Monthly Archives: June 2022

How Does a Traditional Funeral Compare to a Memorial Service?

In recent years, people have started to become more and more creative with making plans for their loved ones’ final arrangements. Traditional funerals and burials are still common, but many people are opting for cremation services near College Park, MD. There are several main differences between a traditional funeral and a memorial service, and both leave some room to create a more personalized service.

A traditional funeral typically begins with either visitation or viewing. A viewing is when the casket is open so that attendees can say their final goodbyes to the departed. A visitation is similar, but with a closed casket. Both options give a chance for people attending to give their brief condolences to the family while saying their goodbyes. The visitation or viewing may take place on the same day as the funeral, or it may be held the day before. Having it the day before can be beneficial because it allows for more flexibility with scheduling conflicts that attendees may have, and it doesn’t make for such an exhausting, long day. After the visitation and viewing, the funeral service takes place. This typically takes place either in a church or a funeral home, with the body present in the casket. Someone is chosen to officiate the services, and a eulogy is delivered as well. Depending on whether the deceased wishes to be buried or cremated, their body will then be transported either to the cemetery or the crematory. All of this must take place within a few days after the person passes away.

A memorial service often takes place without the presence of the body of the departed. Some people will have their loved one’s ashes present at the memorial service. Because of this, it does not have to be scheduled within a certain time frame. Many people are grateful not to be constrained by this, and it relieves some of the pressure of planning that the immediate family feels during an already difficult time. A memorial service can be similar to a traditional funeral in many ways, taking place at a church or funeral home, with an officiant, etc. However, it does lend itself to some creativity and personalization, if the family wishes. It also makes it easier to plan for distant relatives to travel, or to plan for it to take place in the warmer months. Many people are even choosing to hold a “Celebration of Life”, which generally has a more upbeat feeling and a less formal atmosphere.

Everyone’s circumstances are different, and each person is unique. It’s up to their family to decide which type of service would be most fitting to honor their memory. Your provider of cremation services near College Park, MD, can be of help when it comes to planning and memorialization. They can give suggestions for funeral homes and other types of venues for your loved one’s final arrangements. This way, you can be sure that your loved one’s services will honor them in the best way possible.

What Must Be Done Immediately After a Death

Dealing with the loss of a loved one is never easy. It can be made more difficult when you’re responsible for undertaking all the necessary tasks that must be done after someone passes away. Having an idea of what to do beforehand will help, and keeping in touch with your funeral home near College Park, MD, will also be a benefit to you.

The first thing that must be done when a loved one passes away is to contact either emergency medical personnel or their primary care provider. They must come and provide a declaration of death, which is necessary to obtain a death certificate. If they passed away in the hospital or in a care facility, you won’t need to make these calls. If they passed at home while no one else was there, you must contact the authorities before doing anything else, so that they can investigate the scene.

The next thing you’ll need to do is call family and friends to begin informing people of the death. This can be a very painful task, and not everyone is up to it right away. If you find yourself unable to make these calls yourself, ask a trusted family member or friend to help you. After informing members of the family, you may choose to make a social media post announcing your loved one’s passing. This will let a larger group of the community know, and you won’t be burdened with trying to contact every single person in their life.

You’ll need to contact their preferred funeral home or cremation service provider to figure out the next steps. If they had made pre-arrangements already, this will make your job easier. All you’ll need to do is go along with what they had planned. If not, you’ll need to start making decisions when it comes to what kind of services you want for your loved one, the means of disposition, and more. Your funeral home will be able to help guide you through this process. They will make sure that your loved one’s body is transported to the proper place.

One last thing you’ll need to think about is your loved one’s home and pets. Make sure there is someone who is able to secure their home and make sure everything is locked. If they had pets, a new home will need to be found for them. If there’s any food in the fridge that needs to be thrown away, be sure to have someone clean it out. Have their mail forwarded to your address so that it doesn’t build up in their mailbox. These are all the little things that can sometimes be overlooked, but they are important.

Having an idea of what tasks need to be done in the hours and days after a death can help you deal with it a little more easily. Your funeral home near College Park, MD, will be there to help you through the entire ordeal so that you can take as much time as necessary to grieve and spend time with your family while processing your loss. That way, you can have peace of mind that things will go smoothly, and you’ll know that your loved one will be honored in the best way possible.

