Funeral Planning: What is a “Green” Funeral?

In recent years, efforts to “Go Green” have affected everything from your choice of disposable cups (ditch the Styrofoam) to the types of cars we buy (so long Hummer).  Not everyone realizes, though, that even funeral planning has been affected by our renewed environmental consciousness.  There is a growing trend within the funeral industry, prompted by environmental activists, to move to “Green” funerals.

So what is a Green funeral?  Green burial is known by several different names: Conservation Burial, Natural Burial, and eco-burials.  The three most basic differences between a regular burial and a Green burial are:

• Formaldehyde is not used as an embalming fluid
• No vault is typically built within the gravesite
• Coffins are made out of biodegradable materials

The most significant difference in the burial process when funeral planning for a Green burial is the removal of formaldehyde as an embalming fluid.  Studies have shown that formaldehyde is a health risk for those who are exposed to it for long periods of time (like funeral workers).  There is also concern about what happens over time when it seeps into our waterways as the result of cemetery burials and decomposition.

Contrary to popular belief, embalming is not required by most states, unless transportation of the body is required across state lines, or a significant delay in burial is necessary.  In most cases a body can be kept preserved in a cooler or on dry ice for as long as four days.  In the event that embalming is deemed necessary, there are non-toxic embalming fluids now available, like glutaraldehyde.

The use of concrete vaults in gravesites has also come under criticism.  Some estimates say that as much as 1.6 million tons of reinforced concrete is used each year in the U.S. as part of the burial process.  The frustration for many Green funeral enthusiasts is that most cemeteries require the use of reinforced vaults within the gravesite to help eliminate the settling of the land around the burial plot over time, making cemetery lawn maintenance more difficult.

In reaction to these requirements, there are an increasing number of Green Burial Grounds being established around the country.  If you are a conservationist, you should definitely consider self-arranged funeral planning to help ensure that you leave the world in the same way that you have tried to live in it.

Coffins made from materials such as wicker, bamboo, jute, or cardboard each provide rapid, biodegradable options.  Some people chose to skip a coffin altogether, opting instead to use shrouds.

Another option is to choose to skip a burial entirely, choosing instead to be cremated.  You should be sure to ask the crematorium what they are doing to reduce crematory emissions.  Though there is cause for concern regarding cremation to the carbon emissions and worries over mercury pollution, cause by the burning of mercury tooth fillings, the fact of the matter is, for people who live in areas where Green burial cannot take place due to cemetery regulations, cremation is ultimately a more environmentally friendly choice.

Another means of “Greening” your funeral planning, is to include plans for creating a memorial landscape, using native trees and plants.  This is a wonderful way to create a beautiful, meaningful memorial spot for someone who was cremated.

If your funeral planning is to include plans for a Green funeral, be sure to research more about the process.   The Green Burial Council is a nonprofit organization that was found to help promote and support natural burial options.  The Green Burial Council also certifies cemeteries and their operators as ecofriendly businesses.  You can access their list of approved providers by visiting their website.

Written By: C. Denise Stewart is a freelance writer living in Melbourne, Fl.  She is a regular contributor to “Funeral Services Advice” and writes frequently on the topic of funeral planning and how to sell cemetery plots.

Funeral Arrangements: The Last Minute Details

Few people plan ahead for their own funeral or that of a loved one.  Some of us are stopped by superstitious fears that by making funeral arrangements while someone is still living is just asking for trouble.

However, there are practical and considerate reasons for choosing to make funeral arrangements before it is absolutely necessary.  When death greets us, we are rarely prepared – emotionally or from a practical standpoint.  Making funeral arrangements now will help those you leave behind be better prepared and feel more at ease with the funeral arranging process.

Much of the confusion and, frankly, spending that comes with funeral arranging for someone recently deceased occurs because loved ones are often too overwhelmed with grief to feel confident in their decision making abilities. Rather than taking the time and careful consideration that they want to be able to take, they feel pressured to prepare the “prefect” final farewell for the deceased.  This can lead to overspending and elaborate, unnecessary demonstrations of love for the recently passed.

