Etiquette for Funerals

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...

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...

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.

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...

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...

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...

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...

It's common in many cultures to send sympathy flowers to the bereaved family when a loved one has passed away. There are many theories regarding the origin of sympathy flowers. Some speculate it's...

Losing a loved one is never easy, but one of the ways we cope is by sending the survivors a card in which we express our sympathies. This can be a harrowing card to write, as you don't want to...

The telephone rings, and the news is not good. Somehow we are able to dig deep and find the strength to rise to the occasion. Whether it’s a friend or family member who has just found themselves...

The Flag Code is outlined in Title 4 of the United States Federal Code. In cases of a funeral, the code outlines how an American flag should be draped upon a casket and the requirements under...

Because performing funerals is an expected part of a pastor's job, especially for church members, the general consensus is that tipping is not necessary. However, tipping a pastor for speaking at...

Going to a funeral is never an easy or happy thing to do. Dressing appropriately for the service is very important because it shows respect for the deceased and for the other loved ones attending...

Funerals are one of our most important, yet difficult cultural rituals. If you've experienced a loss, you know firsthand what a comfort it can be to have a circle of support during that time. If...

Sympathy thank-you notes are generally sent to people who helped with the service including pallbearers, clergy members, and anyone who did a reading. They are also sent to anyone who helped with...

When a close friend or associate passes away, it can be difficult and even awkward to know what to say to the grieving loved ones. For some people, it is easier to express their condolences in a...

Sympathy cards are sent to the bereaved to express our condolences on the loss of their loved one. It can be extremely difficult to compose an appropriate message of sympathy. Everyone grieves...

Grieving is a personal process. Everyone grieves differently; every death is a different situation. It can be very difficult to express our condolences to the bereaved. Traditionally, we send...

You can express your gratitude to those who supported you during the loss of a loved one with a brief thank you note. Pre-printed cards are now considered acceptable; the rule used to be that a...

While a funeral is an awful time for the family it is important to express gratitude to those who took the tme to attend the funeral of your loved one. Write thank you cards for a funeral to show...

When a sad event happens to a friend, loved one, or acquaintance, it helps to write sympathy cards to express your regret at their loss. While not fun, writing sympathy cards is rather simple.

A handmade sympathy card expresses the deepest feelings of its creator on behalf of the deceased, and is designed to empathize and sympathize with the bereaved. Unlike a sympathy card that has...

There is a strict etiquette for displaying an American flag over the casket of a patriot. There are certain people eligible to be accorded that honor. Before considering this, learn how to place...

When someone you know, whether a close friend or a casual acquaintance, loses a loved one, it's difficult to know what to say. The truth is, there is probably nothing you can say to your friend...

If you need to write sympathy card for someone you don't know all that well, it can feel really difficult to do--you're probably staring at a blank page with no idea how to get...

Funerals and wakes are all about the deceased and their closest family members. You (other relatives, friends, and acquaintances of the deceased and his or her family) are there to show respect,...

Sooner or later all children will have to come to grips with the fact of life we call death. Many parents are conflicted with how to approach the situation. This article is gonna give a few tips...

It is hard to hear of the death of a family member, friend or acquaintance. You realize it is important to send your sympathy to the family, especially the widow. If you have little experience...

When a loved one passes, a heartfelt note of sympathy can offer great comfort. But for most of us, finding the right words to express sympathy is not always easy.

Bereavement cards, more commonly known as sympathy cards, help you express your sorrow and support to friends or family who have lost a loved one. They are often sent when you can't attend the...

The image of Jackie Kennedy draped in a waist-length black veil as she watched the funeral procession of her husband, President John F. Kennedy, is one of stoic dignity and sad grace. The funeral...

Learn how to comfortably write personal notes in sympathy cards.

Personally writing a sympathy card speaks volumes. It is far more personal than sending a store bought card. Read how to write a personal and meaningful sympathy card here.