Monthly Archives: December 2022

Preplanning Your Cremation Services: Things to Consider

When making your final arrangements, multiple factors need to be considered. The choice of cremation services in Rolling Prairie, IN, is one such decision. While some may find this process upsetting or stressful, others find it liberating.

Whether you want a private service with just family or a public memorial ceremony, you will need to get the details in order ahead of your final days.

In this article, we’ll discuss what you need to consider when planning your cremation services – from cost and location to urn and services. Getting these things right will help you feel more at ease and offer peace of mind to your loved ones after you pass on.

Cremation services are generally divided into two categories: direct cremation and cremation with services.

Direct cremation is where the body is sent straight to the crematorium without any prior ceremony. The body is cremated soon after death, and the remains are transferred to the family when ready.

Cremation with services, however, are robust and more popular. It usually involves one or more of the following: visitation or viewing, funeral or memorial service, and committal or scattering of ashes.

This can be done in any order, but viewing and visitation often come before the funeral or cremation. A memorial service can be held as a standalone event after the cremation or in conjunction with committal or scattering of ashes ceremony.

The services accompanying cremation can take place at a funeral home, cemetery, chapel, or home, depending on your personal preference. You will also need to decide how much of the proceedings you wish to be private or public.

If you have decided on direct cremation, you will have more decisions ahead regarding what happens with your loved one’s remains after returning from the crematorium.

Cost

The cost of cremation services varies widely, depending on your location and the type of service you choose. Direct cremations cost significantly lower than the alternative, which includes fees for services selected in addition to the basics.

However, these fees are flexible, and you should discuss them in detail with your chosen funeral provider.

Funeral home, cemetery, or independent crematory?

Some funeral homes handle all aspects of the cremation process, from preparing the body to filing paperwork, the actual service, and the disposition of the ashes.

This is a good solution if you want a single point of contact and don’t want to worry about finding independent providers for each need.

Funeral directors are trained to care for each family’s unique needs, not just the deceased. If you have specific requirements for your final wishes, a funeral home might be the ideal choice.

Suppose you opt for an independent crematory or cemetery. In that case, you will need someone to help with each aspect of your final wishes. If you have already made arrangements with a funeral home, it may be possible to transfer your remains once released for interment.

Cemeteries and funeral homes offer a wide variety of cremation-related services. If you are unsure what is suitable for your family, it is a good idea to meet with a funeral professional who can assist you in making these decisions.

Disposition options

With the service details sorted, you should decide what to do with your ashes as well. Unlike with a whole body, options abound when it comes to what you can do for the final disposition of cremation ashes.

Will it be burial, scattering, or others? Do you want the funeral home to handle it, or leave it to your family? A good start is to discuss your options with your cremation professional and pick the one that most aligns with your preferences and budget.

Whether you are planning ahead or at the point of need, our Rolling Prairie, IN, cremation service aims to make the process easy. Why wait? Reach out to us today.

The Golden Rules of Attending a Memorial

When a loved one has cremation services in Michigan City, IN, rather than a traditional burial, you might be unsure of the best way to pay your respects. A memorial service is a wonderful way for those left behind to honor the memory of the deceased.

It is an opportunity for friends and family members to gather together and remember the one who is no longer with them. While attending a memorial event can be an emotional experience, it can also be uplifting and comforting, especially with these tips on how to act at one:

Be kind to yourself and other attendees.

It’s natural to mourn the loss of a loved one, but it’s also important to remember that everyone is grieving in their own way. Some people may be very emotional and teary-eyed, while others may not be as visibly upset. Being understanding of this will help you to be more supportive of those around you.

Consider your outfit when attending a memorial service.

If there is no dress code for the event, it’s always better to err on the side of caution by dressing conservatively and respectfully. Avoid wearing colors that may seem too bright or distracting for the occasion unless it’s the host family’s choice.

Arrive on time for the service.

You don’t want to disrupt the proceedings and inadvertently offend others present by arriving after everyone has already settled into the event.

Refrain from using your cell phone at a memorial service.

Out of respect for the deceased, do your best to stay off your phone for the duration of the service, regardless of where you are seated. If you must use it, try to keep it quiet and under the radar.

Be respectful of any religious or cultural practices, even if unfamiliar.

It’s not uncommon to find yourself at a funeral or memorial service with practices you can’t relate to. When this happens during the service, go along if you can. If you are unable to, find a quiet place to sit and observe those around you who are. It might help to sit with people you know at the memorial service.

Offer your condolences.

After the memorial service, offer your condolences to those around you who are close to the deceased person. Depending on what is considered acceptable in your situation, you may go with a memorial gift with an adjoining condolence note for added impact.

Avoid giving unsolicited advice to those grieving.

When it comes to grief, there is such a thing as saying the wrong things, even if you have the best intentions. If you are unsure what to say when offering condolences, consider keeping it simple.

Don’t say things like, “they will find someone else someday,” or anything that implies the deceased is replaceable. Everyone dealing with grief needs time to heal and adjust to their new reality on their own.

Participate when required.

Many memorial services have activities attendees are encouraged to partake in. It could be signing the guestbook or bringing a keepsake item you identify with the deceased. Even if it doesn’t all make sense to you, if it offers some solace to the grieving parties, consider joining in.

Accept the condolences of others graciously. Don’t brush off a sincere gesture of comfort, even if you aren’t open to being comforted (yet).

Share your feelings.

Finally, if you are grieving yourself, know that it’s okay to share your feelings with others who are also in pain. Many people may be happy to talk with you about their own experiences of the loss or just be thankful to have someone who gets it. You can all use the support of one another to get through this challenging period.

