Monthly Archives: November 2022

Learn More About Direct Cremation Services

When you’re faced with making final arrangements for a loved one, the options can seem intimidating and overwhelming. This is especially true if they have not made pre-arrangements, because you will then need to make all the decisions. If you have decided to go with cremation services near College Park, MD, for their disposition, your funeral home can walk you through all your options. Some people choose to have a full viewing and funeral prior to cremation, while others choose the simpler route of direct cremation.

Direct cremation is essentially what it sounds like: a person’s bodily remains are sent directly to the crematory, without any types of services taking place beforehand. Some families may choose to have an intimate final goodbye prior to cremation, while others will not. Until the time that the cremation takes place, their bodily remains will be kept safe on the crematory premises. After the process is finished, the family will receive their loved one back in the form of bone ashes, held within a temporary urn. They will have the option to purchase a permanent urn, and from there may choose to do with them what they wish. Some people scatter their loved one’s ashes in a special place, some keep them in an urn within their home, and still, others have them interred at a cemetery or columbarium. There are also many more unique ways to memorialize a loved one using their ashes, including creating diamonds and even shooting them into space.

There are several different reasons why a family might choose direct cremation for their loved one. One of the biggest advantages to direct cremation is the low cost, especially when compared to paying for a full traditional funeral and burial. It is really the most affordable option for disposition. A family might also choose direct cremation because they wish to hold their loved one’s services at a later time. This might be so that family and friends can plan to attend from far away, or they may wish to plan the memorial service during the warmer months. It’s also possible that their loved one expressed the wish for simple and minimal services, and the family is simply upholding their wishes. Additionally, they may have wanted their ashes to be spread in a special location, which sometimes requires significant preparation and planning ahead, especially if others are invited to attend.

While direct cremation is relatively straightforward, it leaves the family with a lot of freedom when it comes to planning a memorial service. This, and the lower cost associated with it, is the reason that many families might choose direct cremation for their loved ones. If you’re interested in learning more about your options when it comes to cremation services near College Park, MD, then simply contact your local funeral home or crematory. They will help you choose the right type of service for your loved one and your family’s needs and budget. Then, you can take comfort in knowing that your loved one will be remembered in the best way possible.

What to Expect with a Veteran’s Funeral

There are many people who choose to dedicate a part of their lives to serving our country. No matter which branch they serve in, we are grateful to them for their sacrifices. If you have a veteran family member that passes away, there are certain benefits that are offered for their funeral and burial. You can ask your funeral home near College Park, MD, about what kind of services are available for veterans’ funerals and how arrangements might be made. Here are some of the options you might have.

Many veterans are buried in national or state veterans’ cemeteries. These are located across the country, and provide a final resting place for many people who have helped to serve our country. Veterans who qualify can receive a free burial plot and burial at a national veterans cemetery. Their final resting place will be marked with a plaque or headstone displaying their name, dates of birth and death, and time served in the military, as well as which branch they served in. Other optional information can be added as well. Their graves will receive perpetual care, and their remains will reside in a place of great national and historical significance. The spouse and minor children of the veteran can also qualify to be buried with them in the national cemetery in the case that they pass away.

Some other veterans will wish to be buried in a private cemetery. This could be a place where their ancestors have been traditionally buried, which is very important in some families. Although they will not receive the free plot and burial that they would get at a national or state cemetery, there are still many benefits available, such as a burial allowance. This would be able to help pay for the funeral, burial, and transportation costs.

Qualifying veterans will also receive military honors at their funeral, whether they are buried in a national or private cemetery. This includes a flag-folding ceremony and the playing of “Taps”, with at least two members of the military present. At least one of these must be from the same branch as the person who is being buried. In some cases, a rifle guard may attend. Most veterans can also receive a free headstone or marker, a burial flag, and a Presidential Memorial Certificate. In addition to this, there are many survivor’s benefits that the immediate family of the deceased can receive if they qualify.

Most of these benefits must be applied for through the VA. You can speak to your funeral home to find out more information and to make arrangements. The VA should be able to walk you through all the steps necessary to receive these veterans’ benefits. They are a way to offer appreciation for the service that our military members provide to our country. Your funeral home near College Park, MD, can help you determine what benefits will apply and how to incorporate them into your loved one’s funeral and burial. Then you can take comfort in knowing that your loved one’s service will be remembered and honored.

