funeral planning - Coffins play an important role in the Funeral Plan

Funeral Planning

 Nowadays, the burial has become the traditional practice in later years. Regardless of the method followed in the funeral service, what is common is that at this time, friends and family come together to pay last respect to one who had touched the lives of his/ her loved ones in some way or the other. When a death occurs in the family, all the surviving members of the bereaved family usually pick a coffin or a casket from the funeral home for the deceased to be buried in

For thousands of years, it has been a common practice to bury the dead in different ways. A coffin is the funerary box that is used in the containment and display of the deceased for burial. The coffin can be buried directly in the ground, placed inside a burial vault, or cremated. The Types of coffins used in funeral services.

In general, the Practices of using coffins in funerals Coffins are also known as caskets. However, in North America, there is a distinction between 'coffins' and 'caskets'. By a coffin, they refer to a tapered octagonal or hexagonal box, used for the burial, while casket refers to a burial box that is rectangular in shape and has a split lid for viewing the deceased.

There are mainly two types of coffins that are offered to customers - those made of wood and those made of metal. The kind of wood that is used in coffins might be pecan, pine, oak, maple, mahogany, cherry, mahogany, ash, and walnut. There are coffins that also come in various finishes that imparts a beautiful look to the coffin.

The Coffins that are made of metal are generally produced from four materials, which are steel, copper, stainless steel, and bronze. Often such metal coffins have come with a protective or non-protective finish against water and air. In case of steel coffins, one of the distinguishing features is that they usually have a memorial tube or an identifying kit which makes it convenient to identify the body

Choosing a coffin for a funeral can be an overwhelming task and the Coffins are an integral part of the funeral service. One may choose from a wide range of coffins that are available according to the budget and requirements.

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funeral plans - Tips to Personalise a Funeral Venue

Online funeral ServiceProbably, nothing in this world is more difficult than losing a loved one and having to arrange the funeral. It has to be done, anyway, so that leaves one not much choice but to face the responsibility. The emotional turmoil experienced by the bereaved family through this period is hard enough, and having to make decisions about the funeral becomes almost unbearable. 

Still, those who survive the deceased must realize that life goes on even after death.To make funeral arrangements, one has to get in touch with a funeral director who will handle the documentation of the death, including the death certificate and other requirements for the burial or cremation. Arrangements for the disposal of the body will then be discussed. 

Then Planning your own funeral and making cemetery arrangements ahead of time can save your family members are a great deal of stress, anxiety, emotional upheaval and financial burden in the event of your death.The first decision that needs to be made is who takes charge of the funeral arrangements. There are two scenarios that are possible. If the deceased has a last will and testament, the person who is named executor will be the one to handle arrangements.

Once a decision has been made, the family or executor then decides on a venue where viewing of the remains can be made possible for the deceased person's relatives and friends. The Choices for the venue include a funeral parlor, the bereaved family's home or any place that might have been significant to the dead person while he was alive.Then the other details that have to be discussed with the service provider include the casket to be used, the music to be played, the people who will be giving readings and eulogies, the photos to be displayed at the venue, flower arrangements, preference for a video record of the service and putting a notice of death in the papers, and catering to follow the service.

Thus Establish a funeral fund to cover the expenses if death benefits are not allowed or if they won't cover the entire costs involved. Before, try to Find out if you are eligible for death benefits in the event of your death.For more details about Funeral Plan

Funeral planning - Trendy Alternatives to Flowers as a Funeral Gift

Funeral Planning: The Memorial plants or flowers make a thoughtful gift when someone passes away. It is a traditional way to pay respect while also helping to beautify the service. The Flowers and small gifts are a common means of expressing sympathy for the family of the deceased.

Though any expression of compassion or empathy will be appreciated, funeral traditions and etiquette provide some guidance for the gift or flower selection process. Then Selecting a thoughtful, appropriate funeral gift can be an overwhelming process following the death of a friend or loved one. Thus, the Flowers are a common gift to give a deceased person's family. If someone you know has passed away recently and you want to give her family a funeral gift other than flowers, several options are available to you.

In general,  select a flower that is appropriate for a time of morning. White or light-colored flowers are respectful but beautiful. White roses, carnations and lilies are common funeral flowers because they are associated with grief and solemnity. If you want to include a color in your arrangement, select colors that aren't too bright or loud.

Some funeral homes accept garlands that can be placed inside the casket to be buried with the deceased; check with the family before sending a garland. Flower wreaths can contain pictures of the deceased to be displayed on a standing easel during a wake. The Bouquets are classic flower arrangements for funerals, but you can order other arrangements through a florist.

The Gift baskets are a popular and appropriate choice for funeral gifts. The Orthodox Jewish funerals typically do not feature flowers, but gift baskets of fruit are thoughtful gifts. Find out where the flowers need to go. Simply try to ask where the funeral will be held. Then, look up the cemetery or funeral home address in the phone book or on the Internet and write down the address.

