Monthly Archives: November 2018

Personalizing a Memorial Service

Most people who have chosen to have a loved one cremated opt to have a memorial service instead of a funeral service. This is because a memorial allows you to bring the ashes in an urn to the service. Many people do not just want to have a standard service, however. Everyone is unique, so why not ensure that the memorial service has touches of your loved one’s personality? La Porte, IN funeral home and cremations have some tips that can help.

Instead of playing the same kind of hymns or classical pieces that everyone expects, you can put together a great playlist of music that your loved one enjoyed. They do not have to be somber in mood. You can even find a cover band or musicians that can play those pieces live at the service. It can really add a special touch to have music that meant something to the deceased.

Most memorial services have a large portrait of the deceased on display. This may be too formal for your preference. Instead, you can ask people to bring pictures that they love and make a collage out of all of them. Not only will you be creating something unique and beautiful, but you will also be allowing guests to feel involved. It can provide them with some closure to be active in the memorial service.

There are unique locations that can be better than hiring a reception room or a space at a funeral home. If your loved one enjoyed a specific location, like a park, or if they loved the beach, you should consider having the memorial service there. Since you might be thinking of scattering the ashes, it can be a great option to have the service where you are planning on doing so.

Most people have favorite flowers or plants. Why not decorate the location with those instead of with much more formal funeral wreaths? If they loved nature, have guests bring in wild flowers or anything they may have growing in their gardens. Memorial services do not have to be somber, so consider making huge bouquets of colorful flowers of all kinds if that is something that your loved one would have enjoyed.

The memorial service could even be a celebration of life. This means that you will not be mourning after burials in La porte but honoring the life of the person who is gone. A life celebration is more like a party, with fun music, activities that recall the loved one, and so much more. It can be a great way to honor a unique person.

A memorial service does not have to be identical to all of the other ones that you may have attended. Your loved one deserves to have a personalized honoring of his or her life. To help you plan this kind of event, contact Cutler Funeral Home and Cremation Center by visiting them at 2900 Monroe St La Porte, IN 46350 or by calling (219) 362-2828.

Helping a Grieving Loved One

It is difficult to watch someone you love go through the grief of having lost someone. It can feel like there is nothing you can do to make them feel better, and although it is true that grief passes on its own time, there are some ways you can help the person you love get through it. This is a question that funeral homes get often, so they have a few suggestions that can make a huge difference for you and your loved one.

Probably the most important thing you can do for someone who is grieving is to listen to them. Do not try to interject your own experiences into the conversation unless they specifically ask for them and do not push your loved one to share what they are feeling if they do not want to. This can have the opposite effect that you want. The best thing you can do is be there and make yourself available to them in case they do want to speak.

Offer concrete help. It is much easier for someone to reject the offer if it is a vague one, so make it a specific offer. Ask them to go grocery shopping for them, or to make funerary arrangements. These simple tasks can make a difference for your loved one, taking away everyday stresses so that they can focus on healing.

Prepare meals for them. It is very common for someone who is in mourning to forget to eat or to not have the energy they need to make themselves a meal. Sometimes, they turn to fast food because it is quick. People struggling through grief need nutritious food to get them through these trying times, so prepared them meals that can provide the nutrients they need. It does not have to be anything fancy. On the contrary, most people prefer comfort food when they are grieving. Make them easy meals that they can heat up quickly and without effort.

It is important to understand that someone who is grieving might experience mood swings. They will have bouts of crying that can easily turn into anger. Try not to react angrily yourself. It is a normal part of the process of grieving, so do not get frightened by rapid mood changes. You may also see that they have trouble sleeping. Urge them to take naps during the day, since this can help with mood issues.

Patience is crucial when helping a loved one who is grieving. It can be difficult to see them so distraught and many people feel helpless when they see mood swings or a lack of appetite. Funeral homes are always ready to offer more information on the grieving process and on how you can help a loved one. Reach out to a company like Cutler Funeral Home and Cremation Center, which you can find at 2900 Monroe St La Porte, IN 46350. Ask them about their suggestions by calling (219) 362-2828.

