorry for their loss is just fine. But don’t prolong the conversation as other guests also have to offer their condolences. Lastly, try to speak less and listen more, and don’t interrupt the mourners no matter how irrational they may sound at funeral homes Waite Hill, OH.

BLOG