Then Pick an appropriate arrangement for the situation. If you are sending flowers to a home, choose something small or perhaps a plant or fruit basket. The larger arrangements are best sent to the funeral home or cemetery since they take up more space. If you want something custom or not sure what the family would like, call a local florist. This can also be a less expensive option since it is closer to the delivery location. Ordering online is another easy option.

So, Include a personal note. Most florists will ask you if you would like to include a card and they can help you write a sentiment for it if you are at a loss for words.

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Funeral Plan - Tax-Deductible Funeral Donations

Funeral Planning: One thing you probably haven't budgeted for is a funeral..This is especially true when you are on a limited budget and cant afford funeral expenses. You might be surprised by the number of people willing to donate money, food and services for the funeral.

Nobody, wants to imagine their loved ones passing away, which makes unforeseen accidents and events hard to deal with. The portion of the donation can be counted against tax liabilities, thus encouraging taxpayers to use some of their income to benefit charity. Not all charitable contributions are considered tax-deductible donations, and mistakenly including deductions for ineligible groups may result in tax issues.

In general, the Tax deductible donations must be given voluntarily and cannot provide a material benefit to the donor. Only donations given to tax-exempt organizations are tax deductible.  However, tax-exempt status is not enough to signal tax deductibility.

Because friends and other family members who know the bereaved best may realize that help is needed, it's appropriate for representatives of the family to ask for donations to help lighten the family's burden. If you expect an outpouring of help, set up an account at a local bank to protect the donations until they are used to pay the funeral home's bill.

Ask permission from a family member to allow you as a friend or distant family member to ask for more help for the family. Once permission is granted, ask the funeral director Get the community to help. Request that a special offering be taken at the local church of the deceased. Host a spaghetti supper and ask that community members come out and donate to the funeral fund for the deceased's family. Put posters in local stores and a public notice in the newspaper advertising the supper.

Be sure to include the donation bank account or funeral home address, the deceased's billing account number and any pertinent information.

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Online Funeral Service - Choosing Your Funeral Casket

Funeral Planning: Normally, Death is an inevitable part of life and as long-term care and planning have become some trendier and the funeral planning has become more common. The concept of  funeral planning stems from people trying to refrain from leaving loved ones to shoulder the burden of making decisions at such a difficult time. The funeral homes are helping by creating policies that allow customers to plan components of their service, pre-pay for arrangements and detail their final wishes, which often includes selection of a burial casket.

In general, Choosing a casket is not only an emotional journey a loved one of the deceased must take, it is also a financial and practical one. Nobody wants to pick out the funeral caskets, but it is a job that must be done. If you are planning for a funeral in advance or need to choose a casket for a recent death, Most of the people, do not know where to begin when shopping for funeral caskets. There is a quite good process.

At first set a budget for the casket. If you are tempted to go beyond it, then you don't. There are many other equally important components of your service that require adequate funding as well, so stick with what you know you can afford. Then  look around at the available caskets and try to find the best value casket. Some may claim to be sealed in a way that prevents decomposition, but this is not possible. The Funeral caskets are marked usually with higher in price and offer no added benefit. Make sure that you do not waste your money on false claims.

If quality is important to you, then consider the material of the casket you choose. Then, Consider casket material. The Wood is a common choice, particularly because it provides some different finish choices and can be found in handsome varieties, including mahogany and maple. However, for durability, stainless steel or titanium is the way to go.

Then try to match the casket to your size. This is a fairly important part of the decision-making process, as it does not help to choose a casket in which your body will not fit. If you are a small person and you choose an oversize casket, the presentation of the cadaver will look all wrong.

Although you may plan the bulk of your service, your loved ones will have to implement it, so ask for their input on casket selection. Sometimes, people around you may think of aspects that you may not, such as if you are going to be buried with a treasured item.

At last, Know your rights about the funeral homes will tend to direct you to choose one of the caskets they offer, but you need to know this is not your only choice. So, try to take someone with you. If you are having a hard time with the grieving and planning, then give the task to another person or take someone with you to think more clearly.

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Video Tribute for your loved ones!!!

Funeral Insurance: People always enjoy reflecting back on the life of a loved one, and feting the wonderful memories shared by all. And what better way to do this then by watching a Video Tribute? In its simplest definition, a DVD Video Tribute is a professionally crafted video production which consists of digital images, video, and/or photos of your loved one, which are then combined and played simultaneously with the music or your choice.Video tributes are wonderful way of paying tribute to your loved one. If a picture is worth a thousand words, then your choice to stage a video tribute of your loved one is worth millions, both to you and your family.

Goodnesses of Video Tributes:

This is one of the excellent memorial idea to remember and honor the perished one, as these video tributes are professionally produced using the most premium quality and technology.