The last minute details can be especially difficult.  Who will speak at the funeral?  Is there anything special or significant that the deceased would like to be buried with?  If it’s an open casket, is there an outfit picked out?  These and other small details are the ones that can become particularly confusing for someone overcome with grief.

By make your own funeral arrangements ahead of time, you can help limit the confusion for your loved ones.  It can also be a very therapeutic exercise to envision and plan your own funeral.

Beyond the basic funeral arrangements of preferred method of burial (don’t feel obligated to pre-pay for burial space, though), location of funeral services, religious officiate and type of service, etc.  you should also leave directions for the smaller details as well.

Here are some examples of other funeral arrangements that need to be addressed as well:

Music

Is there particular music you would like played prior to the service, after the service, or even hymns sung during the service?  Create a song list with specific instructions for when you would like the music played.

Speakers

Are there people you would like to have speak at your funeral?  Keep in mind that asking someone to speak at your funeral may be difficult for some, primarily because of their fear of speaking in front of large groups.  If this is the case, you may decide to pick out a poem or passage from a religious text that means a lot to you.  You should discuss your wishes with the person when you are pre-planning your funeral arrangements so that they are not taken off guard during their time of grief.

Ambiance

Some people don’t want their funerals to be sad or morose affairs.  Instead they hope to have celebrate their time here with an upbeat and positive memorial service.  If this is the case for you, then try to think of things that will help create that ambiance for your loved ones.  Perhaps you can ask that everyone wear clothing supporting your favorite sports team, or everyone wears your favorite color.  Or perhaps you choose a location for the services that is not typically associated with death and dying – like a local park.

A Message From You

A wonderful demonstration of your love for those you will leave behind is to leave a note or letter with your funeral arrangements to be read by someone during your funeral services, or included in the funeral program so that everyone can keep a copy of it.  This should be a warm and compassionate memento, letting each person know how much they meant to you, and also providing an uplifting message that helps them come to terms with your loss.

It’s the small funeral arrangement details that are often the most difficult for loved ones to plan.  Pre-planning your own funeral is a demonstration of your love and care for them, even after you’ve passed on.

Written By: C. Denise Stewart is a freelance writer living in Melbourne, Fl.  She is a regular contributor to “Funeral Services Advice” and writes frequently on the topic of the planning of funeral arrangements.

The Funeral Planning Guide: Feeling Compelled to Speak

The funeral of a loved one often comes as a complete surprise.  Rarely do we plan for the untimely passing of family and friends.  And even when someone close to us has been ill for some time and warnings have been given to prepare for their passing, death can still come as a shock to most of us.

When planning to attend the funeral of your friend or family member, you may want to prepare a few words to say.  For some people the thought of standing in front of room of people and speaking in any circumstance is nothing short of terrifying.  Considering doing so in the midst of grief can seem impossible.  However, many people are surprised to discover that during the funeral services they in fact sometimes feel compelled to speak.  If this happens to you, it’s best to be prepared ahead of time.

What do I say?

Perhaps you feel like you should share something – anything – but you feel at a loss for knowing what to say.  Preparing a few words before you go to the funeral, even if you have no intention at all of speaking, will help give you the confidence you need to face your fears so that you can honor your lost loved one or friend.  Here are a few ideas of things to say:

Tell a story – If you have known the deceased for many, many years and have dozens of stories to choose from, this is a good option for you.  Family and friends enjoy hearing funny stories, or heartwarming stories about the departed.  Just be sure that the humor is appropriate for all in attendance, and that the humor is meant in a loving way – gentle teasing about personality traits, or adventure tales from younger days are usually good options.

Read a Poem or Religious Passage – If you can’t think of a story to tell, you may want to select a poem or religious passage to read.  The selection to reflect the personality of or your affections for the deceased.  A nice added touch is to make a nice copy – perhaps laminated or framed – as a gift for the family.

