It’s about bringing those you love together, at a time of loss. It’s a natural thing to do, and over time, has become a socially-expected practice. More importantly, a funeral or memorial service, whether traditional, or contemporary, is the first step in healing.
You can have your service anywhere, and any way, you want. Your choices include the place, day of the week, and time of day; the musical selection, what prayers will be said or songs you’d like sung. We can arrange to have doves, butterflies, or balloons released at the close of the service. Keepsake gifts of your favorite candy can be given or wildflower seeds to be planted in your memory. We’re here to help you create the most memorable and meaningful service to honor your loved one.
Pre-planning is a matter of taking the time to think about – and record – your end-of-life desires. It’s a thoughtful gesture to those you love, and a way to let go of anxieties about the future. Once done, you can relax, knowing your plans are in the hands of reliable friends or family.
It’s All About Taking Control
Given time to consider it, you’ll quickly realize that pre-planning is all about ensuring that your wishes are known, so they can be acted upon when the time comes. Making the commitment to planning ahead:
- Is easy. There’s no health questionnaire or physical exam required. Absolutely everyone can make a pre-plan, and there is no waiting for return documents. The plan is completed, and put on file in our office.
- Lets your family clearly know your wishes.
- Relieves your family members of making very personal decisions on your behalf at the time of need.
- Can protect your family from the ravages of inflation. Your expenses can be covered when you need them to be, through a pre-payment plan.
Heidi Campini, Mrs. Solano County, visited Fairmont Memorial Park for the Fairfield - Suisun Chamber of Commerce Mixer on February 8th. The cemetery unveiled their recent completion of two new mausoleums and the installation of a beautiful metal sculpture of an angel created by local artist Phil Glashoff
Even in the immediate aftermath of a great loss, we must embrace life through some basic survival techniques. Step 1: Accept the inevitable
Accept that death is inevitable. Allow yourself to feel the pain knowing that the departed would not want you to suffer long.
Step 2: Avoid big decisions
Avoid making big decisions, except for those concerning arrangements for the person who has passed.
Step 3: Lean on others
Lean on others to provide what you cannot.
Step 4: Read about grief
Read about the stages of grief to alleviate fears that what you are feeling is unnatural. Don’t take misplaced anxiety or anger out on others. Step 5: Plan gatherings
Plan for anniversaries, birthdays, and holidays, allowing family members to celebrate a life, using music, stories, or family traditions to provide comfort.
Step 6: Care for yourself
Care for yourself by maintaining a balanced diet and regular sleep. You may have lost energy and may have trouble concentrating.
Step 7: Rejoin humanity
Rejoin humanity in the weeks and months afterward. Give yourself enough time to get up and running again.
Our garden memorial stones are a lasting way to honor the memory of a loved one. This memorial stone is made of cast stone in Saxonburg, PA.
Made to be weatherproof and guaranteed to last a lifetime, these stones are the perfect addition to any garden.
Engraving Reads:
"Wherever
a beautiful soul has been
there is a trail
of beautiful memories."
• Memorial stones are only available for standard shipping and can take up to 1 week to arrive.
• Dimensions: 16” X 10.5”
• Weighs approximately 11 lbs.
• This stone has a hanger cast into the back to allow display on walls, fences, or outbuildings.
• Made in the USA
Step 1: Consider the relationship
Consider your relationship to the deceased or the deceased's family. It's customary for friends and coworkers to send standing sprays or standing baskets for display at the service; or flowers, plants, or gourmet food baskets to the grieving family's home.
Tip
If the family requests charitable donations "in lieu of flowers," by all means make a donation. But you can send flowers and gifts, too.
Step 2: Pitch in
If the mourner is a colleague, consider pitching in with other coworkers on one large arrangement for the service, or send a food basket to family's home. If possible, include everyone's name on the card.
Step 3: Follow proper etiquette
Check the funeral home for guidance before placing your order. Also, make sure what you have in mind fits with the mourner's religious and cultural traditions. Check out www.1800flowers.com/sympathy for more information.
Tip
Most funeral homes don't accept food baskets.
Step 4: Make it personal
Personalize your arrangement by using the deceased's favorite flower or color. Or custom-design an arrangement that reflects the person's interest with the help of a floral designer.
Tip
Due to time constraints, be aware that floral substitutions occasionally may be made to ensure top quality.
Step 5: Write an appropriate message
Include an appropriate message. It can be difficult to find the right words, but 1-800-Flowers.com has dedicated sympathy professionals who can help you find the right phrase. Or, go online to select from a list of suggested sentiments.
Step 6: Follow up with flowers
After the funeral, the next few months after a loss can be the hardest. For people dealing with a loved one’s death, receiving flowers or a card after the condolences stop coming can be wonderfully comforting.
Planning a funeral is never an easy task, that is why most families employ the help of a funeral home. It is especially helpful since after a loss you are highly emotional and grieving. It is sometimes hard to know just what to do when someone close to you dies. Making funeral plans is essential if you are able while your loved one is in hospice or living their final days. In this way, it will not be so overwhelming when the time comes of your loved one's passing.
If you pre-plan a funeral, you will alleviate some additional stress during the actual timeframe after the death. Maybe you have had to plan a funeral for a loved one in the past and may now know what to expect. Every funeral service may vary so having funeral plans is important.
This is why everyone should create a funeral plan. We are all going to die someday. Just as you would plan any important event, a funeral requires very much the same type of planning. You can get a funeral planer from any funeral home if you so desire or you can even have it pre-arranged. It is even possible to pay for it ahead of time. It is a good way to save some money.
You can also have peace of mind knowing that your loved one's wishes are being carried out exactly like they wanted. There is a sense of peace to the surviving family members when the plans incorporate actual items requested by the deceased.