Most of the Family counselors and the funeral home directors will both wholeheartedly agree that a DVD Video Tribute is a great way to help both the grief and healing process.

Most photos, whether they can be torn, faded, or old can be restored to bring out the highest-quality memories via experienced technicians and state-of-the-art technology.

As your loved ones pictures are geared up and professionally coordinated with fitting background music, these wonderful stories and memories create a special moment that everyone can share together.

Customized scenery and themes can be included through high definition video, which can significantly help personalize and illustrate the story of your loved ones life.

Through fitting music and a lifetime of rememberings, this funeral video helps tell the story of your loved ones life, which ultimately creates a family heirloom that can be treasured, shared, and kept forever.

Feting the life of your loved one speaks directly to the relationship you shared. Here at Funerals-to-die-for, we look forward to helping you decide how best to celebrate that relationship, and honor the individual you've lost. We can make suggestions to enhance your thoughts, ideas and create a fitting, memorable event. Contact the Funerals-to-Die-for to discuss the infinite variety open to you.

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Go Green Funeral services

Funeral insurance : Families those who do not wish to harm the environment while putting their loved ones to rest, can incorporate greener options into their funeral planning. Green funerals are all about keeping the funeral things as simple, natural and beautiful as possible by returning to nature in a way that will not harm the environs, but will actually preserve the landscape and enhance opportunities for wildlife – it’s about leaving the world a better place. So why not go green? Here we have listed some of the reasons and ways to have a green funeral that won’t harm the environ,You care for the environment and wish to use simple, natural, Eco-friendly materials which make nominal impact on wildlife habitats, indigenous plants and the landscape for the future.

You love a peaceful countryside setting, an uplifting, fine-looking and natural place – a perfect place to rest in peace.

The pure quality of the landscape, the handmade coffins and natural materials are superb – the occasion will be truly memorable.

Something different – you don’t like the standard funeral at the cemetery, there are no restrictions on the type of ceremony with no time constraints – make the burial ground your own personal space for the event.

Ways to have a green funeral and burial:

Forget the fancy casket, Modern coffins have all kinds of materials which are not salubrious for the environment, from non-biodegradable plastics to metal. Opt for a basic wooden casket such as those built by A Simple Pine Box. These coffins are biodegradable and will leave hardly a trace.

Forgo embalming, As previously mentioned, embalming fluid contains formaldehyde, a likely carcinogenic that should not be making its way into the environment. Not using embalming may mean that a funeral must happen more quickly. However, alternatives do exist for keeping a body long enough for a funeral, such as keeping the body in dry ice or refrigerated. Check your state’s or country’s laws, but at least in the US the use of embalming should not be required except under specific circumstances.
 

Look for a green funeral home which is certified by the Green Burial Council, since Green funeral homes have adopted environmentally friendly practices in their preparation and burial techniques, making it much easier for you to get a green burial rather than having to argue with a funeral director unfamiliar with what you want.

Don’t use a concrete vault. Check the laws in your locality, but concrete vaults should not be required. Cemeteries are increasingly allowing vaultless funerals either for a fee or for free, and green cemeteries prohibit them entirely. All that concrete doesn’t belong in the ground, and it takes a tremendous amount of energy to create and transport it all.

Nobody wants to think about dying, but what’s the use of concerning about green living during our lives if we poison the environment when we pass away? By requesting a green funeral and burial to the funeral homes, we can allow ourselves to return to the environment in a way that helps the Earth renew the cycle of life.

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Knowing about Jewish Funeral Customs

Funeral planning: The Jewish faith has many meaningful customs that they follow in order to help and assist the grievers and surviving family member when a death occurs. When a loved one passes away in a Jewish home, immediately the clergy or Jewish funeral director should be contacted. If the family does not have a clergy to contact, then the funeral director helps in locating one on behalf of the family. The Jewish funeral services will also differ based on the different sects of Orthodox, Conservative, and Reformed. Overall, the Jewish funeral ceremony is just the beginning instead of the ending of ceremonies. The Jewish funeral customs are actually only about twenty minutes in length.

Jewish funeral customs are usually held at the gravesite or Kever, a chapel or a synagogue. Jewish funeral customs consists of prayers that praise the declare and praise the life of the perished. At times Jewish families may prefer a donation to the selected charity in lieu of flowers. Traditionally, the perished ones family will remain at home for seven days following the funeral service (called the Shiva). Family and friends visit the perished ones family during this time to offer their support. This time is used to share feelings and share special rememberings together.

The other rituals which are traditionally done includes the refrigeration of the body as opposed to embalming, a ritual termed as Tahara which is the washing by a person of the same gender as the perished, followed by a dressing of the body in Tachrichim, a linen white shroud. The Star of David symbol is placed above the funeral casket. An observance period follows for thirty days after the funeral service which mourners, family and friends return to their normal daily activities, say certain prayers, and refrain from attending a place of entertainment. The Kaddish is a prayer which is said for the eleven months following a funeral service. Families may also attend services everyday to respect their loved one and join with others in the community of the bereaved to gain support and encouragement.

