No one likes to think about the possibility of passing away, but it is important to plan for a funeral in advance. When planning a funeral or memorial service for yourself, there are many things that you have to take into consideration for your final wishes.
Gratitude and Grief: Coping With Loss On Thanksgiving
When you are grieving, Thanksgiving can be a difficult time. While everyone else is eating turkey and pumpkin pie, you may feel left out, or sad thinking about the loved one that has passed away.
The absence of their presence can feel overwhelming when you’re used to spending time with them during the holidays.
But there are ways to honor your loved one’s memory during Thanksgiving and express gratitude for the time you were able to spend with them while also taking care of yourself.
Grieving During the Holidays
The holidays can be a difficult time for anyone who has lost a loved one. And it can be challenging when trying to figure out how to get through grief during the holidays. However, there are ways to remember your loved ones to help ease your grief and help others who have lost loved ones.
How to Host a Zoom Funeral
Every day people have funerals or memorial services for their family members or friends. These are usually done at churches, funeral homes, or private residences.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, more and more people are using online video conferencing to share important life events such as birthdays, graduations, and now, funerals.
Religious Perspectives On Cremation
Religious aspects may prove essential for making end-of-life plans with a loved one that may be important to them. In recent years, cremation has become more acceptable in the United States due to economic shifts that have occurred in the latter half of the century, as well as more permissive attitudes towards the relationship between the body and the soul.
What is End-of-Life Care?
End-of-Life care is meant to provide physical, emotional, and spiritual care and comfort for someone suffering from a terminal illness. This can be an emotional time for all parties involved, but there are ways to prepare yourself.
Am I Required By Law to Use a Funeral Home?
Does the law require the use of a funeral home to plan and facilitate a cremation or memorial service?
How to Secure a Solid Financial Future for Your Parents With Alzheimer’s
If you’re the primary caregiver for a loved one who has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, you’ll have to assist in making arrangements to secure their financial future.
What is a Cremation Society: Are They All Part of the Same Group?
A cremation society is an organization made up of members who want to ensure their future cremation.
Financial Assistance Options For Funerals
Unfortunately, many Americans pass away in care facilities without any life insurance policy or savings for final arrangements.
Often, when a needy senior citizen passes in a care center, the financial burden of burial, cremation, or any type of service becomes the responsibility of the family and relatives left behind.
Are Funeral and Cremation Expenses Tax Deductible?
At National Cremation, our funeral directors are frequently asked whether or not funeral expenses are a tax deductible expense. Although we advise you to consult a tax specialist who can answer this question more fully according to the specifics of your case, there are some general rules to consider when answering this question.
What Should I Do When a Death Occurs?
When a loved one dies, you’ll have to cope with a wide range of emotions. You may feel shock, confusion, sadness, loneliness, anger, anxiety, guilt, relief or any combination of these. Yet while you’re experiencing these emotions, there are also practical concerns you’ll have to take into consideration.
How Do I Use My National Cremation Society Memento Kit?
Upon receiving the Memento Kit that comes with a National Cremation prepaid cremation, many don’t know exactly what to do with it. The Memento Kit has a variety of uses, and it is much more than a fancy box. Here are a few ideas to help you take full advantage of this piece of your cremation plan.
Top 5 Facts You Should Know About Veteran Burial Benefits
If you or a loved one served on active duty or in certain reserve branches of the US Armed forces, you may be eligible for a Veteran’s Administration (VA) burial allowance and other benefits as a result of your service to our country.
Funeral or Memorial Services With Cremation
The cremation of a loved one does not end upon the acceptance of his or her ashes. Some prefer setting up a traditional funeral or a memorial service to show how much a family member means. If you’re wondering whether you can have funeral or memorial services with cremation, National Cremation has the answer: Yes, you can.
4 Places to Scatter Ashes in Florida
4 Places to Scatter Ashes in Florida If you’re preparing for an end-of-life ceremony and you’re considering interring cremated remains in the Sunshine State, you’re on the right track. Florida is one of the best states in the U.S. for cremation and memorials, not just because of the sun, ocean, and views. In Florida, there Continue reading
Why Is Cremation Becoming More Popular in the US?
In 1960, only 3.6% of Americans chose cremation. The projected cremation rate for 2015 is astronomically higher at 48.2%. That’s a 1,238.88% increase in the number of people choosing cremation over a span of just 65 years. According to the National Funeral Directors Association, the projected cremation rate will continue to rise in the coming years, with 55.8% of Americans expected to choose cremation in 2020 and 70.6% in 2030.
Do Pets Grieve? Dogs and Cats in Mourning
Following the loss of a closely bonded owner or another pet, our pets can suffer separation anxiety or depression just as people do. Pet owners, especially cat and dog lovers can be sensitive to their pet’s grief.
