Monthly Archives: February 2022

How Can Cremated Remains be Used to Memorialize a Loved One?

When a loved one passes away, it can be difficult to figure out how to honor and remember them for the years to come. Cremation has become more popular throughout the years, and it allows for more creative ways to memorialize your loved ones. When you choose cremation services near College Park, MD, for your loved one, you will receive their cremains in the form of ashes. These will generally come in a temporary container, and you’ll need to either choose internment at a cemetery or storage at home.

If you decide to take your loved one’s remains home with you, the main vessel you will need to choose will be an urn. These come in all shapes and sizes, made from a variety of different materials. You may choose a simple wooden box with engraved details about your loved one, that can be kept in any room of your home. Beyond this option, you’ll find many other vessels that you can choose to reflect their personality in life. These could be sculptural metal containers, decorative ceramic vases, or anything in between. The variety available allows you to choose one that is appropriate for honoring your loved one’s memory.

While an urn will likely hold the majority of their ashes, jewelry is a more personal way to keep your loved one close to you. There are necklaces, bracelets, and more out there that can hold a small number of ashes in them. These are a great way for multiple family members or friends to have a part of their dearly departed with them wherever they go. The different styles may be chosen to reflect their style and personality, and the piece will hold deeper meaning than a regular pendant.

In addition to containers for your loved one’s cremains, another way to use their ashes to honor their memory is by spreading them in a meaningful place. This might be a location from childhood that held fond memories or a favorite vacation spot. Gathering family and friends together to spread their ashes will create a meaningful memory and allow everyone to grieve and reminisce. Each person can spread a small amount, allowing them to take a personal part in the memorialization process.

These are all ways in which you can memorialize and honor your loved ones after their passing. They also can help you and your family and friends with your personal grieving processes, and allow you to keep your loved one close for years to come. At Donald V. Borgwardt Funeral Home, P.A., we can tell you about your options for urns, memorial jewelry, and more. When you come to us for cremation services near College Park, MD, we will walk you through every necessary step to get your loved one taken care of. We will ensure that their wishes are carried out, and any guidance you and your family need will be provided. Let us know when you need us, night or day, and let us help you through this difficult time.

What Does it Mean to Have the Talk of a Lifetime?

Everybody carries with them a lifetime of memories, and it’s important to most people to pass these memories down to their family and friends. However, many people don’t take the time to sit down and have these meaningful conversations with their families. There’s an organization out there that is trying to encourage people to have these deeper conversations, and you can learn about it at a funeral home near College Park, MD. When you have a loved one who is approaching the end of their life, asking them questions and getting to know them in a more meaningful way will help them ensure that their memory will live on.

Although it may seem awkward or unusual to begin a conversation like this, once it gets going you may learn more than you anticipated. You’ll have a deeper connection with your loved one in the end. One way you can try to broach the subject is using an object, such as an old photo album or a meaningful keepsake. Look through the photos with them and ask questions about the people and places that are pictured. Another thing you can do is to travel to an important location, such as where they got married, or a favorite local park. These can be excellent ways to start talking about people, places, memories, and events that mattered in their life.

One thing to remember is that while the end of life may seem like the last opportunity to have a talk like this, it can be done at any time, and with any person who is close to you. Everybody has a story to tell, and most people don’t have the opportunity to tell it. You may even take notes or take an audio recording so that you can remember all the details and memories that come up. Having a conversation like this also allows your loved ones to be remembered in a way that they choose, for events and accomplishments that they are proud of. Ask them about who inspired them in their life, or which person made the biggest impact on them. These questions and more can lead to deeper conversations, creating a special bond between you and your loved one.

Not everyone has the benefit of knowing when their time will come. That’s why it’s important to have these conversations with your loved ones whenever the opportunity arises, no matter the situation. Learning about their memories, people they knew, places they went, and things they enjoyed, will give you a better understanding of who they have been throughout their life. You may even come to learn that you’re more alike than you thought. At Donald V. Borgwardt Funeral Home, P.A. At a funeral home near College Park, MD, we can help you come up with a plan to have the Talk of a Lifetime with your loved one. Part of our preplanning process involves encouraging these conversations so that you can honor your loved one’s lifetime of memories for years to come. Let us know if you need guidance or help with preplanning or beginning the conversation.

Why is Cremation the Right Choice for Some People?

