Monthly Archives: December 2022

Planning a Personal and Unique Memorial Service

When someone you love passes away, you want to honor their life and do their memory justice. This can be accomplished in many ways, depending on who the person was and what your family’s traditions are. While a traditional funeral is a meaningful and beautiful way to say goodbye, many families choose to have a memorial service for their loved one, which takes often takes place after cremation services near College Park, MD. There are many benefits to planning a memorial service, as well as lots of ways to make it more personal and unique to that person’s memory.

One of the benefits of having a memorial service (as opposed to a traditional funeral) is that there is a lot of flexibility when it comes to planning. Funerals must generally be held within a week or so of the person’s passing, which doesn’t leave much time to make arrangements. With a memorial service, you can take more time to allow the far-away families to make travel arrangements, or you can wait for a warmer season to hold an outdoor service. This can help reduce some of the stress that comes with planning a funeral, and you can take the time you need to make sure that everything will go according to plan.

While some memorial services may resemble a traditional funeral, many of them do not. You might choose to hold their memorial service outside, or in a more unusual location (somewhere other than a funeral home or a church). You can bring photos, memorabilia, food and drinks, and whatever else you wish to include. Some families choose to hold a celebration of life in honor of their loved one, where family and friends can gather and remember the person who has passed. These often have a more upbeat and celebratory feel, and can even have a party-like atmosphere in some cases. You might incorporate a fireworks display, or hire a band to play. You could encourage those in attendance to come up and share a special memory of the person who has passed. If your loved one had a special interest in gardening and the outdoors, you could have a plant or seeds for everyone to take home and plant near their home, as a tribute to that person. You may want to set up a toast for everyone to participate in, or include some cultural customs that are meaningful in your family. These are just examples, and every person and family will be different.

As you can see, there is a multitude of ways to create a meaningful and personal memorial service in honor of your loved one. Whether they were buried or underwent cremation services near College Park, MD, the freedom is yours to make any arrangements you wish. Your funeral home can be of assistance when it comes to planning and arranging a memorial service, and can even provide a venue for the event. Then, you can focus on making sure that your loved one’s wishes are carried out, and that their memory is honored in the best way possible.

The Value of a Permanent Resting Place

Many people, at one point or another, have thought about what should be done with their bodies after they pass away. It’s not the most uplifting subject to think about, but it is something that must be considered at some point. If a family member passes away who has not made their wishes known, that decision will fall upon their immediate family. Your funeral home near College Park, MD, can help you and your loved ones come up with a plan. For many families, it’s important to have a final and permanent resting place where their loved one’s remains can reside. Here are some reasons why.

One of the biggest reasons to have a permanent resting place is so that family and friends can visit their loved one any time they wish. There will be a clear, marked grave or niche where the family can be close to their loved one again. Future generations will be able to visit their loved one’s graves, and they will be remembered long after their passing. Additionally, there are some risks that come with the alternatives to a permanent resting place. For instance, if you choose to place your loved one’s cremated remains in an urn and keep it in your home, there is a chance that over the years it may become broken, misplaced, or lost. With burial or interment, there is no risk of these issues occurring.

Another major reason that people need a permanent resting place is because of their religious beliefs. As an example, in the Catholic Church, most people are traditionally buried. However, even if they have chosen to be cremated, their cremated remains must be interred in a columbarium, or buried. This permanent resting place is required and blessed according to their beliefs.

Many people also wish to be buried next to their spouses, parents, or loved ones. There may be cultural reasons for having a permanent resting place, as well. Ultimately, it’s a secure place for family and friends to visit their loved ones and remember their life. They can lay flowers and decorations to honor and celebrate their memory.

Some of the alternatives to a permanent resting place include the scattering of ashes, and as mentioned before, the storage of ashes in an urn in the home. For the families who choose to do these things, there is a meaningful reason behind their decisions. There is no right or wrong answer when it comes to what to do with our loved one’s remains. You will need to consider what your loved one wanted, and what will work best for you and your family.

Whatever you choose for yourself or your loved one, you will need help with making arrangements. Your funeral home near College Park, MD, is there to take you through the entire process as painlessly as possible. Making plans and decisions while dealing with grief and loss is never easy, so take any help that is offered to you. Then, you can take comfort in the fact that your loved one can rest in peace wherever they have chosen to be.