The gravestone marker or headstone in a Jewish funeral service is not revealed until months or a year after the funeral service. This provides the family and friends to gather and commemorate the perished at the gravesite. In the synagogue and on the anniversary of the death, the perished person's name is read aloud. Jewish families also will create Jewish themed funeral programs to commemorate the life of their loved one and have it as a sort of keepsake. This is distributed or provided as a token of memory at the ceremony. Some even choose to send the program to those who unable to attend after the funeral service.

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It is not morbid to plan your own funeral

Funeral plans: Planning your own funeral is not morbid what so ever. It can actually save your family a lot of grief. Planning your own funeral and making over the cemetery arrangements ahead of time can save your family members a great deal of stress, anxiety, emotional upheaval and financial burden in the event of your death. No one likes to be morbid, but planning your own funeral is a very smart and sensitive thing to do. Planning your own funeral also means getting what you want for the right price while offering yourself and your loved ones peace of mind. If you’ve considered planning your own funeral, here are some of the reasons to stop procrastinating and start planning,

Help Your Family:

When you plan your funeral in advance, you can save your family the trouble of covering the huge expense and facing the multitude of decisions that must be made. Your loved ones will simply follow your written directions and use the funds you have provided. This easy arrangement will be a blessing during their time of grief. Also, consider purchasing a pre-need plan from a funeral home or establishing a funeral trust funded by a small life insurance policy.

Keep Your Estate Intact:

If you have not provided for your funeral expenses, your family may have to come up with the money and then be reimbursed from estate funds, or if funds are not readily available, some of your assets may have to be sold. By providing for funeral costs up front, you can leave your family peace of mind when they need it most.

Have your Wishes Honored:

When you create a written funeral plan, you can have the final say in your own send-off. If you don’t have any specific funeral requests, you can allow your family to make the decisions and your funeral plan may simply be a method to cover expenses.

On the other hand you may prefer to leave extensive details about the type of flowers, casket, burial or cremation and service you desire. You may even wish to include notes about a song you would like played or a certain picture of you that you would like displayed. Be sure to incorporate all of your wishes in your written funeral instructions and leave them where your family can find them before your burial or cremation.

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Funeral Rituals if you didn’t Really Know the perished

Funeral planning: No one enjoys going to funerals, those melancholy occasions that remind us of our own mortality and uncertainty about the future. However, such gatherings may be even more perturbing for those who weren't close to the perished, such as a new acquaintance of the family or someone who was asked to attend by the mourners to provide emotional support. Suppose if you are in such a great position, you might suddenly feel responsible for the Herculean task of holding everything together lest it bury everyone in emotional rubble. Stop, and have a deep breath before you make yourself dizzy. Just understanding you're there for a friend or family member is a great comfort to them, so relax.

In general, common sense and polite prudence are the best guides for your behavior at a funeral. Nevertheless, here are some tips addressing issues of funeral apparel, speech, and other aspects of a funeral,

Funeral apparel:

It is no longer required that you wear all black. However, darker and more subdued colors are recommended to depict respect for the dead. Conservative outfits are mandatory for both men and women. Do not pull attention of the crowd to yourself in anyway, as the focus of this occasion is the perished, not you. Do not wear shorts, evening dress and oversized or noisy jewelry. In some instances, the perished may have previously communicated their wishes to the family in regards to appropriate attire, such as military uniforms or fraternity jackets.

What to say:

Upon entering the funeral home, don't forget to pay your respect to the perished by approaching the casket and offering a prayer or quiet reflection. After paying your respects to the perished, you may speak to the family. If they don't know who you are, just introduce yourself and offer a handshake or hug if warranted. Don't be afraid to talk about the perished if you have some amusing and touching anecdotes. If you personally cannot say anything, a simple "I'm sorry for your loss" is always appreciated. Be a good listener. The family might want to talk about their dearly departed. If this is the case, be there and avoid discoursing with people those who around you after you've sat down.

Gifts and other expressions of sympathy:

Flowers can be a wonderful comfort to the family and may be sent to the funeral home or to the residence. The last thing on the family's mind is going to be cooking, so offering easy to prepare dishes is always appreciated. Moreover, there may be lots of visitors in the house who need to be fed, so anything helps. A specific offer of "help"- Simply saying, "If there is anything you need, please call me," leaves the family at a loss, as many times the grieving family hasn't really thought about what they need. Just tell what you can do for them, like walking the dog, or driving visitors to and from the airport.

Be honest, be sincere, be yourself. After all, there's a reason you were asked to attend. Why not cherish the fact that your friends consider that you are the most capable of offering them comfort and solace in their time of need?

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