Services: Tribute Videos

Your family photographs are skillfully blended with wonderful graphic images and music, to create an elegantly emotive cinematic video. It can be an integral part of any funeral or memorial service. After the ceremony, the video is sure to become a treasured family keepsake. And, we can make copies as gifts for family and friends.

Answers To Some Questions You May Have

• What is a funeral?
  The funeral is a ceremony of proven worth and value for those who mourn. It provides an opportunity for the survivors and others who share in the loss to express their love, respect and grief. It permits facing openly and realistically the crisis that death may present. Through the funeral, the bereaved take that first step towards emotional adjustment to their loss.
• What type of service should I have?
  Only you can answer that question. The type of service conducted for the deceased, if not noted in a pre-plan, is decided by the family. The service is usually held at a place of worship or at the funeral home. The service may vary in ritual according to religious denomination or the wishes of the family. The presence of friends at this time is an acknowledgment of friendship and support. A private service is by invitation only where selected relatives and a few close friends attend the funeral service. A memorial service is usually a service without the body present and can vary in ceremony and procedures according to the family's community and religious affiliations.
• Can I personalize my funeral service?
  Absolutely, in fact, we recommend it. After all, the funeral is a celebration of life. Funeral directors are happy to discuss all options and ensure your funeral is tailored to your wishes. It may be personalized in many unique ways. Contact us at (707) 425-4697 to explore the possibilities.
• Why should we have a public viewing?
  There are many reasons to view the deceased. It is part of many cultural and ethnic traditions, and many grief specialists believe that viewing aids the grief process, by helping the bereaved recognize the reality of death. Viewing is even encouraged for children, as long as it is their desire to do so, and the process is explained well.
• Why do we need an obituary notice?
  It is helpful to friends and the community to have an obituary notice published announcing the death and type of service to be held. A notice can be placed in a local newspaper, or on the Internet.
• What do funeral directors do?
  Funeral directors are both caregivers and administrators. In their administrative duties, they make the arrangements for transportation of the body, complete all necessary paperwork, and implement the choices made by the family regarding the funeral and final disposition of the body.
  As caregivers, funeral directors are listeners, advisors and supporters. They have experience assisting the bereaved in coping with death. Funeral directors are trained to answer questions about grief, recognize when a person is having difficulty coping, and recommend sources of professional help. Funeral directors also link survivors with support groups at the funeral home or in the community.
• What should I do if the death occurs in the middle of the night or on the weekend?
  We are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. All you need to do is place a call to us at (707) 425-4697. If you request immediate assistance, one of our professionals will be there within the hour. If the family wishes to spend a short time with the deceased to say good bye, it's acceptable. Then they will come when your time is right.
• What should I do if a death occurs while away from home?
  Your funeral director can assist you if a death occurs anywhere on the globe. Contact your hometown funeral director of choice immediately. They will assume responsibility and coordinate the arrangements for the return of the deceased person to their community. They may engage the services of a funeral director in the place of death who will act as their agent.
• What is the purpose of embalming?
  Embalming sanitizes and preserves the body, retards the decomposition process, and enhances the appearance of a body disfigured by traumatic death or illness. It makes it possible to lengthen the time between death and the final disposition, thus allowing family members time to arrange and participate in the type of service most comforting to them. Embalming the body enables mourners to view the deceased if they wish. The emotional benefits of viewing the deceased are enormous, particularly to those having difficulty dealing with the death.
• Is embalming mandatory by law?
  No. But, certain factors of time, health and possible legal requirements might make embalming either appropriate or necessary. Please note that embalming may be required if the deceased is being transported by air to another country where local laws need be observed.
• Is cremation a substitute for a funeral?
  No, cremation is an alternative to earth burial or entombment for the body's final disposition and often follows a traditional funeral service. We can assist you with the necessary information for a funeral with a cremation following or a memorial service.
• Can I have a visitation period and a funeral service if cremation is chosen?
  Yes. Cremation does not preclude having a visitation period and a funeral service. Cremation is simply one option for final disposition of the body.
• Is cremation as a means of disposition increasing?
  Yes, but not dramatically.
• Is it possible to have a traditional funeral if someone dies of AIDS?
  Yes, a person who dies of an AIDS-related illness is entitled to the same service options afforded to anyone else. If public viewing is consistent with local or personal customs, that option is encouraged. Touching the deceased's face or hands is perfectly safe.
• Has this cost increased significantly?
• Funeral costs have increased no faster than the consumer price index for other consumer items.
• Why are funerals so expensive?
  In some respects, funerals are a lot like weddings or birthday celebrations. The type and cost will vary according to the tastes and budget of the consumer.
  Not only that, a funeral home is a 24-hour, labor-intensive business, with extensive facilities (viewing rooms, chapels, limousines, hearses, etc.), these expenses must be factored into the cost of a funeral.
  Moreover, the cost of a funeral includes not only merchandise, like caskets, but the services of a funeral director in making arrangements; filing appropriate forms; dealing with doctors, ministers, florists, newspapers and others; and seeing to all the necessary details. Contrary to popular belief, funeral homes are largely family-owned with a modest profit margin.
• What recourse does a consumer have for poor service or overcharging?
  While most funeral homes provide outstanding services, sometimes things can go wrong. Funeral service is regulated by the Federal Trade Commission and state licensing boards. In most cases, the consumer should discuss problems with the funeral director first. If the dispute cannot be solved by talking with the funeral director, the consumer may wish to contact the FTC by contacting the Consumer Response Center by phone, toll-free, at 1-877-FTC-HELP (382-4357); TDD: 1-866-653-4261; by mail: Consumer Response Center, Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20580; or on the Internet at www.ftc.gov, using the online complaint form. You may also choose to contact the local Better Business Bureau, or your state consumer protection office.
• Who pays for funerals for the indigent?
  Other than the family, there are veteran, union, and other organizational benefits to pay for funerals. Most funeral directors are aware of the various benefits and know how to obtain them for the indigent. However, funeral directors often absorb costs above and beyond what is provided by agencies to insure the deceased a respectable burial.