3 Tips for Talking to Your Parents About End-of-Life Decisions
Talking about end-of-life planning with your parents is no simple feat, as no one wants to think about death. However, planning for the end of your loved one’s lives can safeguard their well-being and put your mind at ease.
Best Grief Books to Help You Heal
It takes a lot of courage to heal from the loss of a loved one. For many of us, reading a good book about grief is one of many helpful ways to recover.
We at National Cremation believe that each person has a unique way of grieving, so we came up with a list of the best books to help your personal grieving process. We are with you during this difficult moment of your life.
5 Benefits for Loved Ones of Deceased Veterans
When a member of the military dies or is permanently injured as a direct result of their service, the government offers their loved ones a variety of benefits.
These offerings are administered through the Veterans Benefits Administration and can help provide security during a difficult and tumultuous time.
How to Write an Obituary
Writing an obituary offers a chance to notify others of your loved one’s passing, and is also an opportunity to celebrate life and share what made that person special to those who loved them. Because of this dual purpose, obituary writing often feels challenging, due to the great responsibility that the obituary writer carries both to the person who is gone, as well as to those left behind.
How to Tell the Story of a Lifetime
During funeral services, it’s not uncommon for friends and family to speak about what their loved one meant to them, but what happens afterward? When the departed has reached his or her resting place, can any following memorial services tell a complete life story? How can you say goodbye to your parent, grandparent, or friend in a delicate and meaningful way?
Tips to Avoid Overpaying for Cremation
Experiencing the passing of a loved one can leave us in an emotional and vulnerable state of mind. Navigating grief during this time can make planning and executing cremation funerals especially difficult, and sometimes people take advantage of this. But there are ways to protect yourself and your finances.
The Cost of Cremation vs. Burial
Recently, cremation has become the most popular option for Americans when making final arrangements; it is more cost-effective than traditional burial, and it offers a variety of ways to memorialize our loved ones. Here are just some of the reasons that its popularity has skyrocketed within recent years:
10 Ways to Pay Tribute to a Loved One
Traditional memorial services capture the essence of a loved one. However, each individual brings something unique to this world, so you’ll want the memorial service to be unique to them.
If you’re wondering how to plan a memorial service, it is natural to gravitate towards the usual services – traditional burials, services at funeral homes. If you’re one to think outside the box, here are ten ways you can personalize your loved one’s memorial service:
How to Explain Cremation to a Child
For many children, the death of a loved one may be their first experience with the concepts of mortality, death and dying. For others, the death may come at a time when they already understand those concepts, but may not know much about what happens after. In either case, National Cremation recommends that you keep a child’s developmental stage in mind when discussing difficult topics such as death and cremation.
What Is Cremation?
Cremation has risen in popularity in recent years due to its affordability and flexibility compared to traditional funeral and burial options.
However, many families do not fully understand the cremation process. We created this post to inform our National Cremation families and readers on cremation and clarify commonly misunderstood industry terms.
National Cremation Society in Jacksonville, FL Partners to Sponsor Health and Wellness Day
National Cremation Society in Jacksonville, FL is partnering with Azalea Health to sponsor Golf Fore Health and Wellness Day on January 17th from 10am to 2pm at River Bend Golf Links. National Cremation Society in Jacksonville and Azalea Health are the co-sponsors of this event. Azalea Health will be offering free health screenings. Additionally, they Continue reading
How to Prevent Slip and Fall Accidents
How to Prevent Slip and Fall Accidents When you are young, you hardly worry about the prospect of falling. Generally, the worst that happens is a small bruise, be it on your tailbone or your ego. Even if the fall is more severe than usual, broken bones tend to recover more easily when you’re younger, Continue reading
End-of-Life Preplanning Needs for Veterans
While everyone should take the time to consider their end-of-life plans with family and loved ones, that process is all the more important for veterans and active service members. There are several circumstances, benefits, and services these men and women will have to consider that don’t apply to the civilian population. These benefits apply to Continue reading
Why Should You Plan A Green Funeral?
