Monthly Archives: November 2022

Monument Options for Cremation

When a loved one passes on, we often want to find ways to keep their memory alive. One way is through memorials or monuments that can help preserve their legacy. As South Bend, IN, cremation services continue to gain popularity, what options exist for those who choose them?

Read on to learn more about these options and how they could help you honor your loved one or yourself in the future.

Memorial Plaques

Memorial plaques are made of bronze or granite and can be personalized with engravings of the deceased’s key details. A popular option for those who choose cremation, plaques can be a standalone memorial or used to mark another monument to the deceased.

You can place this cremation memorial within the deceased’s home, garden, or grave site, among others.

Memorial Sculptures and Statues

Another option for cremation ashes is memorial statuary. These can be placed virtually anywhere you would like your loved one commemorated, from gravesites to homes, gardens, or even public places.

Headstones and Markers

Headstones and markers are an age-long choice for marking graves that can be used regardless of the final disposition method. They can be personalized with a niche for ashes or act only as a marker for the spot where cremated remains are interred, as in traditional burials.

Memorial Stone or Rock

Memorial stones or rocks are another way to memorialize cremated remains. They are natural boulders made unique by cutting a hole in them for ashes and then sealed up with a nameplate or artwork.

These can go in a garden, act as a headstone, or be placed anywhere else you would expect to find a rock.

Commemorative Bench

Commemorative benches are an excellent choice for those who choose cremation, and a way to give back to the community. They come in various attractive designs and can be commissioned for a public park, memorial garden, or wherever else the family chooses.

They can be designed to hold some or all of the loved one’s ashes, or you can have the remains mixed with the concrete.

Ashes as Artwork

Another option that is becoming progressively popular is turning cremated remains into artwork. The possibilities are virtually limitless, ranging from a tattoo to an oil painting, glass art, or sculpture made with ashes. This type of monument is highly customizable and will serve as a distinctive reminder of the deceased.

Cremation Jewelry

Another option is to turn cremated remains into jewelry. You could engrave your loved one’s name onto a piece of jewelry, such as a ring or pendant containing a portion of their ashes. This creates an eye-catching piece you can keep close by wearing every day.

Living Memorials

Instead of purchasing a traditional memorial, you may consider planting a living memorial. These can be anything from a tree to bushes or even flowers.

Many families choose to scatter ashes at the beach, in a favorite park, or by a beloved lake. Most options above can serve as markers for the resting place, providing a place to visit and connect with the deceased in the future.

Choosing a final resting place for your loved one doesn’t have to be difficult, but it all comes down to your priorities. If you find it hard to settle on one, you may consider having multiple memorials.

You can contact our cremation service in South Bend, IN, today to discuss your preferred options, even if not mentioned above.

8 Funeral Planning Mistakes That Can Cost You

Do you have a funeral to plan with a Rolling Prairie, IN, funeral home? The process can be long, and with so many details to keep track of, it’s easy to miss something important. Here are some mistakes you might want to stay ahead of whether you are planning ahead or for the moment.

Not setting a budget

Deciding on a budget is an integral part of planning a funeral that people tend to overlook. You need to be realistic with yourself and your family about how much you can afford to spend.

If you don’t have a budget cap, you are more likely to get carried away in a frenzy and overspend.

Not getting all the facts and figures

Try to have as many facts as are pertinent about all parties involved in your final arrangements. Don’t underestimate funeral costs, as they can add up pretty quickly. Starting with the funeral home, consider the prices for everything from accessories to embalming to ceremony costs.

The same applies to the place of final rest, including any upkeep fees that may come up later. This way, you can weigh them against your budget and see if your choices are the right fit.

Not thinking about the future

On the one hand, you might want to save costs as much as possible. However, you also want to ensure that you are not neglecting future needs in favor of spending less.

Take your time to consider your decisions, not just how they affect the deceased’s legacy but also whether they meet the needs of their loved ones.

Not balancing your needs and wishes

Thinking only of the present results in common mistakes like failing to strike a balance between wishes and needs. For instance, you may wish for the funeral to pass as soon as possible so you can focus on mourning.

While this is understandable, it shouldn’t be the sole reason to make an irreversible decision like refusing to have a funeral service at all.

Not speaking with your family about the final arrangements

If you are in charge of making arrangements with the funeral home, it is important that you carry your family along. This way, everyone involved can have input on what they would like to see happen and how their loved one’s wishes will be respected.

Shying away from asking questions

Chances are you will deal with different people during your funeral planning, from professionals to artisans. Cultivate a habit of asking questions wherever you are unclear to avoid spending unnecessarily or not getting value for your money.

Not getting help

With so many tasks and decisions to make, it can become too much for you to handle everything on your own. It’s alright to seek help from professionals and even family and friends. This way, you get a chance to focus on what matters most; honoring your loved one and fulfilling their wishes.