Paths Toward Peace Of Mind As We Mourn

The pain, frustration, and suffering we go through after the death of a loved one is extremely difficult to cope with and grow through. However, great losses, particularly the changes that go with them, are constant and have to be addressed. Grief by nature is a transformational process: we learn new ways to adapt to a different life or continue to resist the inevitable changes that have to be made. Since there are numerous healing paths to follow, perhaps you will find one or more of the paths below to be one of your choices and provide achievable inner peace in the process.

1. Find your purpose/mission in life. Think long and hard on why you are here. Do you have a personal goal? Purpose gives us meaning and a boost in self-esteem. Examine your skills, abilities, and interests, very closely. Carefully ask yourself what moves you deep within. Then decide on a plan to follow in creating a purpose to lead you to a higher level of consciousness. The sense of accomplishment will transform your life and in the process pull you out of the shadows. The cost of not seeking your niche, your contribution, is overwhelming.

2. Focus more on what you can give and less on what you can receive. We all certainly need support in dealing with our losses. However, it is equally true, that at some point in our grieving seeking to help others even though we are hurting is a historically proven way to cope well. Start by paying the kindness you receive forward. Decide what has helped you up to this point in you grief; analyze it for the needs that it met, and try to meet similar needs in others. Think of these four basic needs we all hope to be fulfilled in our interpersonal relationships: attention, acceptance, affection, and appreciation. Decide on the many behaviors you can generate to meet these needs in others. You can build more peace within as you bring peace to them.

3. Choose to develop your ability to become more loving. Love is a great unused power in dealing with all sorts of difficult situations. Grieving and adapting to great losses are situations in which working to love deeper and more completely brings new perceptions in seeing the world and our places in it. Great love strengthens the quality of our inner lives.

Look for uplifting and inspiring readings or poetry which suggests loving kindness as the motivating force behind it; read a short paragraph daily and then commit to those loving actions as you go through your day. Ask yourself. "What actions can I take to give unconditional positive regard to someone today?" Developing this daily routine will add structure to your life and help stabilize the sense of disorganization that accompanies grief work.

