Monthly Archives: December 2021

Reasons to Consider Cremation Services After a Loved One’s Passing

The decisions you make in the hours and days after the passing of a loved one are difficult, yet essential. When you contact a funeral home they may offer cremation services near College Park, MD, which can be a good choice for many families. One of the biggest reasons is the lower cost as compared to a traditional burial. There is no need to purchase a casket or headstone, both of which can include a hefty price tag, depending on what you get. Especially if the passing is unexpected, you may want to find ways to save money if the costs haven’t been anticipated. However, while this reason is practical, there are many other ways that cremation services can honor your loved one’s memory.

Rather than being confined to an earth burial that leaves you fewer options regarding location, there are many more ways to respectfully honor your loved one’s memory with their ashes. Many people spread their family member’s ashes in places that they loved in life. There are options where you can even wear a small number of their ashes in a beautiful piece of jewelry, allowing you to carry them with you wherever you go. You can also find a thoughtful urn in which to store their ashes and remember them always. You can even have the ashes inserted into ink and used for a memorial tattoo, permanently remembering your loved one in a very unique way. When you seek cremation services near College Park, MD, ask about the many different ways you can honor and keep your loved one with you.

Another reason to consider cremation services is the lower environmental impact that they carry, compared to traditional burial. Some people may be averse to the chemicals used in embalming, and burial takes up land space as well. If your loved one was passionate about the earth and expressed their wishes as such, cremation could be the ideal option.

Cremation can also be a simpler process if your loved one didn’t wish to have a full memorial service and burial. While you can certainly still have a memorial service or celebration of life in their honor, it won’t be necessary to plan a visitation, arrange for pallbearers, or travel to the gravesite afterward. It allows you and your family to have less stress when it comes to planning, and you can take the time you need to grieve and be together during this difficult time.

If you are in need of these services or want to find out more information about your options, please contact us at Donald V. Borgwardt Funeral Home, P.A. We offer cremation services near College Park, MD, as well as full traditional funeral services, and would be happy to help guide you toward the best decision for you and your family. We can tell you about the many ways you can memorialize your loved one’s ashes, as well as help you through every other stage of the process. You and your loved one will be in good hands at our funeral home.

What to Do When Death Occurs

Notify the Authorities

When a family member or loved one passes away, their location at the time of death will decide who you call. If they are in a medical facility such as a hospital or nursing home, the staff will notify the proper authorities. If it occurred at home or work, emergency medical personnel will need to be called to indicate the time and cause of death. If no one was near when the death occurred, you may need to contact the police before taking any further steps. Following this step, you may contact a funeral home near College Park, MD.

Call your Funeral Home

At this point, you may contact a funeral home and speak to a funeral director. They will help you come up with arrangements for transporting the deceased to the funeral home, and they can help you begin to think about services that you may need. Your loved one may have made pre-arrangements that will help guide you on how the funeral or memorial process should go. It’s the job of the funeral home to help you every step of the way, and discuss in detail your wishes for any arrangements and services. This is when you may consider whether you need embalming services or cremation services. You can see a list of the packages and services that the home offers, and they will help you decide what is right for your family and your budget as well. You may be asked to bring some memorabilia, personal belongings, and clothes for your loved one’s service. This will also help the funeral director get a better sense of what your loved one was like, and how they can best serve their memory during the proceedings.

File for a Death Certificate

Depending on the cause of death, you may have an attending physician or coroner write your family member’s death certificate. This will indicate the date, time, and cause of death. It’s an essential task to complete when it comes to accessing accounts, safe deposit boxes, closing accounts of the deceased, claiming benefits, transferring ownership of property, and more. If you need any help with this process, the funeral home can assist you with this as well.

These are the main tasks that are necessary after the death of a loved one. At Donald V. Borgwardt Funeral Home, P.A., we can assist you with all these difficult duties. We know it isn’t easy to focus on the logistics during a time of grieving and loss, and that’s why we want to offer our assistance to you and your loved ones. At our funeral home near College Park, MD, you will appreciate the grace and respect that we give to our clients, and you can know that your and your loved one’s wishes will be met. Our years of experience will be a benefit to you, making the process easier and allowing you to take the time you need to grieve and honor your loved one. You can depend on us at Donald V. Borgwardt Funeral Home, P.A.

