Monthly Archives: May 2020

Dos and Do Nots of Helping a Grieving Friend

Seeing a loved one struggling with grief after the death of someone they cared about can be harrowing. You may not be certain of what kind of help they need or what to offer them. To make sure that you are able to provide the support they need, there are some things that you want to know. Here are the dos and do nots that providers of cremation services in La Porte, IN want you to remember.

Do let the person know that you are ready to listen to them at any time. This is something that can make a huge difference to someone who is struggling. It is important that you do not force them to let you know what they are feeling or going through if they are not ready to do so, but that you ensure they know they can turn to you.

Do not talk about your own experiences with grief unless the person asks you. You do not want to make the person feel as if their experience is not as important or that they should be consoling you. Pay attention to them and listen actively without interrupting unless they ask you for your own experiences.

Do offer to run concrete errands for them. It can be tempting to say something vague but it is better to let them know that you are ready to help them with specific things. You may want to offer to help with funerary arrangements or to assist with making meals. This will make it much easier for them to accept help.

Do not forget to offer them meals. People who are going through a loss tend to lose energy and they will not want to prepare meals. You want them to stay healthy, though, so take the time to offer them filling meals that they can easily heat up and eat. Make these meals nutritious but also comforting so that your loved one can get the most out of it.

Do encourage them to express themselves freely. People going through a loss tend to have mood swings and they may not be comfortable with expressing them. You can make it easier for them by letting them know that they should give voice to what they are going through, no matter what it is.

These are all crucial dos and do nots that can help you help someone you love. You want to remember that people going through a mourning period need to be listened to and they need honesty. Be there for them and you will be able to offer them crucial assistance. To learn more about how to best help a loved one who is struggling with loss, reach out to a La Porte, IN cremation service provider like us at Cutler Funeral Home and Cremation Center. We are ready to help you with tips and information on the process of grieving. Give us a call right now.

How to Choose a Funeral Outfit

Something that many people wonder about when getting ready to attend a funeral or memorial service is whether they have the right outfit. There are some suggestions that can help you find the right option and erase some of the stress from this process. To help you with this, there are funeral homes in La Porte, IN that offer some suggestions with this.

When getting ready to attend a funeral service, you want to consider clothing that is on the conservative side. You do not want to distract from the purpose of the service and that can happen if you choose clothing that is too revealing or that draws attention to itself in different ways. You do not want to upset the family of the deceased, so stick to outfits that you would comfortably wear to a religious service.

Another thing to consider is the color of the outfit. Many people think that black is the only accepted color and this is not the case. You can wear any somber color you feel comfortable with, like blue or green. Try to avoid oranges, reds, and yellows, since these are too bright for this kind of occasion. The outfit you choose should also avoid big patterns. Stick to options that will not draw attention away from the service.

It is also important to wear appropriate shoes. You do not want to wear sandals or flip flops to service since this can feel offensive to the family that is grieving. Wear sensible shoes that are not too tall for women, or that are too casual. Men should stay away from sneakers or any other option that is too casual.

Try to see what religious denomination the family subscribes to so that you can be sure that your option is appropriate. For example, Quakers wear white to a funeral service instead of black. Some other denominations wear head coverings as signs of respect at a service, so you want to enquire about this. A good way of doing this is to ask the provider that is helping with the service or the family itself.

Choosing the right outfit for a funeral or memorial service does not have to be too stressful if you keep in mind these things. The most important thing to remember is that you want the outfit to be respectful to the grief that the family is going through. This is not an occasion to wear something too revealing or too colorful. Be sure to learn a bit about the religious denomination of the family and to see if there are any requirements or preferences for that religion in funeral services. If you want to learn more about all of this, you can reach out to a La Porte, IN funeral home like us at Cutler Funeral Home and Cremation Center. We are ready to help you find the answers you need when getting ready to attend a service. Stop by our location or give us a call today.

How to Choose a Niche

There are lots of options when you have decided to cremate a loved one. The cremated remains can be buried, scattered, placed in keepsake urns, and placed in niches. This is an option that lots of people turn to. A columbarium niche allows for the urn to be placed inside so that you can visit it at the cemetery just as you would a gravesite. If this is something that you are interested in for your loved one, there are some things that providers of cremation services in La Porte, IN want you to consider before you choose one.

The location of the niche will impact the price. This is something that you need to remember if you are working with a limited budget. The size will also have an impact. The best thing you can do is reach out to the cemetery and ask for a price list so that you can compare options before making a decision.

The niche has to be the correct size. If you have already chosen the urn that you want for your loved one, it can be a good idea to take measurements or to take the actual urn to the cemetery to see if it is feasible. This is important if you have purchased an urn that is larger than standard or that is a companion urn. There are niches made especially for companion urns, so do consider that. If your loved one weighed more than two hundred pounds, you will need an urn that is not the standard size, so letting the cemetery know this early in the process can make it easier for them to help you find the right niche.

You want to ask about the maintenance options, too. You need to make certain that the cemetery offers maintenance if you cannot get to the site often enough. Some cemeteries offer these options for an added fee while others do not offer it at all. When asking the cemetery for a list of expenses, you want to make certain that they include all of this information. You do not want to be surprised later one with a fee for maintenance.

These are all important considerations you need to have when deciding on the niche you want for your loved one’s urn. You do not want to have to worry about being out of budget or not being able to fit the urn into the niche. Take the time to ask for a list of rates from the company you are choosing to see that they can offer the kind of options you need. If you want to learn more about the benefits that niches offer and the options that you have available, you can reach out to a La Porte, IN cremation service provider like us at Cutler Funeral home and Cremation Center. We are here to help you find the exact options you need for your loved one, so do stop by our location or give us a call today.

Steps to Take When Planning a Service

There are lots of things that you will need to do after the death of a loved one and this can feel overwhelming. To make the process just a bit easier, you can plan ahead and see what steps you need to take when making arrangements. Here are some of the steps that funeral homes in La Porte, IN want you to consider taking when putting a funeral or memorial service together.

It is important to consider first what kind of budget you have available to work with. The budget will have an impact on the kind of options you choose. Do a bit of research into the usual costs of funerals and memorials and be sure to ask the provider you are considering for a list of rates. You can use this to compare with other providers and find the one that can provide the services you want for the budget you have.

Once you have a budget in mind and you have considered all aspects of it, you will want to think of the location of the service. The most common options are funeral homes, religious locations, and even the person’s home. Many people feel like their loved one would have preferred to have the service at home, so they choose to do this. Keep in mind that transporting the casket is expensive, so this may be something you choose to do if you have had a loved one cremated.

After you have the location in mind, you will want to consider the music options and the readings that you want to have. Not everyone will want to have religious or classical music, so be sure to consider this. You can put together playlists of favorite music that is appropriate for a service or you can hire local musicians to play.

Consider next the number of people you want to invite. This may not be an issue for the service itself but if you want to have a reception after the service, you need to know how many people you want to invite. Take the time to send invitations that have RSVPs, so that you can be certain of the count of people who will be present.

When putting a funeral or memorial service together, you do not want to find yourself struggling. Following these steps can help a great deal and can make certain that you get everything done correctly. You will want to also have a qualified provider of these services helping you. Do not just choose the first one you come across but take time instead to ask about their services. You will want to get started by reaching out to a La Porte, IN funeral home like us at Cutler Funeral Home and Cremation Center. We are ready to offer the kind of support that you need during this difficult time and we can help with all of the arrangements. Give us a call right now for more information.