Exploring Your Options for Cremation Services

Cremation services have been gaining in popularity in recent years, and it’s not difficult to see why. With the wide range of options you have for cremation services near Adelphi, MD, there is much more freedom when it comes to choosing and planning arrangements for your loved one. Ranging from basic, direct cremation to a full viewing and funeral prior to cremation, you’ll find something that works for your family no matter the circumstances.

The most basic and inexpensive option is direct cremation. This option does not include any kind of memorial or funeral service. You will be provided with paperwork and documents that must be filled out and notarized, and your loved one’s body will be transported to the crematory for disposition. Afterward, you will receive their remains in the form of bone ash, contained within a temporary urn. You’ll have the option of purchasing a permanent vessel or keepsake items, as well. If your loved one did not want any kind of service to be held in their honor, or you’re planning on a scattering ceremony only, this might be a good choice for your family.

Some people wish to have a full viewing or visitation followed by a traditional funeral, prior to cremation. This will be more cost-intensive because you’ll need to pay the funeral home fees, rent a casket, and possibly pay for embalming services as well. Rather than transporting your loved one to the cemetery after the funeral, they will be taken to the crematory to be cremated. This is a good choice for people who want a traditional funeral, but do not wish to be buried in a cemetery.

If you don’t want a full traditional funeral to be held beforehand, but you would still like a chance for immediate family to say a final goodbye before the cremation, this is possible. Most places will offer an hour or two of time prior to cremation for the family to be with their loved one and say their goodbyes. Many people choose this route if they are planning on holding a memorial service after the cremation. That way, those closest to the departed still get their chance to have closure, but they don’t have the burden of quickly making funeral arrangements. Instead, they have the freedom to plan the memorial service at a time that works best for them. For some families, this means waiting for warmer weather or planning for a time when far-away family members can make travel plans more easily.

The different options for cremation services near Adelphi, MD, make it possible to have arrangements that suit your family’s particular needs. Depending on your budget and your loved one’s wishes, you can choose anything from a traditional viewing and funeral prior to cremation, to the most basic, direct cremation services. There is room for flexibility and creativity so that you can make arrangements that are personal to the memory of the person you lost. Ask your cremation service provider for more details on their pricing and service options.

How Pre-Planning Benefits You and Your Family

It may feel like a daunting task to pre-plan your final arrangements. It’s not something most of us want to think about, let alone plan ahead for. However, it’s actually a pretty simple process that can have major benefits for you and your family in the long run. At your funeral home near Adelphi, MD, you should be able to complete most of your pre-arrangements online, or you can meet in person to make a plan. These are some of the ways that pre-planning can be beneficial.

You Have Control over Your Arrangements

Many people have pretty defined wishes when it comes to what they want for their final arrangements. Whether you feel strongly that you want to be cremated, or you want a traditional funeral and burial, you’ll want to make sure that your wishes are carried out. Pre-planning is a great way to make sure that all your preferences are written down and made known. If you want a particular person to officiate your services, certain songs to be played, or certain customs to be observed, you can outline all of this in your arrangements. You can have peace of mind knowing that your plans will be kept safe with your funeral home, and can be transferred to any other funeral home nationwide.

Saving Your Family from Tough Decision-Making

Having to plan a funeral while grieving a recent loss can become very difficult and overwhelming. When a family is faced with making arrangements without any guidance, it can be hard to know what kind of services to choose. It can even lead to disagreements and strife amongst family members, which makes their difficult time even more painful. By sitting down and planning your final arrangements ahead of time, you can protect your family from these additional burdens. That way, in the event of your passing, they will be able to focus on being together and grieving rather than being faced with all the decision-making.

Saving Money by Paying Ahead

While it’s not necessary, it’s possible to pay ahead for your final arrangements. This can be done all at once, or you can set up a payment plan. This is a wise move because funerals can be very expensive, and in some cases can be financially crippling to a family. In addition to saving your family from the financial burden of paying for your financial arrangements, you will lock in the rates at the time you begin paying. As with all other services and goods, the price of funerals goes up over time with inflation. When you lock in a rate early on, you will avoid the rising costs in the future. This can save you a significant amount of money in the long run.

These are the main reasons why it’s important to consider pre-planning with your funeral home near Adelphi, MD. You can save money, and protect your family from extra burdensome duties following your passing. Additionally, you will know that your wishes will be carried out the way you want. That way, you and your family can have peace of mind, and you can ease their future stress during their time of need.

BLOG