Etiquette for Funerals

The act of placing stones on a Jewish grave marker, historically, has not been discerned as to its true origin. In biblical times, the graves of Jewish people were marked with a mound of stones...

Whether a relative, friend or acquaintance has died, knowing what to send to the family to express your condolences can be a challenge. Flowers are the traditional funeral expression of sympathy...

If your loved one is deceased, it is possible they had a life insurance or annuity policy, a retirement plan or other assets. Generally, life insurance and retirement plans allow the policyholder...

The sudden death of a child is difficult for any parent to experience. If someone you know is grieving a lost child, you can express your love and support through a sympathy card. Trying to put...

At a funeral, casket bearers (also called pallbearers) hold a position of honor. They escort the casket throughout the service, tending to their friend or family member on his final journey of...

No one is fully prepared for the passing of a spouse. The mourning period is a time for the wife of the deceased to reflect upon her relationship with her husband so that she can cope with his...

Grief and loss are never easy emotions to feel, or to observe in others. And yet these are just what you encounter when you visit a funeral home. Having a few ideas of what to say, or not to say,...

In the difficult time following the loss of a loved one, you will need to thank those who supported you in your time of need. Thank you notes are an expected sign of gratitude and should be mailed...

Sending a thank you card may not be the first thing on your mind after the funeral of a loved one; however, it will show those who've helped and expressed their sympathy that you genuinely do...

Death is a life-altering event for the survivors. Those who knew the person that passed away and are not part of the family, yet are close to the family, are often perplexed about what to send as...

Funerals are times that are difficult for all members of the family, and in particular, for granddaughters. Sometimes children can be too young to understand death fully and may not have the...

Unfortunately I know first hand how a military funeral is, so I wanted to let you know the best way to handle yourself and assist the family during this difficult time.

It is extremely difficult when you lose a member of your family. There are so many plans to make. Often there are a lot of people involved in addition to your other family members. Close friends...

One of the most difficult challenges in life is organizing a home after a loved one dies. The process can be overwhelming for those unprepared for the task. Keeping a few hints in mind helps keep...

Many fine men and women have sacrificed much in preserving the freedoms we hold dear within the U.S. Some have even made the ultimate sacrifice by giving of their lives for the preservation of...

Sometimes funeral views go horribly wrong. A friend had a viewing of a person who was not embalmed, which gave her child nightmares. They would have never gone had they know it was going to be so...

Knowing whether or not to send flowers to a funeral may be dependent on knowledge of the family's culture and faith. Each religion has its own beliefs regarding appropriate displays of grief. Know...

Organizing a funeral is often an extremely difficult task. Thus, family members, friends, coworkers and neighbors often show their concern and support by cooking food, sending flowers and...

When you send a thank-you note to someone for attending a loved one's funeral, a pre-printed card is sufficient. You can, of course, also write additional sentiments in the card, or include a...

Wakes and funerals can be stressful events, and the last thing you want to be concerned about is whether your attire is appropriate for the occasion. When making your decisions, simply consider...

The 21-gun salute is a type of military honor performed to honor military and state guests as well as at presidential funerals and in military celebrations.

Often funeral announcements will state that charitable donations can be made to a particular charity in lieu of flowers. Flowers are costly and must be removed after the funeral and, unlike a...

Expressing your condolences can be one of the most awkward things you have to do. What are the right words when someone has lost a loved one? How do you make a person feel better with the right...

When sending flowers for a funeral you will have the opportunity to write something either in a small florist's card that accompanies the flowers or a purchased greeting card. These cards, along...

Flag-draped coffins are permitted for active-duty military service members, veterans, and some civilians, including the president and some members of Congress.

Many people find it challenging to send a sympathy card. They do not know how to express themselves and are afraid of offending the bereaved person with an inappropriate remark. Yet, sending a...

Collecting accurate information is the first step in planning an obituary. Consult documents to ensure that you have correct spellings of names and places and that you have accurate times for...

You just read a newspaper obituary for someone you knew. Here is how to write a note of condolence to his or her surviving loved ones.

Sending flowers to a funeral home to pay tribute to a departed friend or relative is a time-honored tradition. Some people, however, feel the need to express their condolences in different ways,...

Whether you are attending the funeral or not, funeral flowers are always appropriate and appreciated. However, there are a few things you should keep in mind when sending funeral flowers.

Funerals are conducted for two primary reasons, the first being to commemorate the life of the deceased. The second reason is to give family, friends and acquaintances the chance to pay a tribute...

Sympathy cards are always difficult to write, but a card can provide comfort to those who have suffered a loss. With a little guidance, you can write a heartfelt bereavement card that expresses...

Figuring how to help someone deal with the death of a loved one can be frustrating. You may be left feeling helpless and lost yourself, not knowing what to do about your friend's grief. Everyone...

When someone dies, sympathy flowers are typically sent to the funeral home or church where the memorial service will take place. However, many of these same arrangements end up going home with...

Comforting a grieving person can be hard at times. You may feel as if you don't know the right thing to say or do to offer sympathy in the appropriate manner. Many people choose to express their...

Funerals are seldom easy. The emotions and grief that one goes through can push almost all thoughts of etiquette aside. Yet eventually there comes a time when you will want to thank those who sent...

Some day you may be called upon to write a eulogy for a friend or relative. Writing a eulogy is a wonderful thing, but it carries some pressure. If you knew the deceased person well your emotions...

When someone dies, it is natural to want to reach out to that person's loved ones to show how much you care. Traditional memorial gifts include flowers, plants and donations in honor of the...

No matter how death comes, whether it was long, drawn out and excruciating, or a devastating quick shock, the finality of death hangs like an unwanted cloak. It is inevitable, inescapable and...

Having a terminally ill parent can be a very trying, sad and emotional time for all that are involved. The need to care for our loved ones before their passing can be hard to deal with on so many...

When loved ones die, survivors are typically inundated with a barrage of sympathy cards and funeral flowers. As with most life events, there are codes and rules for what is proper and what isn't....

Sending flowers to a funeral is a traditional way to show your respects and offer sympathy to the family of the person they have lost. However, there are also some nontraditional gifts that can be...

A condolence card or a sympathy card is a powerful way to show someone that you care during a particularly difficult time or after the death of a loved one. A heart felt sympathy or condolence...

If a friend or acquaintance or someone else close to you has lost someone, it is important to recognize that loss with a sympathy or funeral card. Even though it can be difficult to write cards...

When a friend or loved one loses someone close to them, it's difficult to know the appropriate way to express condolences or sympathy. The biggest mistake many people make is to do nothing, or...

Everyone dreads getting that call where you find out that someone you know and care about or someone else's loved one has passed. Many people are so preoccupied with their own feelings of grief...

Whatever the circumstances, death is always difficult to face and receiving flowers in sympathy of your loss is a comfort. Sending a thank you card is the traditional method for acknowledging the...