Blog-Funerals

It can be tricky trying to determine what you should wear to a funeral service. While you may be of the opinion that the life of the deceased person deserves to be celebrated, it’s important to remember that people will be mourning at a funeral. Your aim of attending the funeral is to pay your respects, not to draw attention to yourself. In this guide, you’ll find out everything you need to about dressing right for a funeral.     

Choose the right color

Blacks, dark grays, blues, and whites are considered appropriate colors for a funeral, although black is the most common. This will, of course, differ based on the culture so be sensitive to this and stick to plain colors. You should avoid bright colors like red, pink, yellow, and orange as these are not usually funeral colors.

For women, modest outfits that don’t grab a lot of attention are ideal funeral attire to wear. These include things like dark dresses, pant suits, sleeved blouses and tops, dark suits, and dress shoes.

For men, stick to conservative options that can’t go wrong such as white shirts, dark dress slacks with sports coats, ties that aren't flashy, and dress shoes. Remember, dress to blend in and dress based on how formal the funeral service is. 

It’s a good idea to avoid wearing scented body lotions or perfumes as people at the service may be allergic. The last thing you want is to set off an allergic reaction in someone coming to pay their respects.

There’s nothing wrong with finding out what you can wear from the funeral director or immediate family member of the deceased. This will show them you’re being respectful and help you dress appropriately.  

Some funerals may just be different

While black and other plain colors may work well for most funerals, some funerals can truly be different. Relatives of the deceased should inform you in such cases and you can dress appropriately to honor the wishes of the deceased.

Thanks for reading,

Karen

The final goodbye or send off for your loved one is important in almost every culture. This is what makes funerals important for individuals. While hosting a traditional funeral in a funeral home may be an option, many people opt for a small, private funeral for their loved ones. This has become even more common with the pandemic, where there is a need to limit the number of people attending the funeral.

Small, private funerals aren’t open to anyone from the public mourning the deceased person. They’re only open to close family members and friends who have been invited for the funeral service.

Beside health concerns and following protocols during the pandemic, private funerals are popular because:

• They help to cut costs associated with funerals, reducing the financial burden on the family of the deceased.
• They give the family of the deceased some privacy in their time of grief. Close family and friends and express their grief more openly, without having to worry about putting on a brave front.

How do you plan a private funeral? To plan a private funeral, you should:

1. Create your guest list first.
2. It is imperative that you mention that it is a private funeral in the obituary or death announcement made so that people know that it is on an invite only basis.
3. Decide on a budget based on what will be carried out during the funeral. This will be much lesser than the cost of a traditional funeral.
4. Choose a venue where the private funeral will be carried out. It could be in the home of a family member or a park. Private funerals aren’t governed by the same location restrictions that apply to traditional funerals.
5. You can also arrange for small meals or bites to be served at the private funeral.
6. Remember to send your invitations only to those on the guest list.

With the convenience that private funerals offer, they’re definitely becoming an option.

Thanks for reading, 

Karen

Live streaming funerals may not have always been the go-to option for families of the deceased, but the restrictions on travel and gatherings imposed due to the pandemic have made it so.

Live streaming is a great way for relatives and friends who aren’t around to pay respect to the deceased. It also creates a safer environment and is a convenient option, especially when a funeral has to be conducted soon due to religious practices or medical needs. Not only will live streaming a funeral help to reduce expenses associated with the funeral, but it will also give families a recording of the services that they can keep close to their hearts.

Here’s what you need to pay attention to while live streaming a funeral.

Check out the funeral home services

Several funeral homes are equipped with the technology and resources to offer live streaming services. In such cases, all you have to do is pay for the live streaming service and let them handle the rest. Some funeral homes may even offer it for free as part of the funeral service itself, so find out which funeral homes offer such services.

Look for a professional

As a relative of the deceased, you’re going to want to spend your time actually being present at the funeral service instead of worrying about the technology and live streaming. You are, after all, mourning the loss of a loved one, so hiring a professional will give you peace knowing that the live streaming is happening as planned without you needing to actually do anything about it.

Get organized if you’re going to be video sharing

If you decide to live stream the funeral yourself, you need to plan ahead so that there are no interruptions during the service. This means making sure you have a high quality video recording equipment like a DSLR camera or camcorder, choosing a high quality microphone that will keep background noises out, picking the most conducive video sharing platform, and informing relatives and friends to join via the link provided. Don’t forget to record it so that you have a copy for yourself.  

Thanks for reading,

Teresa

 Both burials and cremations require certain approvals and disclosures. Funeral homes must have the appropriate paperwork before carrying out the funeral process.

The following documents should be produced for a hassle-free funeral arrangement.

1. Recent clear photograph.
2. Marriage certificates wherever applicable.
3. Funeral insurance if applicable.
4. Birth certificate.
5. Military discharge documents if applicable.
6. Ownership proof of cemetery property if applicable.
7. Names of surviving relatives with last known addresses.

The Ordeal Of Grieving And Foraging For Documents

Imagine the harrowing experience of a dear person's departure and the compulsion to search for vital documents. People have energy only to mourn and not to undertake serious tasks. Everyone can avoid such a disastrous situation with a little planning.

How to arrange the paperwork for a funeral

If you are the person in charge of carrying out the funeral, find out whether the deceased person had made any arrangements. If you can get hold of the details, the procedures will be very easy. In a different scenario, inform the experienced employees of the funeral home about your predicament. They will give proper guidance for a smooth funeral.

Getting A Death Certificate

There is no need to elaborate on the requirement of a death certificate. The funeral home will help you to get it by issuing the basic document. This will reach the health department through a doctor authorized to verify similar matters.

Funeral homes need the below information to prepare the death certificate:

• Marital status.
• Name of spouse if alive.
• Social security number.
• Names of parents.
• The Highest level of formal education.
• Last job held.
• Place of death.

Go to an experienced funeral home

The best solution for a smooth farewell to your loved person's soul is approaching a reputable funeral home. They will understand your grief and the situation to guide you through the rough times.

Thanks for reading,

Karen

When a death occurs, especially if it is an unexpected death, it can take time to make the necessary funeral arrangements, gather the funds for funeral expenses, or wait for family members, relatives and friends to reach from different cities or countries. There could be multiple reasons why you may not be able to conduct a funeral soon after death, and in such cases, just how long can you delay the funeral for?

In the U.S., funerals are usually held three to seven days after the death of the person. Sometimes, it may take even two weeks to have a funeral. It depends on your personal situation such as availability of funds, your religious beliefs, the final wishes of the deceased, etc.

No laws on when funeral should be held

If you need to delay a funeral, for how long can you delay it? In the U.S., there is no law that states the minimum or maximum number of days you have after someone’s death to hold a funeral. This means that you can delay a funeral for as long as you need to.

However, as soon as someone dies, their body starts to decompose, which is why holding a funeral ceremony is usually time-sensitive. But thanks to modern preservation processes like embalming and refrigeration, families of the deceased have more time to make funeral arrangements. If you have a freezer or a refrigeration unit to preserve the body, it is even possible to delay the funeral indefinitely.

Personal beliefs and religious considerations

Some religions require the body to be buried within just a day or two. If the deceased belonged to such a religion or if their personal beliefs are in alignment with this, it is best to make arrangements that honor their last wishes.

Thanks for reading,

Karen