Failing to take advantage of preplanning opportunities

Preplanning is an excellent way to spare your family the added stress of making all the funeral arrangements when raw with grief. You can preplan anytime and anywhere with the help of our funeral service professionals.

We hope this article has been helpful to you in knowing what to avoid when planning a funeral. The goal is to minimize your chances of regretting your choices in the future. Our funeral home in Rolling Prairie, IN, is here for your preplanning and immediate final arrangements needs. Call us today and speak to our expert.

How to Write a Tribute For a Loved One’s Funeral

Death and subsequent services at South Bend, IN, funeral homes make one think about what really matters in life. When a loved one passes, a tribute is one of the ways to tap into the depth of your affection for them.

This speech helps others understand who the deceased was and how they impacted your life. Here are some tips on how to write a touching tribute for a loved one’s funeral services.

Show the person’s influence in your life

What was it about this person that made them special to you? It could be their sense of humor, love for family and friends, or even how they cared for others. Whatever it was, use those qualities to describe how they affected you.

For example, if they were generous with their time and money, explain how that positively impacted your life.

Touch on the good times spent together

When writing a tribute to someone, talk about the good times spent together. This includes anything from when you first met them to significant events throughout your life together. However, don’t focus solely on the good times without mentioning some challenges.

These things give insight into who they truly were and why they mattered so much. For example, suppose they were caring and loving towards everyone around them but had a difficult time being open with their feelings.

Including both sides of their personality allows people to see the whole picture, making your tribute even more authentic.

Share what you will miss about this person

What are some of the things you will miss about this person? This is a great way to express your feelings and help others who may be struggling with their own. Let people know what you will miss most about their presence in your life and how it made you feel.

Include a memory or story that exemplifies who they were

Including a personal story can help people see what the person was like on a more individual level. For example, if someone was always there for you when times got tough, this could be a vital memory to include for others to remember them by as well.

Be succinct

While it is essential to include important details, you should also try to keep the tribute concise. This allows others to read through and get the most out of it without feeling overwhelmed by the information.

Make the tone conversational

When writing a tribute, you want to keep the tone conversational. This allows the reader to feel as though they are having a real conversation with you and can help them better relate to how you feel.

End on a positive but personal note

Ending on a positive note drives home the point of your tribute. This can be along the lines of what they did for others. However, it is also important to end on a personal note. This allows people to understand what you will miss most about them and how their passing will impact you.

It is important to remember that everyone grieves differently and that these tips may not work for everyone. However, following these tips can help create a tribute that is both heartfelt and meaningful to those who read it.

You may rely on the director at our funeral home in South Bend, IN, for further insight into creating a meaningful tribute. Visit or call our staff today.

Planning a Graveside Service After Cremation

If you are considering cremation services in Rolling Prairie, IN, a graveside service is one of your many options for the final disposition of remains. Also known as a committal service, it’s an alternative to traditional burial, perfect for those who want to pay their last respects while also keeping things simple.

Here is how to put a graveside committal service together to honor a cremated loved one.

Select a Location

After deciding on where to inter the remains, find out if your chosen place can accommodate a gathering. Some cemeteries have pavilions where families can gather before or after a service.

If not, you could also ask if there is an area designated for this purpose near where your loved one is to be laid to rest.

If there isn’t one nearby, plan ahead and choose an indoor location such as a funeral home or a similar venue. The service can hold here before everyone goes to pay their final respects at the place of interment.

Choose the Event Details

A graveside service can share several aspects with a typical funeral service. There is no right or wrong way to go about a committal service; it can be simple and short or otherwise. The important thing is how your family would like to honor your loved one and who will handle what.

Do you want songs? Readings? A eulogy? You can have a funeral home arrange the entire service, including officiating. Or you can let a family member or a religious leader lead the proceedings.

Interment

With cremation, you can arrange to bury the urned remains like you would a casket. You would require a cremation plot and, in many cases, an urn vault to protect the integrity of the grave. Check with the cemetery for their specific rules and regulations regarding this.

Alternatively, you can spread cremation ashes in a private or community scattering garden. This is similar to interring cremated remains with soil and seeds or seedlings. The plant that grows thereof then becomes a living memorial to the deceased.

It is a natural method of disposition that is beneficial to the environment.

Another option is to inter cremated remains in a columbarium niche or a mausoleum crypt. These are both above-ground structures for storing the remains of loved ones. However, where the former is primarily for cremation urns, a mausoleum entombs both cremated and non-cremated remains.

You will likely find both structures in the same section of the cemetery, so you can have the committal service and then lay the deceased to rest afterward.

To Conclude

Organizing a graveside service can seem like a lot. Nonetheless, with the help of a capable funeral director, the onus of arrangements wouldn’t be on you.

With our Rolling Prairie, IN, cremation service, you tell us what you want and where, and we will do our best to make it happen. Call us today or visit us anytime to let us know how we can help.