Blog- How To's

A basic custom of funeral etiquette is sending acknowledgment cards following funerals. Sending thank-you cards with personal messages to the ones who supported you and offered their condolences is a beautiful gesture. You will be surprised to know how much this basic gesture of offering your gratitude will mean. You can either compile a list of only those who sent you flowers, cards, memorials, or donations, or send them to all your guests.

Add a personal touch

Adding personal touches to the thank-you card will send a sign of thoughtfulness. It can be anything from a personal handwritten message to a thoughtful verse from your favorite poem. If you are not too much into words, you can choose to put in an image along with a sweet and short caption symbolizing your gratitude.

The passing away of a loved one can be difficult. You might not find it particularly engaging to write messages on blank cards. You will find a range of solutions that can help you create customized cards very easily on the internet from which you can choose with a range of templates. In a few simple steps, you can get your customized cards ready.

Thanks for reading,

Karen

Outer burial containers consist of grave liners and burial vaults. These serve to enclose the casket or coffin in a grave. When caskets are buried under the ground, some cemeteries require a burial vault or a grave liner surrounding the casket. An outer burial container suffices to support the soil that is around the casket. This firm support is required to prevent the soil on top of the casket and around it from collapsing. Significantly, this ultimately serves to enhance maintenance in cemeteries, keeping cemetery grounds in great condition.

Important features

Burial vaults are caskets for the main caskets. They encase the main casket completely, from all sides. A grave liner merely acts as a cover for the top and sides of the casket. The bottom of the main casket is in direct contact with the ground. Both burial vaults and grave liners are typically made of concrete and lined with a layer of plastic or metal. Some are available, nowadays, in steel, copper, and bronze. These metal ones are sturdier but may cost more as they assure durability more than concrete does. Concrete may be prone to cracks over a period of time.

Some considerations

Your choice, a grave liner or a burial vault, totally depends on you as an individual or your family that decides on such matters. If cost is a consideration in selecting an outer burial container, then a grave liner will be ideal. Usually, these can be purchased as separate from the main casket (which depends on your selection again) from the funeral home that you are associated with. You may have a limited choice as some funeral homes carry only one or two models.

You may buy these as part of your main casket expense if your main casket manufacturer sells these. Retailers also sell grave liners and burial vaults. If you buy these online, they may incur high shipping costs, as they are heavy and have to be handled with care.

Thanks for reading,

Karen

It’s hard to put into words what losing a loved one means. It’s one of life's most difficult experiences. Whether given as condolence offerings or used for funeral decoration, flowers hold a special place during times of grieving.

Funeral flower arrangements convey messages from the heart, offer comfort, and show support from family and loved ones. They also portray respect for the deceased. Here's a brief guide to help if you are arranging a funeral setting or simply want to offer your sympathy.

Funeral flower arrangements

Funeral flowers can be arranged to give or for display, in baskets, as sprays or bouquets, as well as wreaths. Baskets come in several sizes and styles. Colors are often sober and are usually pastel shades of white, blue, lilac, or yellow. Standing sprays may be displayed on an easel, typically near the casket. Wreaths consist of large bunches of flowers and are more elaborate but look beautiful in a large area. The circular shape of a poignant floral wreath symbolizes eternal life.

Flowers to consider

A wide variety of flowers can be used at funerals, but the only consideration is color. Usually, bright and vibrant colors aren't chosen unless the family has specifically selected these because of a preference. The following flowers make nice flowers for funerals:

• Pure White Lilies - One of the most famous funeral flower choices, lilies represent the deceased soul's restored innocence.
• White Carnations - White is the symbolism of purity, and carnations, long-stemmed, look lovely in standing sprays. Light pink ones symbolize remembrance and are often used with white varieties.
• White and Light Pink Roses - This is a perennial favorite among funeral flowers, and white roses convey reverence and purity. They are often used in wreaths with white lilies and look elegant.
• White and Yellow Gladioli - These tall flowers are revered as they send a message of strength and moral integrity. They also show sincerity and are wonderful as they lie in long baskets, combined with white chrysanthemums.
• Chrysanthemums - Chrysanthemums are exclusively used as funeral flowers in many European countries as they are symbolic of death. In other countries, they are used to honor the departed soul who led a full life.

Thanks for reading,

Karen

When people lose their loved ones, many of them choose to add their names to an existing headstone or monument. Maybe it’s the monument of their spouse, their parents, or any other family member or a close friend.

What you should do

Adding a name to an existing monument is not an easy task, and it is critical that you hire a trained and experienced professional engraver. You may also want to consult the cemetery staff or a funeral director before adding the name. There may be certain guidelines that need to be followed, or the funeral director may be able to point you to the right engraver. Talking to experienced professionals always helps.

Another important part of adding the name to the monument is choosing the inscription. Which words do you want inscribed on the monument? Of course, this must be something meaningful, something that will honor the memory of your loved one and reflect the kind of person they were. Often times, people also add a favorite quote of the deceased. Don’t hesitate to take your time, think carefully, and consult other people.

What you shouldn’t do

You may want to cut corners and hire an amateur engraver because it’s cheaper, but the difference in the quality of work will be very obvious. Adding the name of your loved one to a monument is a way of honoring their memory, and this is something that has no room for mistakes.

Including jokes in monument inscriptions is hardly ever a good idea. It’s always best to take it seriously and move forward in a way that would respectfully and beautifully honor the memory of your loved one.

Finally, don’t proceed with your task unless you have all the proper permissions required from local government or cemetery authorities. A professional engraver can work with these. The last thing you’d want is to have to go through extra trouble while you are in mourning.

Thanks for reading,

Karen

Cemeteries are places where the bodies of those who are no longer with us rest. They are a place where people come to pay their respects to their loved ones, to grieve and mourn them and honor their memory. As such, cemeteries are places that require a code of conduct.

When visiting the grave of a loved one in a cemetery, keep these do’s and don’ts in mind:

• Do respect visiting hours

Most cemeteries have visiting hours, usually from around 8 or 9 in the morning till 5 or 7 pm in the evening. Some older cemeteries, especially those adjacent to churches, and are not walled in, may be open to the public at all times. Make sure that you ask about the cemetery’s visiting hours before heading out.

• Don’t walk over graves

Walking over graves, whether it is the grave of your loved one or a stranger you do not know, is extremely disrespectful. A grave is the site where the body of someone who has passed is put to rest and it holds deep meaning for that person’s family and friends.

• Don’t clean or decorate in a way that causes damage

Even if the grave or monument is dirty, don’t clean it in a way that could cause damage. And if there is already some damage, don’t try to fix it yourself if you are not sure how to do so. For example, using chemical cleaning agents may damage the headstone. It’s best to call professionals. Contacting the company who processed and installed the monument is your best bet.

• Do respect the peace of other people in the cemetery

If there are other people in the cemetery who have come there to reflect and/or visit the grave of their loved one, make sure you are respectful of their peace and privacy. Be considerate and allow them to reflect or grieve in peace.

Thanks for reading,

Karen