Tips to Find the Perfect Urn

Choosing an urn is just one more decision that you have to make after someone you cared about dies. You may have had also to decide whether to bury or cremate the person, and you may be exhausted at having to make all of these arrangements. To choose the right urn, you do not need much more than a few tips that cremation providers will happily offer.

The size of the urn is important to consider. Most people assume that all cremated remains fit in all kinds of urns, but this is not so. Bodies that weight more than 200 pounds will probably need to have a larger urn than the standard ones. Companion urns are usually a good choice, since they can accommodate larger quantities of ashes. Be sure to ask the provider if they think you will need to purchase one that is not of a standard size.

Your budget is another crucial thing to keep in mind when you begin your search for an urn. Depending on the kind of material, the size, and much more, urns will vary in price. It can be a good idea to do some research online to see what the average costs are for the urn that you have in mind. It is important to know that you are not required to purchase an urn from the funeral home or crematorium. You can purchase it from a third party or bring a container from home.

You should also know the kind of urn you want. A display urn, for example, is much more ornate because it will be displayed either in the home or in a niche at a columbarium. This can mean that a display urn will be more costly than other options. If you are planning on scattering the ashes and are not going to display them, any container can be a good choice. Another great option is to purchase a keepsake urn, which can be in the shape of lockets so that you can wear a bit of a loved one’s remains every day, or one that looks just like a picture frame and that can let you store some ashes without everyone having to know it is an urn.

Choosing an urn does not have to be very complicated if you try not to rush the process and you take these tips into consideration. There are lots of locations where you can find urns, including funeral homes, crematoriums, and even online providers. If you are not sure where to begin searching for the right urn, even with these tips, you should contact your nearest cremation service provider for help. They can offer their suggestions and help you find the kind of rates that you can afford. Contact a company like Cutler Funeral Home and Cremation Center to get started. Our funeral home is located at 2900 Monroe St La Porte, IN 46350. You can reach us at (219) 362-2828 for any questions you may have.

Steps to Take After a Death

If a loved one has recently died and you are in charge of making funerary arrangements, it can seem like an overwhelming process. This is because there are lots of steps to take and lots of things you need to do while still dealing with grief. Funeral homes see this all the time, and they have some suggestions and tips on the steps you should take as soon as you learn about the death.

The very first thing you need to do is to get the death certificate. You will need this piece of paper for everything else you have to do to make arrangements, so getting it first will save you lots of time. Because you will need it for so many things, you should consider getting at least ten copies of it. The death certificate can be granted by any medical technician, coroner, nurse, and many other professionals. If you are not sure how to get it, you can reach out to a funeral home for information.

Next, you should notify loved ones and relatives. The best way to do this is to call a few people and ask them to call others, as well. It will ensure you do not have to make tons of calls yourself and it will also save time.

You should contact the funeral home or cremation provider next. If the deceased left information about the services they would like to have, this process is simpler, since all you have to do is call the funeral home they have chosen. Many people, however, have to start searching for a company to hire. Be sure to ask for recommendations from people you trust to find the one you need for the funerary arrangements.

Start settling the estate. This will require contacting the lawyer that the deceased might have had so that wills and other legalities are taken care of. If your loved one did not leave a will or any contact with an attorney, you may have to hire one yourself to help you settle the estate. This is especially crucial if the estate is a large one and there are many people who have claim to it.

Plan the funeral next. Whether you want a funeral or a memorial for your loved one can be up to you, but be sure that you time it correctly and that you know of the extra costs that a funeral service can demand. If you are not sure which way to go yet, speak with the funeral home for help.

These steps can make it easier for you to start making all of the necessary arrangements after a death. From getting the death certificate to ensuring that the estate is taken care of, you will have a busy few days after a death. Get the help you need by contacting a funeral home near you like Cutler Funeral Home and Cremation Center. We are situated at 2900 Monroe St La Porte, IN 46350. You can reach out to us by calling (219) 362-2828.