These days, eco-conscious decisions can be found in just about every industry. Across the U.S., more and more people are trying to reduce their carbon footprint, limit their pollution, recycle more often, compost their biodegradable trash, and drive in electric cars – or just bike. The funeral industry is no different: Families have begun seeking Continue reading
How to Write a Will
Writing a will, like so much of end of life planning, can be emotionally difficult. Doing so forces you to confront your own mortality and make tough decisions about how you would like your family to proceed once you are gone. As difficult as this process is, it is necessary, lest succession laws govern how to settle your Continue reading
Helping Those Experiencing a Loss Over the Holidays
Helping Those Experiencing a Loss Over the Holidays Talking to friends who may have lost a loved one over the holiday season can be tricky. Most people don’t know what to say or feel helpless when their friends grieve in front of them. However, those in grief often benefit from the support of friends and Continue reading
How to Honor Loved Ones During the Holidays
How to Honor Loved Ones During the Holidays It is difficult to lose a loved one, and the holidays can be a painful reminder of those who have passed away. However, remembering your loved one in small ways through the holidays can help to ease the pain and allow you to recover. Below are a Continue reading
How to Cope With Loss Over The Holidays
How to Cope With Loss Over the Holidays Losing a loved one over the holiday season is heartbreaking. While everyone else is fussing over getting the perfect gift or ensuring they have all the best decorations up, the holiday season can leave the bereaved with intense feelings of grief and depression. It is important to Continue reading
National Cremation Society 2015 Winter Holiday Events
National Cremation Society 2015 Winter Holiday Events The holidays are almost here! While some look forward to shopping and participating in winter activities, others are finding simple ways to help the less fortunate among us. For many, ’tis the season to spend time with family and remember loved ones who have passed. Toys for Tots Continue reading
National Cremation Society Celebrates Veterans Day
National Cremation Society Celebrates Veterans Day The National Cremation Society is grateful for the services our brave veterans have provided for the United States of America over the years. To celebrate their achievements and their courage, the National Cremation Society is giving back to veterans through events and giveaways at some National Cremation Society storefront Continue reading
Celebrities Choosing Cremation
Celebrities Choosing Cremation Cremation is a final needs option that’s becoming more popular today. It’s so appealing that even famous celebrities and their families choose it over traditional burial. The benefits of cremation simply cannot be ignored. With National Cremation, this service is affordable, simple, professional, flexible and environmentally-friendly. Here are five celebrities who have Continue reading
The Benefits of Preplanning Cremation and a Living Will
Many people don’t anticipate the financial and legal aspects of getting older. There are specific arrangements that many avoid even acknowledging until they are senior citizens. But, life is unpredictable, and it’s advisable to prepare for the future.
Burials: From Ancient Pyramids to Modern Day Cremation
Burial is a ritual act where we lay our deceased loved ones into the ground, often with fond belongings and prayers or speeches. However, the picture of a traditional burial like this has evolved through the centuries. Now there is much more to burial and many alternatives to this centuries-old human tradition.
How to Get Help When You’re Grieving
To a person undergoing a painful experience such as the loss of a loved one, grief, mourning, and recovery takes time. If your loss is sudden you may feel that you never had the time to plan your loved one’s last wishes. National Cremation understands and guides you through this difficult time. That’s why we offer these grief support resources to help you through your emotional transition.
What To Do With Pets When their Owner Passes Away
If a pet-owning friend or loved one recently passed away, you may be faced with the question of what to do with the pets they left behind. Unfortunately, every year between 5 and 7 million companion animals enter animal shelters due to the death of their owners. Of these, approximately 3 to 4 million are euthanized (60 percent of dogs and 70 percent of cats) when adequate homes cannot be found for them.
8 Unique and Meaningful Ways to Scatter Ashes
There is a certain finality to burial that cremation sometimes lacks. As you watch the coffin descend, you’re able to come to terms with the fact that life is over and you must say goodbye. But when you receive your loved one’s remains, there’s still one large unanswered question – what do you do with them?
How to Write a Eulogy
While being asked to deliver a eulogy is an honor, the fear of speaking in public can be overwhelming. Talking about a difficult, stressful, confusing and painful subject like death can often make this fear worse. But take heart in the fact that you were asked to do this because of the close bond you shared with this person. You wouldn’t have been asked if the family didn’t trust you. Their goal is not to make you uncomfortable or make a display of your grief. They’ve asked you because they feel you are best suited to help everyone else say goodbye and remember the good times.
Digital Afterlife: What Happens to Internet Accounts When Someone Dies?
With death comes grief – and a host of other difficult decisions, mundane details and crucial choices. Among the many things you’ll have to deal with are how to access and/or cancel your loved one’s various online accounts and subscriptions. If your loved one has not left a list of usernames and passwords or clear instructions for what they want done with their accounts and who should be in charge of carrying out these final wishes, it can be difficult to know what to do or how to get control.
Getting the Veterans Benefits You Deserve with National Cremation
Eligible military veterans are entitled to certain benefits when it comes to cremation and burial. If your loved one has been an honorably discharged veteran, National Cremation helps you obtain benefits in accordance with the US Department of Veterans Affairs service arrangements.
How Can My Family Be Sure The Cremains They Receive Are Mine?
The Cremation Association of North America estimates that in 2020, over 56.1% of Americans chose cremation for their final arrangement. Cremation is an excellent affordable alternative to burial, but sometimes consumers have concerns about the process.