Are There Rules About Scattering Ashes?

Many times, when a person chooses cremation as their form of disposition, they want their ashes to be scattered in a particular place. This could be anywhere from a favorite vacation spot to a special place on the property where they grew up. If you are planning to scatter your loved one’s ashes after they have undergone cremation services near Adelphi, MD, there is a bit of research you should do first. That way, you can be sure that the event will go smoothly. Here are some tips to get you started on choosing a place to scatter.

To begin with, if they wanted their ashes scattered on someone’s private property, then you simply need to get permission from the owner before scattering them there. If it’s something larger, like a stadium or an amusement park, then you’d need to speak with the management to find out what their rules and regulations are when it comes to scattering there. You might have to go on a certain day of the week, or at a particular time of day when there are likely to be fewer people around.

If your intended scattering location is in a public area, such as a beach, park, forest, or golf course, you will need to speak with local authorities. There are often regulations about where you can scatter ashes in these types of places, and it is sometimes prohibited in some areas. Rather than find out the day of that you’re not permitted to scatter there, it’s better to ask ahead of time.

Most bodies of water like lakes, rivers, and ponds, must be treated the same way as public land. It’s not always allowed to scatter ashes in these places, and you’d be wise to ask someone like the DNR to find out where you can go. If your loved one wanted their ashes to be spread in the ocean, this is always legal. The only stipulation is that you must travel at least three nautical miles away from shore.

Some families choose to scatter their loved one’s ashes inside a memory garden at a cemetery. These are peaceful, natural places where a person’s ashes can be laid to rest. All you need to do is speak with the cemetery beforehand to make arrangements for scattering. At many places, you can get a plaque placed there that honors their memory, as well.

As you can see, the basic idea is that you will likely need to get permission before scattering ashes in most places. To give yourself peace of mind, it’s best to do some due diligence before making your plans. Then you won’t have to worry about something going wrong on the day you choose to scatter. You can also ask your local provider of cremation services near Adelphi, MD, for advice. They likely have had past clients with similar needs and should be able to steer you in the right direction. Then, you can move forward with your loved one’s scattering ceremony without worry and stress.

Often Overlooked Tasks that Must Be Done After a Death

It can be difficult trying to navigate your emotions and life after a loved one passes away. There will be many things that you must do in the hours and days after their passing, and trying to keep it all straight is never easy. Your funeral home near Adelphi, MD, can help you with many of the logistics that will be necessary for the following days. However, there are some other items and tasks that should not be forgotten in the aftermath of a person’s passing, especially if that person lived alone.

One of the most important things to think about is your loved one’s pets. If they had any animals living in their home, they will need to be cared for as soon as possible. If your loved one lived alone, new permanent homes will need to be found for these animals. In the meantime, make sure that someone is available to provide food and water, let them out if necessary, and provide any other care. The animals may be suffering too at the loss of their owner and might need extra comfort and love.

Something else to address is their mail. Even after they’re gone, they will continue to receive important mail like statements and bills. These will eventually stop, but for a while, they will need to be collected and paid as usual. You don’t want to allow mail to build up in their mailbox, either. This can be a signal that there is no one living at or watching the house, which makes it a more likely candidate for theft or breaking and entering. You can either collect their mail at regular intervals, or you can have all their mail forwarded to your address instead, whichever is more convenient for you.

Sometime in the days following your loved one’s passing, their home will need to be cleaned of any perishable items. Their refrigerator should be cleaned out so that nothing is sitting in there rotting or going bad. Their trash should be removed from their home so that it doesn’t deteriorate and begin to smell. Any other items that could go bad or attract unwanted pests should be removed relatively soon after their passing. In addition to this, if they had any houseplants that they cared for, you may want to consider removing them from your home so that they can be taken care of.

These are just a few of the things that might be overlooked or forgotten in the midst of dealing with a person’s passing. If you don’t have the time or emotional energy to handle these things, consider asking another trusted family member or friend to help you out. Your funeral home near Adelphi, MD, can also be of some assistance, especially when it comes to obtaining important documents that you will need to tie up some of these loose ends. It may be difficult facing your loved one’s home and belongings, but it will become necessary in the days following their death, and you may even find a sense of closure in the process.

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