4. Develop and nurture a belief in something greater than the self. For most, grief is a heart-filled spiritual journey which fills mourners with a different perception of life and death. It may be appropriate to join a spiritual community to be with others who share similar values. Just being in their company to listen can be a soothing experience and you may find spiritual exercises that bring great insight and peace.

The awareness of spiritual knowledge and the impact it can have on every facet of life is a resource of inestimable value in coping with the death of a loved one. If you don't have one, find a spiritual path. Don't allow the culture we live in to deemphasize the importance of faith and spirituality in living a full life and coping with the massive changes we all eventually face.

5. Be open to new ideas and ways to adapt to change. There are so many ways to cope with great losses, many we never think about. So read all you can about how others cope with their losses. Ask others how they were able to adapt to their great loss and find peace. For example, consider deciding to search for ways to deal with your pain and not run from it. Uncover new responses that help ease pain. There are some that will fit your belief system and you can implement them to your own individual situation.

Be sure to include ways to deal with stress which commonly builds as we think too much about what we do not have. Daily stress management will not only help your mind, it will be a great gift to your body as well. Start by learning about mindfulness techniques and belly breathing.

6. Learn what you can and cannot control. One goal that all of the various grief theories agree on is that the ultimate goal of grieving is acceptance of what has occurred. Of course, not easy to do. This acceptance translates into coming to grips with what you can control, like in the present moment, and what you cannot change or affect from the past. No one can reverse what has occurred. Knowing the difference is a choice requiring wisdom and sometimes guidance from others. It can also require prayer and/or deep meditation. Making the choice of acceptance, which means to live with the fact, not necessarily like it, would be a great start to inner peace.

7. Set a goal to reach in honor of your loved one. Peace comes through doing as well as thinking. Allow yourself to be touched and motivated by the invisible presence of the beloved. Unwavering determination is of essential importance in completing your mission. So once you have chosen how you will pay tribute, create a schedule of when and how you will work on it. Develop the habit of eliminating self-sabotaging thoughts of what you don't have by switching to a focus on your progress of paying tribute to your loved one.

Continually work to create a conscious lifestyle that has peace of mind as a top priority. Make this is a daily duty.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7460257

Keepsakes To Help Memorialize The Passing Of Loved Ones

When someone we love passes away, whether it is a friend, a relative or even a beloved pet it is often difficult to get through the grief process. The hardest part is coming to terms with the fact that they are gone from your life. This is why many people choose to memorialize the departed in a keepsake that they can keep close allowing them to feel like they have the loved one near. When it comes to choosing a memorial keepsake, the decision is very personal, but here are just a few suggestions of things which might interest you.

Sewing A Memorial Quilt

Textile art is something that is becoming very popular and quilts are becoming very fashionable, so what better way to keep loved one's memory alive than by sewing a quilt for them. A lovely idea is to use the person's clothing or favorite fabrics to create a patchwork which tells a story of their life. Each and every time you stroke the square that came from their favorite shirt or the one that came from their nightgown it will evoke happy memories of your time together. Alternatively, you could put together a quilt that features fabric you feel depicts the person. As an example, if the quilt is a memorial to your grandfather who loved to fish and play golf then you could look for fabric with a motif to match. There are also companies who will print photographs onto fabric and even create quilts or afghans for you.

Create Some Memorial Jewelry

If you are looking for a memorial keepsake that you can take with you everywhere you go, then jewelry might just be the answer. There are services which allow you to use ashes from a cremation to create glass pendants which are a beautiful reminder of someone special. It is also possible to have photographs turned into pendants or charms to place on a bracelet. You may even just wish to have a piece of jewelry engraved with their name and dates of birth/death. You can even go simpler and take a piece of the deceased person's jewelry like a ring, and string it on a cord to wear around your neck.

Make A Dedication In Their Name

A larger memorial that many people go for is to dedicate a bench or a tree in the person's honor. This usually involves paying the local community authorities to plant a tree or place a new bench in a park which will bear a plaque that is engraved with your loved one's name. Some funeral homes and crematoriums even have special gardens or areas where you can do this rather than having to go through the authorities.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7484050

Wall Of Memories

This means creating a dedicated place for family and friends to connect and remember your loved one.

