Funeral Basics

The most common type of bronze markers that most of us are likely to come into contact with are those used for headstones. Over time these markers can become corroded and turn a dull greenish...

Pre-burial insurance, often referred to as pre-need or burial insurance, is a type of insurance that allows a person to choose in advance and pay for many of the costs associated with burial and...

A death, whether it is due to long term illness or sudden and totally unexpected, can be tragic. It can also be expensive. The average funeral is a ceremony that incurs a sizable cost, and the...

A homemade funeral memorial card is a gesture from the heart to honor the life of the person who passed away and share remembrance with grieving loved ones and members of the community. This is a...

A pallbearer is a person who helps carry or attends to a casket as it is transported during a funeral ceremony. A pallbearer is usually someone who was close to or related to the deceased in some...

Funerals provide closure to grieving families, but the cost can create added stress during an already emotional time. While most families do not have time or the extra emotional strength needed to...

how could you live without tunes and pictures on your new toy, that cool iPhone? Easy to do, and quick too!

Societies dating back to ancient times have used rings to memorialize the dead. Mourning rings came to be very popular as a means to remember the deceased in Victorian England, and are still in...

If you've spent time studying headstones, you know these artifacts chronicle and celebrate the lives of people throughout the ages--some of which harken back centuries. Sure, there are plenty of...

For purposes of funeral leave, most employers grant paid bereavement leave to grieve for immediate family. There are no federal laws mandating that employers grant paid leave for funeral leave....

The death of a loved one can be difficult to handle. In addition to all of the emotional stress of losing someone close to you, there is also the issue of taking care of the deceased's unfinished...

After a loved one passes away it is hard to think past the moment. Yet, a meeting will need to take place with the funeral home director and or staff to set up the arrangements for the funeral...

Death records have regularly been employed as an aid in genealogy research. They are known as "primary source" records because the facts are documented by an eyewitness at the time of death. Death...

Granite gravestones can acquire a dull, dirty appearance from being exposed to rain, mud and biological growth. Whether you want to pay tribute to a loved one by shining up the stone or you're...

Death records, or death certificates, are official public documents that record a person has died and includes the decedent's vital statistics and cause of death. Though each state has its own...

Social Security provides a funeral benefit to the surviving spouse or child of the deceased, so long as the person who died paid into the Social Security system long enough to qualify for benefits.

Buying a casket may not be a joyful experience, but it need not be an expensive one, either, if you know the law concerning casket sales and take a few extra minutes to review your options before...

A deceased person's will needs to be filed in probate court only if the estate is of a very large value. Certain assets do not need to enter probate court. These include life insurance benefits,...

Even if you do not need a great deal of assistance with conducting an estate sale, be sure that you are dealing with a company that can offer a "turnkey" service.

Any Questions You would like me to address on the topic of "How To" when it comes to liquidating an estate, just let me know. I will be happy to write an article for you, or simply...

Organ donation is an unselfish act. Allowing organs to be removed after death and put into someone else's body can save lives and/or improve the quality of the recipient's life. Organ donation...

Death certificates are legal forms that declare someone's death. Doctors and medical examiners are typically the people held responsible for filling out these forms and filing them with the local...

Eventually, almost everyone has to participate in a decision about what to put on a gravestone for a relative or beloved friend. During the Victorian Era until the turn of the 20th century,...

The loss of a child is possibly the most devastating event that can occur in a family. If a child is terminally ill, the family should plan at least some of the funeral details while the child is...

When a close friend or loved one dies, planning a funeral can be a lot of work during an extremely emotional time. Divide the planning into small stages and allow others to help out with small...

Funeral homes are run by funeral directors, who may also be referred to as morticians. These professionals are responsible for embalming the deceased's body and presenting it for public viewing,...

The number of items relating to funerals and their costs can sometimes be overwhelming, especially during your time of grief. Therefore, it is important to know your rights as a consumer. The...

Caskets are long wood boxes with a curved top. The top is curved partly to support the weight of the ground, which pushes down on the casket. The first step in making this curved shape is molding...

According to the National Funeral Directors Association, the average cost of a funeral in America is $6,500. However, the AARP estimates that the true cost of a traditional funeral (including...

Purchasing a headstone is not an everyday occurrence. There are some things you need to know before you make the purchase to make the process move smoothly. According to a University of Maryland...

Planning a funeral can be a difficult time for the family of the deceased. Choosing a casket can be done ahead of time, lessening the necessary arrangements after the death. Or it can be done at...

If you could talk with folks throughout history who have crafted tombstones, you will find a common desire: To pay tribute to loved ones by erecting a permanent marker for their final resting...

Death certificates are issued whenever a person dies. The certificates are filed with the county and state in which the person died, and are also provided when requested to family members and...

A headstone is a grave marker that usually gives information about who the deceased was, when he died, how he died, and possibly his beliefs in life. Tombstones are found all over the world and...

A headstone, also known as a tombstone, is a marker that is placed usually at the head of a burial spot in a cemetery. Headstones can be made of various materials such as granite, concrete,...

In most cases, the surviving spouse or minor children of the deceased may apply for a one-time payment from Social Security to help with funeral expenses.

If you have a loved one that is a veteran and has passed, then he may be entitled to a military headstone. The Department of Veterans Affairs provides headstones and markers for veterans buried...

Concrete driveways can last for more than 20 years if maintained properly. Considering that a driveway gets a lot of use, you want concrete that is dense so that it wears longer. Concrete surfaces...

The death of a friend or relative can trigger a long list of tasks that must be tackled in order to put them to rest in a timely and dignified manner. One of the first things you will want to do...

In years past, a headstone was purchased only after a loved one died. Today, it is not uncommon to choose, purchase and place a headstone on a person's (as yet unoccupied) grave. Each cemetery has...

Designing your own headstone plaque is the only way to be certain that you are satisfied with the product. If you leave this up to your mourners, you may end up with a plaque that does not suit...

A funeral is a sad time no matter what. However, one thing that you can do to help yourself and your loved ones get some closure while performing a deeply personal and integral task associated...

Funerals honor the deceased, so it is important to make significant and customized plans. Arranging a funeral is a necessary but difficult task, and should include the wishes of the deceased, if...

When I was 26 years old, my husband was killed in the line of duty. ( A Cop ) A few things that made me grow up fast.

Embalming is a part of the funeral process, and this process was first used by the Egyptians. The word "embalm" means to protect from change, which is the goal in the embalming process. Since the...

Virtually everyone is familiar with insurance policies. You've probably seen many television advertisements concerning the subject. In some cases, your parents and grandparents have discussed the...

Death is the last thing people like to think about at any time. However, it is unusually difficult to face when you are young. As you age your thoughts begin to change and you think about how your...