Funerals & Burials

Necessary and unnecessary goods and services when preparing for a funeral

What better place to go green and be environmentally conscious than to, well, go green with a green funeral? After all, we're all going back to whence we came, so why not do it as rapidly as...

An urn can be defined as a type of container most commonly used to store cremated remains of a human being. The word is of 14th century origin, from the Latin term "urna."

Not sure what you want to do to your body after you die? Tired of the same old options of burial or cremation? Want someone to make good use of your body after you die? Well, you can donate...

Losing a loved one can be a very painful and difficult process. Cremation is an option that many people choose. After cremation, the ashes can be stored in an urn, or holding container. A variety...

Funeral costs for one person can easily run $8,000... NOT INCLUDING a burial plot, gravestone or flowers. When decisions about funerals are not made ahead of time, survivors are faced with...

Cremation is becoming the preferred choice of more people. Less expensive than burials, cremations allow family members more freedom when it comes to having a memorial service. Depending on what...

When you have a funeral to plan, the cost can be overwhelming if financial planning wasn't done. The most important factor you need to consider is the cost of cremation versus burial. If you have...

Funerals mark the death of an individual and allow family and friends to remember that person. In many cases, these funerals become costly and elaborate affairs. Funerals come in many forms and...

Cremation, which has been around for thousands of years, is one of a few options available for the final disposition of a dead body. By exposing a body to high temperatures, it is eventually...

Any death in a family can feel sudden even if the relative had conditions leading up to it. No matter the circumstances surrounding this solemn occasion there will need to be planning, especially...

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...

Cremation versus a traditional funeral with burial is on the rise due to a number of factors. The cost to cremate someone equals about one-third that of a traditional funeral. The other reason for...

The funeral industry did not emerge until after the Civil War when the process of embalming became widespread and more accepted by the general public. Before the mid-19th century, the dead were...

Few people know what actually goes on behind the scenes at a funeral home. It is a difficult time for the family, who usually does not want to imagine what is happening to the body of their loved...

If you are terminally ill, it is important to begin the funeral planning process soon, so that at the time of your death your family has clear instructions and directives as to what you want in...

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...

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...

Crematoriums use customized furnaces and systems to burn human remains to ashes. The bodies are cleaned and then placed in a coffin or some type of burnable container, which is heated to 1,000 to...

A columbarium is similar to a mausoleum, but instead of spaces for caskets, a columbarium has niches for urns which contain cremated remains, sometimes called "cremains." Each niche can be...

Planning a funeral for a loved one can be a heart-wrenching experience, and the last thing you want is to worry about schematics. So, how soon can you expect your loved one to be buried?

When planning a funeral, a number of details need to be worked out prior to the service time, including what type of funeral service will be used. Plan for a burial or cremation with help from a...

The decision of whether to cremate or bury is a personal decision made by the individual or by a family. Decide between cremation with a funeral service or direct cremation with help from a...

The elements of arranging a cremation are similar to arranging a funeral, and both options include talking to a funeral director. Make arrangements for a cremation with help from a licensed...

In preparation for cremation, one of the most important non-combustible personal items to remove from the body is the pacemaker. Pacemakers contain mercury that would be released into the...

The cost of cremation can be much less than a traditional burial. Two of the main reasons for the reduction in cost are a fancy casket is not required nor is a burial plot necessary. The cost of...

Death and taxes; they're inevitable so why not plan a green funeral? Taxes? That's a tough one. You're on your own. Planning your own funeral or the funeral of family member or friend doesn't...

Cremation is normally conducted at a funeral home, chapel or crematory. The body is cremated in a retort, also known as a cremation chamber. Most crematories allow families to view the placement...

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...

Burial and cremation are the two most common ways to honor the deceased. While there are other ancient methods (such as burial at sea) and modern methods (such as burial in space), cremation and...

For centuries, Roman Catholics were taught that cremation is against Canon Law. In 1963, however, the Holy Office (the forerunner of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the office...

In all the millennium of human history, the bodies of the deceased have been burnt to ash almost as frequently as they have been buried in the earth. Cremation has often carried significant...

Cremation is the reduction of a deceased body by incineration. In the past, early civilizations used fire as a means of incineration, but in contemporary times, we now use crematories. Though...

Cremation is one of several funerary options that are common in modern times. Within the category of cremation itself, however, there are further options. In fact, the cremation process can offer...

The Anatomy Gifts Registry (AGR) is a non-profit Whole-Body Donation Program, benefiting Medical Science and Education. It offers a Dignified, No-Cost Alternative to Traditional Funeral...

Considered morbid by some and the ultimate form of memorializing a deceased loved one by others, using cremation ashes in a memorial tattoo has been done, but may not necessarily be a wise...

Green living is all the rage these days, people are eating organic foods, planning green weddings, and going on eco-tours. But what about end-of-life issues? Is there any way to make sure that the...

When a loved one passes and his wishes are to be cremated, shipping those cremation remains, or cremains, to another location doesn't have to be a hassle. Follow these guidelines to make certain...

Communicating your cremation preferences ahead of time can save your loved ones angst and money. Use these steps to learn more about planning your cremation ahead of time and how to make sure...

One of the hardest things a person will have to do for a loved one is plan their funeral. If the final wish of the deceased was to be cremated, then the selection of a cremation urn will be...

The decision to be buried or cremated after death is something everyone will face at some point. If you decide that you wish to be cremated after death or you are honoring the wishes of a loved...

Cremation is a technique of human corpse disposal that involves incinerating the remains at very high temperatures. It's important for someone who's thinking about cremation as the means of final...

Cremation is an increasingly popular alternative to traditional burial due to an increased acceptance of the practice and rising burial costs. The purchase of a cremation urn generally depends on...

Many people prefer cremation internment over in-ground burial. Arrange either process through a funeral home. Each cremation takes about three hours to complete. After the process, all that is...

When you have a pet he becomes a member of your family. When he passes away it is a tough time for everyone and you want him to be treated with love and dignity. Many people elect cremation for...

Understanding cremation can be confusing for a child. However, it may be a more peaceful way for them to say goodbye than a burial is. Some children may panic at the thought of burying their loved...

It's always difficult when a loved one passes and those close to them need to plan for their cremation and memorial service. Choosing an urn is something that should be given much consideration...

According to a recent survey by AARP, 89 percent of its magazine readers shun the idea of traditional burials and cremation and favor what's known as a "green burial." This is an alternative...

According to the National Funeral Directors Association, the average funeral in the U.S. Costs $6,500 or more. It is not hard to spend $10,000 to $15,000 on what seems like a modest funeral....