• 

  A Consistent Place of Healing- Wall of Memories

  This memorial wall is open to anyone who wishes to place a permanent, bronze plaque.  The plaque is custom made for your loved one and can include name, dates, personal history, poem, emblems, artwork, even cast bronze portraits. The Wall of Memories is located on the center pathway on the south side of the Elm Dormitory.
  Also, many families are choosing to scatter the cremated remains of their loved one in a favorite place; the ocean, or even in the skies above. While that may seem fitting at the time, it means that you do not have a consistent place to connect with the memories of the person you loved so dearly.
  Having such permanent place - in a cemetery, mausoleum, or cremation garden - that can be visited regularly by family and friends is an essential part of the time following a death. It becomes a focal point of memorialization, and gives everyone a special place to go to remember your loved one, or to commemorate important occasions. It can help to make a birthday or anniversary less painful.
  A permanent place to reflect on your loved one becomes a way of connecting to a family's past. Visiting the resting place of grandparents or great-grandparents may provide children with an anchor to their personal history. It is a connection to the past, to love shared. It truly honors the relationship you still have – and will always have – with that person.

Letting the Sun Shine In Daily Emails

Seven days a week we'll send you a short message of support. That's 365 days of wise words, helpful tips, and healing activities.

• Letting the Sun Shine In Daily Emails

  When someone you love dies, grieving that loss can take a long time. As in any emotional journey, there are rough spots to be weathered, and moments when you catch a glimpse of a sunnier horizon. We want to be your daily companion, helping you to let the sun shine back into your life. These daily emails provide encouragement and gentle reminders of the recovery process. Interested?

  View a Preview of Day 1.
• • Your daily affirmation emails have given me hope for a better tomorrow. - Emily
  • Your messages have helped me reflect the life my grandfather lived and have helped me heal. - Dan

• Subscribe to Letting the Sun Shine In

  To sign up for our daily email messages of comfort and healing, please enter your information below. We’ll send you a confirmation email verifying your email address. Click the link in the confirmation email and you will start receiving these valuable messages.

  
  

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• Privacy Statement

  Bryan Braker Funeral Home values your privacy. We will never give, sell, rent or otherwise share your email or personal information with any other organization. Subscribing to our daily emails will not result in unwanted emails from us or third party vendors. Should you ever wish to unsubscribe, you can easily do so by clicking on a link at the bottom of any one of the affirmation messages.

We Have Years Of Experience

We have years of experience caring for families, from all walks of life. Each family comes to us because they know we are the leaders in our profession, dedicated to excellence in service, and have the highest integrity.

At Fairmont Memorial Park, we offer a wide variety of locations to choose from and prices to fit all budgets. To schedule a no obligation tour of the memorial park, please contact the office at (707) 425-4697. COA230. www.FairfieldCemeteries.com

Day’s End Memorial Framed Art

Express sympathy in a meaningful and lasting way with this framed print.

• A dedication label on the back of this framed art creates a special and unique way to memorialize a loved one.

• Size: 21"Wx11"H

http://www.bryanbraker.com/store/art-collection/days-end-memorial-framed-art

Honoring Life

Honoring the life of your loved one means you value the relationship you shared. We look forward to helping you decide how to celebrate that bond, and honor the unique individual you've lost.

We can make suggestions to enhance your tribute ideas. Together we will create a fitting and memorable event. Contact us today to discuss the possibilities.

Handprints Necklace

From Deborah J. Birdoes' extraordinary Inspirational Blessings™ Collection of Jewelry.

This item comes with 18" chain, a gift box and a card with poem.

HAND PRINTS ON MY HEART

Although you are not here with me, Your hand print is on my heart.

You were a precious gift to me, I loved you from the start.

You left this earth too early, And landed on heaven's shore.

I snuggle in the memory of you. Oh how I love you even more.

You are never far away from us, For your memory's a steady stream.

I will never say good bye to you, So I am wishing you sweet dreams.

Someday we'll be together again, But until that one fine day.

Your are the hand print on my heart Where forever you shall stay.

Product Dimensions:

• Sterling Silver 20.63X23.15 MM

• Weight: 5.71 DWT ( 8.88 grams)

©2010 Deborah J. Birdoes