What is a Celebration of Life?

It has become more and more common for people to choose non-traditional services for their own final arrangements. The traditional funeral and burial are still often done, but many people want something a little different after they pass. Whether they have chosen to be buried or have cremation services near Adelphi, MD, there is plenty of freedom to plan their services in any way that they wanted. Many people are choosing to have a celebration of life in honor of their loved one, rather than a traditional memorial service or burial.

You may be wondering: what is a celebration of life? A celebration of life is a kind of memorial service that is primarily focused on remembering and honoring the life and memory of the person who has passed. It’s a way of paying tribute to their legacy, and everyone attending can share special memories and stories about them. Many times these events have a celebratory atmosphere, rather than the more somber or sad mood that a funeral might be associated with. There are often plenty of photos, mementos, and videos shown representing the person who has passed. Although it’s not always the case, a celebration of life is often held in honor of someone who has lived a long and full life, with lots to show for it.

Sometimes people will hold a celebration of life at a place of worship, but many times they are held at some alternative location. You might choose to rent out an area at a local park where people can easily gather. If you or a family member has property or land where it can be held or a large enough home where everyone can attend, you can save money by holding it there. You might rent out a gathering hall or something similar. You’ll have to consider how many people you expect to attend when choosing a location. You might also want to consider holding it somewhere that was meaningful to the person who passed.

Many families choose to supply food and drinks for guests attending a celebration of life. You can have it catered, have different households bring a passing dish, or simply supply munchies and snacks. You might fill up coolers with various beverages, or depending on where you have it, you could even host a bar. You will likely want to have tables and chairs, as well as a tent or pavilion of some kind for everyone to sit and eat.

If your loved one expressed their wish for a celebration of life, you’ll likely find yourself looking at planning a service that looks a bit different from a typical funeral. However, they can be wonderful and special tributes to the person’s memory and can provide a perfect opportunity for family and friends to share funny, touching, and special stories about the deceased. Your funeral home or provider of cremation services near Adelphi, MD, can help you put together this gathering, and at the very least they can give you valuable advice on how to arrange it. Then, you can take comfort in knowing that your loved one’s wishes and memory will be thoughtfully honored.

The Importance of a Final Goodbye

When a loved one passes away, it’s important that you take the time to process your own emotions, as well as be there to support those in your family who have also suffered the loss. A funeral is just one part of this, and there are many reasons why having a viewing and funeral can be important or necessary when it comes to the grieving process. Your funeral home near Adelphi, MD, can help you put together a meaningful service for your loved one. This can provide closure that nothing else can.

Many people who plan a funeral for their loved ones will be faced with the choice of having a viewing beforehand. This requires embalming services and the purchase of a casket. A viewing typically takes place the day before the funeral service, but in some cases, it may be held earlier on the same day. At a viewing, family, friends, and members of the community can come through and see the person they lost, one last time. This is a major part of accepting your loss, and it can be difficult to move forward without it. Each person who chooses to pay their respects will also be grateful for the chance to say a final goodbye. While facing the reality of that person’s death is not easy, it’s a necessary step in the process.

In addition to having the chance to say goodbye, a viewing also provides the opportunity for people to reminisce about the person they lost. Sharing funny, sweet, or meaningful stories of the departed can bring family and friends closer during a difficult time. It can also make it a little easier, lightening the mood with special memories. You may learn things you never knew about the person you lost. You can also allow yourself to begin to accept the reality of what has happened while acknowledging the significance of the past so that your life can slowly move forward.

Perhaps your loved one chose not to have a traditional funeral service. Maybe they wanted cremation services for themselves, rather than burial. For the immediate family, it’s still important to be able to say that final goodbye to their bodily remains. Even if you’re going with direct cremation, you can often still have the option of having a private final goodbye. For an hour or two, before cremation takes place, you and a small group of the family can spend a little more time with your loved one. Similar to viewing, this can be an important way to realize and accept your loss, allowing you to eventually heal and move forward with your life.

While not everyone chooses to have a viewing or final goodbye with their loved one, most people do. This is because it provides a significant step of acceptance in the grieving process. If you’re in need of help with planning a viewing, funeral, or cremation, contact your funeral home near Adelphi, MD, today. They can help you throughout the entire process, from beginning to end.

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