Cremation is becoming more popular year after year, and many people are finding the benefits of choosing cremation services over traditional burial. Whether they’re interested in the possible savings or the environmental impact, there are many reasons why someone might choose cremation. If you’re interested in finding out about cremation services near Adelphi, MD, you may want to consider some of the following aspects of choosing cremation.

One of the biggest reasons that cremation might be a good choice for you is the potential to save money. Cremation is generally less expensive than a traditional burial because there are fewer hidden or unexpected costs. You don’t have to buy a casket, pay for embalming, or purchase a burial plot. You may even host just one memorial service, rather than a separate viewing followed by a funeral. Of course, there are many variations on how you can make the arrangements, but some of the options will certainly have a lower price tag if you choose cremation.

When deciding between cremation or burial, another thing many people consider is the environmental impact. While cremation services are not completely “green”, they make less of an impact than a traditional burial. This is because the chemicals used in embalming are not ideal for the environment, and it doesn’t require a plot of land. If you’re part of the growing number of people striving for a healthier planet, cremation may be worth your consideration.

Another benefit to cremation is the options when it comes to memorialization. Family members may choose to keep their loved one’s ashes in some type of container, called an urn. There is a huge variety when it comes to styles and materials, allowing for the loved one’s personality in life to shine through. Ranging from understated wooden containers that can be personalized to more showy sculptural vases and everything in between, there are myriad options to choose from. There are also options for jewelry, which are able to contain a small amount of ashes. These are a great way for many family members and friends to keep a part of their dearly departed close to them at all times. Another way to memorialize someone using their cremains is by spreading their ashes. Many people have places from childhood that hold special memories, or beloved vacation spots. It’s possible to bring your loved one back to a place that they held dear, and it’s a meaningful way to get the family together to reminisce.

These are just a few of the reasons why cremation might be the right choice for you. It’s a tough thing to think about, but it’s worth having an idea of what you would prefer before the time comes to make a decision. Donald V. Borgwardt Funeral Home, P.A. offers cremation services near Adelphi, MD, and we can help you make a plan for yourself or a loved one who has passed. Our thoughtful and caring staff will make sure that your wishes are carried out, and your family is well taken care of. Call us anytime, day or night.

How Pre-Arranging Can Help Your Loved Ones

Many people shy away from the idea of pre-arranging for their own funeral arrangements. However, completing these steps can save your family from significant stress and financial burden after your passing. When someone passes, their family must quickly make decisions for their funeral arrangements. This can interrupt the essential time for grieving that occurs after a loved one’s passing, and it can cause undue stress as well. When you take the time to visit a funeral home near Adelphi, MD, or visit their website to complete the form online, you can determine a plan for your arrangements. Doing this allows your family to grieve properly after your passing, and removes the burden of decision-making from their shoulders.

In addition to making all the decisions beforehand, you can also pay ahead for your funeral arrangements. The costs for a funeral or memorial services after death can quickly add up, especially if a traditional funeral and burial will be taking place. In any case, but especially in the case of an unexpected passing, this can become a debilitating financial burden for surviving family members. If you complete the steps for pre-arranging, you can contribute toward the costs of your funeral and burial or cremation, alleviating the financial burden on your loved ones. You can also lock in the prices at the time of your preplanning, which will likely have risen by the time you have passed. This results in money saved in the long run.

Apart from easing the burdens and stress that your loved ones may experience after your passing, pre-arranging allows your wishes to be fulfilled. Many people have preferences for their funeral arrangements, whether they want to be cremated, or have a traditional burial. You may prefer to have your services take place at your place of worship, a funeral home, or elsewhere. If you have particular songs you want to be played, or even want to set a certain tone or mood for your memorial, this can all be decided ahead of time. That way, you know that your wishes will be carried out, and your family won’t have to try to figure out what would be the best way to memorialize you when you’re gone. It will also mitigate any disagreements that can arise during the decision-making process.

When you choose to preplan for your memorial arrangements, you are taking a step to alleviate those burdens from your loved ones. While it may be a difficult subject to approach, once you have completed it you won’t regret having done so. Setting up a payment plan allows for more financial freedom and more options when it comes to what types of services you want. Donald V. Borgwardt Funeral Home, P.A., near Adelphi, MD, can help you come up with all the information you need in pre-arranging. You can complete the form on our website, or meet with us in person to learn about the benefits of pre-arranging for your funeral. Consider taking a little time to complete these steps, and save your loved ones from extra burdens during a difficult time later on.

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