Our Michigan City, IN, cremation service caters to your needs, whether you are attending or organizing a service with us. We’re happy to help improve your memorial experience however we can. Call or visit us now. to learn more about funeral etiquettes.

5 Tribute Poems for Grandparents

Are you having a service for your dear grandparent at a Rolling Prairie, IN, funeral home? Whether you want to honor their memory, show your love for them, or find something that resonates with your feelings about their passing, you are at the right place.

These funeral poems for grandparents will provide comfort and support.

1. Granddad – Fiona Bourke

Grandad,
We know you can no longer stay with us,
You fought long and hard to be with us.
We know you now watch over and protect us.
Although we cannot hear your voice or see your smiling face,
We know deep down in our hearts that you have not left us.

2. We Had a Wonderful Grandmother – Unknown

We had a wonderful grandmother
One who never really grew old
Her smile was made of sunshine
And her heart was solid gold
Her eyes were bright as shining stars
And in her cheeks fair roses you see.
We had a wonderful grandmother,
And that’s the way it will always be.
But take heed, because
She’s still keeping an eye on all of us,
So let’s make sure
She will like what she sees.

3. You are Not Truly Gone, Grandpa – Kelly Roper

Grandpa slipped away,
Quietly one day.
He simply went to sleep,
No more to wake or weep.

Now we gather here
And quietly shed a tear,
As we lay him in the ground,
No solace to be found.

But Grandpa’s not truly gone,
Because his memory lives on,
In all of us who loved him,
Never to be forgotten.

4. Legacy of Love – Unknown

A wife, a mother, a grandma too,
This is the legacy we have from you
You taught us love and how to fight
You gave us strength, you gave us might.
A stronger person would be hard to find,
And in your heart you were always kind.
You fought for us all in one way or another
Not just as a wife not just as a mother.
For all of us you gave your best
And now the time has come for you to rest.
So go in peace, you’ve earned your sleep,
Your love in our hearts we’ll eternally keep.

5. God Saw You Getting Tired – Unknown

God saw you getting tired
and a cure was not to be
so he put his arms around you
and whispered,
Come to Me.

With tearful eyes we watch you
and saw you pass away
and although we loved you dearly
we could not make you stay.

A Golden heart stopped beating
hard working hands at rest.
God broke our hearts to prove us
he only takes the best

The death of a loved one is always heartbreaking. However, it is important to take the time to acknowledge their life and seek comfort in ways that honor them. Poetry is one way you can do that.

While these poems have been specifically put together for grandparents, you can tailor them to other loved ones who have passed.

Our funeral home in Rolling Prairie, IN, can also offer further assistance in crafting meaningful tributes for departed loved ones, among other final services. Visit us or call today to speak with someone and have the talk of a lifetime.

Tips for Getting Through the Loss of a Loved One

When the unthinkable happens and a loved one dies, there is a natural inclination to believe you will never be happy again. You may feel numb amid arrangements with a Michigan City, IN, funeral home, or for an extended period afterward, trying to navigate through the loss.

If this person was the primary source of your support system, it is likely that you are now struggling to figure out how to continue on without them. In addition to feeling grief-stricken, many people also experience anxiety about what will come next.

How do you move forward after losing someone so important in your life? Read on for some helpful advice on how to survive in the aftermath of a loved one’s death.

Take care of yourself

If you are grieving, it is common to want to isolate yourself. But this will only prolong your suffering. Instead, try to engage in activities that will help keep your spirits up.

For example, you might consider joining a grief support group or getting involved with a cause that was dear to the deceased.

Try not to dwell on what might have been or could have gone differently. Instead, focus on the good things about your relationship and remember why this person was so important to you.

If there is something that was important to your loved one that you didn’t get to do together, consider doing it now as a way of honoring them.

Make their funeral or memorial meaningful

Grief is debilitating because it doesn’t seem like there is much you can do about it. However, even in the thick of mourning, you can find solace in the rituals and ceremonies.

Whether you are having a full funeral or a private memorial for the deceased, you can gain a lot personally by participating actively in the final services. Starting from the planning stage, be intentional about every input of yours.

Channel your pain into actions that enable the day to go smoothly and make it an experience that propels others in mourning to comfort and healing. Think of this as a final gift to the deceased.

Don’t fight your feelings

It is natural to feel a range of emotions, like grief and anger, when someone dies. You can try to capitalize on the happy memories, but when it creeps in that you will never see them again, work on accepting that fact as well. Denial only prolongs the pain.

If you are having trouble coming to terms with your loved one’s death, try some of these tips:

Write down your fondest memories of your loved one. This can be a great way to remember them while also providing a distraction from the pain.
Spend time with other people who have lost loved ones. Just being around others who have experienced loss can help you cope with your feelings of grief and loneliness.
Talk about your feelings when you feel up to it with someone who understands what you are going through, such as a friend or counselor.
Take time for yourself, even if it’s just five minutes a day. Find something that helps you relax, whether it’s reading, taking a walk, or listening to music.

Preserve the memories

If there are things about the deceased that would just be too painful to see die with them, do what you can to make them live on. This can be as simple as investing in personalized permanent memorials or an ongoing effort to find ways to honor them in your day-to-day life.

You may also hold onto special items belonging to the deceased or other healthy things that help you find meaning in your current reality.

If you need to talk about your feelings with someone who understands what you are going through, visit our funeral home in Michigan City, IN. We have grief resources you may benefit from as you prepare for or after services with us. Call us now to know our privacy policy.