Different Types of Funeral and Cremation Services

There are many reasons to consider what services you’ll need from cremation services near Adelphi, MD, when you’re facing a difficult change. It may be that a family member is suffering from a debilitating illness, or nearing the end of their life. While these situations are not easy to talk about, it’s worth discussing ahead of time to save you and your loved ones the stress of pressured decision-making later on. There are many services offered at funeral homes that can make the process less painful for surviving family and friends. Some of these services include…

Cremation. There are several options for this process. You may choose to have a full memorial service prior to cremation, with your loved one’s family and friends present to say their goodbyes at our funeral home or your place of worship. Alternatively, you may opt to have us perform the cremation services first, followed by a memorial service and visitation. We can offer advice on what type of urn would work best for your loved one’s cremains. As part of our Basic Services Charge, we will transfer the remains to an urn or keepsake of your choosing. Lastly, you might choose direct cremation, which does not include any public or private ceremonies or services. We will ensure that your family is as comfortable as possible during this difficult time.

Memorial Service. This service is indicated as a service done without the body present. You may want to use an urn wreath provided by our florist as a focal point, or a framed photo does nicely as well. These services may be led by a clergy member or a member of the family. Many families will bring photos and memorabilia that help attendees fondly remember their loved ones. There are many options for memorial services, and we can help you come up with a plan that follows your loved one’s wishes, and is best for your family.

Traditional Funeral. This generally consists of a visitation period for family and friends prior to a ceremony that takes place either at our funeral home or a place of worship. After the service, it proceeds to either cremation or a committal service at the cemetery. Depending on your loved one’s wishes and your family’s preferences, you may choose to have an open or closed casket funeral service. Regardless of what you choose, the immediate family will always have the option to view their family member. There is plenty of room for photos and memorabilia, and with our Basic Services Charge, we include the option for a DVD that will play on loop for the duration of the visitation.

These are some examples of the services we offer at Donald V. Borgwardt Funeral Home, P.A. We will make sure you and your loved ones are treated with care every step of the way. Whether you use our cremation services near Adelphi, MD, or you opt for a traditional funeral and burial, we will guide you through the process with respect and grace.

The Importance of Preplanning for Funeral Home or Cremation Services

Providing Peace of Mind for Family and Friends

When you take the time to complete preplanning arrangements, your family and friends can go forward in peace knowing that the services will be completed according to your wishes. They won’t have to worry about the burden of making those decisions in the days to come. During those emotionally difficult times, having fewer decisions to make about funeral homes near Adelphi, MD, can make a big difference. They may not be sure of your preferences, or there may be disagreements about what you would have wanted. Making the decisions ahead of time can prevent all this strife and difficulty for your family, and allow them to peacefully grieve together.

Allowing You to Make the Decisions

Most people have an idea of how they would prefer their funeral arrangements to proceed. If you haven’t thought much about it, there are many reasons why you might want to make those decisions for yourself. From the viewing to the burial or cremation, there are many decisions that you may feel strongly about. That’s why it’s best to take advantage of preplanning services, which allow you to define your wants. You can have peace of mind knowing that the arrangements will be carried out according to your wishes. Your family and friends will also be glad to know that the arrangements will be carried out according to your wishes. We can help you make these plans.

Saving Your Family Money

A funeral is an expense that brings pleasure to no one. When it happens suddenly, and you have not made any prior arrangements, the costs can add up and be a burden to your loved ones. They may even feel pushed into financial straits during this most stressful and emotional time. When you complete preplanning arrangements, you can set up pre-payment to help cover the costs when the time comes. You can choose which services you do or don’t want, allowing you to control the final cost. It will also help protect your family from rising prices due to inflation in the future. This is just one more way to remove some of the responsibility from your loved ones during a difficult time.

All of these reasons show why completing preplanning for your funeral arrangements is a good idea. At Donald V. Borgwardt Funeral Home, P.A., we can help you prepare for that day in the future. We have an online pre-arrangements form that you can fill out on your computer, from the comfort of your home. This first step will help you connect with our funeral home near Adelphi, MD, and we can lead the rest of the way through the process. You can tell us whether you’d prefer to utilize our cremation services, as well as any other preferences that you may have. We have many connections to local entities such as churches, cemeteries, hospitals, and nursing homes, that allow us to make the process as smooth as possible. Visit our website or give us a call at (301) 937-1707 to find out more information, and make your preplanning arrangements.

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