Funeral Planning

A eulogy is a speech in praise of a person who has died. One of the most important elements of a funeral, it can be given by a family member, friend of the departed or religious leader.

The wake traditionally involved a period of time when friends and relatives literally stayed awake with the body of the deceased until it was taken to the church for the funeral or to the cemetery...

Planning a funeral is a difficult task, in which you must consider the wishes of the deceased as well as the survivors.

Purchasing a burial plot can be done far ahead of time or at the time of an impending funeral. Usually, the funeral home handling the funeral can arrange to purchase the plot, but you can do it...

Choosing a marker or stone for your loved one's grave is something that you should do with great care and consideration. The stone will stand for generations as a reminder of the life of the deceased.

The choice is up to you or up to the deceased, if instructions have been left for family members. Remember to shop wisely and within your means.

Some people find peace in knowing where they will eventually rest in peace. Work with a funeral home to prearrange a purchase, and expect to spend between $350 and $3,000 for a plot. As with...

It's difficult to arrange a dignified and appropriate service for someone you love when you're suffering their loss. Take a steady friend or relative with you to help sort it all out.

Whoever lies beneath the gravestone in Key West, Florida, with an epitaph that reads "I told you I was sick" obviously planned ahead. Most people don't prepare for their own death. Using a "road...

Green burial is the final, natural step to living a green life. Natural burial grounds, eco-cemeteries, woodland cemeteries and memorial nature preserves offer earth-friendly alternatives to...

Losing a spouse is like losing a half of yourself and for many of us, the pain and difficulty of making any decisions without the input of a beloved husband or wife can seem overwhelming. It seems...

Losing a parent can be even more devastating than just not having your mom or dad around anymore—it might also mean explaining the death of a grandparent to your children and helping them to cope...

Often the burden of planning a funeral for a lost grandparent goes to your parents or an aunt or uncle, but sometimes there is simply no one else to take it on. In some cases, your parents may not...

If someone loved a particular place in life, then it only seems proper to allow them to enjoy the place in death, or to at least hold a funeral service there. The venue will also help you and your...

Alzheimer’s is a particularly painful disease for family and friends of the affected person. The disease can make the person’s passing a mixed blessing, causing you pain and guilt while freeing...

If you are burying a true nature lover, then you may want to consider bringing them out into nature for their final service, or bringing nature to them. Planning a funeral is never easy, but...

There is a lot to consider when you are trying to decide how much money to set aside for a funeral. The range of costs is as wide as the range of costs for weddings, and it can seem much harder to...

If the deceased was not a religious person, he or she would likely not wish to have a religious burial service. In accordance with their wishes, you will have to plan a different kind of funeral...

If you are planning a funeral, then you hope it will be memorable for those who are joining you to mourn their loved one. There are ways to make a funeral stand out in people’s minds, and help...

Planning your own funeral and making cemetery arrangements ahead of time can save your family members a great deal of stress, anxiety, emotional upheaval and financial burden in the event of your...

Funerals are traditionally fairly solemn and are designed with a focus on mourning the loss of a loved one. However, you can also plan a funeral that focuses on celebrating the person’s life. The...

Funerals often don’t come cheap when you factor in all the costs involved, including the service, reception, casket, burial site and funeral-home fee. However, you can plan for an inexpensive...

Organizing a funeral can be a difficult and trying experience. While it’s not something most people want to admit, finding an affordable casket is often a top priority to help keep the services...

Funerals can be costly—and sometimes the expense of a funeral can be daunting to family members, especially when someone has died unexpectedly. Pre-planning a funeral for yourself or a loved one...

Planning a funeral service can be a daunting task, with many decisions and considerations to be made. One of those decisions is planning the music that will be played throughout the funeral service.

Planning a funeral for a loved one is one of the most difficult tasks we take on in our lives. We want the funeral to be memorable and reminiscent of the person we have lost, as well as comforting...

Planning a funeral is one of the hardest tasks we do in our lives, and it’s even more difficult if you don’t have any help. You should seek help from the funeral home and funeral director in...

A eulogy is a speech given at a funeral in honor and remembrance of the deceased. While it is usually written by a close friend or family member, you can also write your own eulogy in preparation...

The loss of a loved one is a heart wrenching time. It can be more tolerable if you create a memorable funeral. Follow these steps.

It is a labor of love to create a lasting reminder of someone's personality and presence. This article will walk you through the main items to consider when choosing headstones, but ultimately the...

A wake is a time for friends and family to come together to celebrate the life of a loved one who has passed away. Sometimes a wake is called a viewing or a visitation, and can be held before or...

Mausoleum internment was once exclusively for the wealthy and famous. Today, this type of above-ground burial is well within the reach of families looking for this type of mausoleum crypt or...

Arranging any funeral is a very difficult task emotionally, but this sad duty can have a deeper meaning with a military funeral. Active military and military veterans, unless dishonorably...

Planning a funeral can be stressful because you are grieving. You want to get everything right when you pay your respects to your loved ones. You want to follow their wishes and have a beautiful...

Music for a Christian funeral should fulfill two purposes. It should acknowledge the reality of the grief of the mourners, but should also express the hope that believers have for eternal life in...

Arranging a funeral is a necessary task that comes at a difficult period. It's complicated more if the deceased wishes to have their funeral abroad. If you are planning to hold a funeral in Asia,...

Sometimes it's expected and other times it's not, but when a death in the family occurs it proves to be very difficult. It can be more difficult trying to plan a funeral in a country such as...

There are few countries that celebrate death the way Mexico does. They see death as a continuation onto a new and better life. Many customs they have not only honor those who have passed, but also...

The traditional mourning custom of the Irish wake aids in the grieving process for the family members and other loved ones of the deceased. Follow these steps to hold an Irish wake that both...

After a beautiful funeral, loved ones often gather together for a small meal in honor of the dearly departed. Food has long been part of many funeral traditions. Keep the following things in mind...

The death of a child is particularly heart-wrenching. Funeral costs can be financially taxing to a family. There are several ways you can prepare for a funeral or tap into finances to cover...

At a funeral one of the most meaningful ways to say goodbye is with personal touches that celebrate the person's life and personality, such as a custom casket. Most casket makers offer a range of...

Arranging a funeral can be emotionally and financially draining. Add to this the complications of a foreign burial and you can easily become overwhelmed by the process. What follows are some...

Create a touching sentiment that covers the meaningfulness of a person's life after he or she has passed away. While the term eulogy carries with it a significant weight, it doesn't always have to...

Choosing a casket is not only an emotional journey a loved one of the deceased must take, it is also a financial and practical one. With hundreds of caskets to choose from, how do you know which...

“Honoring Those Who Served" is the Department of Defense's program to honor those who served their country. Every eligible army veteran can be provided Military Funeral Honors. This is actually a...

Making funeral arrangements can be emotionally and physically exhausting. Choosing the necessities, although overwhelming, is easy if you know what you want and how much you can afford to spend....

Death can be painful, but it can also be the start of a celebration that commemorates the memory of the deceased. Celebratory funerals help us to cope with our loss while getting us in touch with...

Have you ever been to a burial or funeral service where the clergy struggled for the words to say or when a generic message became the eulogy for the deceased? It is very easy to personalize your...

Upon the death of a person, funeral arrangements need to be made. Along with those funeral arrangements, viewing arrangements also need to be made. Viewings are usually held for a day or two...