When do I say something?

If the funeral has a religious ceremony as part of the services, generally the time for volunteers to come to the front of the group will be saved for after the ceremonies are completed.

It is usually polite to wait to allow all family members to speak first.  If you are a family member, you may want to arrange with your other family members ahead of time in which order you will be speaking.  If you are a friend or acquaintance of the deceased, then it is best to wait for a pause that seems of some minimal length before volunteering to speak.

How do I start?  How do I finish?

When you first approach the front of the group, it is polite to introduce yourself and your relationship to the deceased.  You can include the length of time that you knew him or her, as well as any brief words relating to the person’s character.  For example:

“Hello, my name is Dan and I have worked with Steven for the last fifteen years at Harper and Harper.  Dan was such a warm and generous person, and he is truly missed by all of us at work.”

The best way to finish your time in front of the group is to express your sympathies to the family before taking your seat.  For example:

“Linda, Debbie, I am so sorry for your loss.  Steven was a good man and a great friend, and I feel truly blessed to have known him.”

Being prepared to speak at the funeral of a family member or friend will help you cope with your grief.  Speaking at a funeral is one way many people find closure and acceptance of their loss.  It is also a wonderful way to honor the memory of your loved one.

Written By: C. Denise Stewart is a freelance writer living in Melbourne, Fl.  She is a regular contributor to “Funeral Services Advice” and writes frequently on the topic of funeral planning.

Cemetery Plots for Sale: Seller Beware

For those who may own unwanted cemetery plots, understanding how to turn that unused burial property into a financial investment can be confusing.  Though it seems that selling burial property should be the same as selling anything else you may own, the sale of cemetery plots are is an entirely different kind of transaction.

People come to own unwanted burial property for a variety of reasons. Maybe you’ve relocated with no intentions of moving again, but still own a burial plot across country. Another common way to acquire unwanted burial property is having it bequeathed to you at the time of a family member’s passing.  However you have come to own the unwanted property, it is important that you are aware of some common misconceptions or mistakes concerning the selling of your cemetery property.

How long does it take to sell cemetery plots?

The short answer is: forever.  Burial property is unique to any other sales transaction in that though cemetery plots are in high demand, they are only sold as needed and very quickly when the demand is present.  The only way to ever sell your burial property is to register it with a reputable and experienced cemetery registry. Once it’s registered, you will most likely have to wait months or even years until someone needs your property.  Once they do, though, the sale will happen within a few days, so you will need to have all of your paperwork ready to go.

Where do I sell my burial property?

There are several ways to sell your burial property.  Perhaps the most effective means is to register your property with an online cemetery registry.  These online databases host many other cemetery properties for sale, which means they will attract the most potential buyers.  Buyers won’t want to have to search hard for burial property.  They will want to have several options available to them when choosing a burial lot.  Having your burial lot listed with other lots will give more visibility to your property than if it was listed somewhere with few other cemetery lots.

The other advantage to having your burial property registered online is that you will have a global market potentially searching for a burial lot just like yours.  More and more families are living far apart, which means that often family members are forced to try to make funeral arrangements for loved ones who are thousands of miles away.  They won’t look in the classified section of your local newspaper for burial property.  They will go online to try to find cemetery plots there.

A Word of Caution

When considering where online to register your property, you must be careful of Cemetery Brokers who require a listing fee plus commission on the sale of your property.  These fees can become very steep, especially if they ask for advertising fees, too.  Also, because it can take months or years to sell your burial property, any listing service that requires you to constantly pay to maintain your listing will quickly drain any value out of the sale price of your property.  There are top quality online cemetery registries that only require one-time registration fees.

Patience will certainly be rewarded when it comes to selling your unwanted burial property.  Though it could take months or years to sell your property, there are no sales taxes on the sale of your burial property, and the value of the lot will always increase over time, so your patience truly is an investment that pays.

Cemetery Plots for Sale: How to find burial property

No one ever wants to think about death or dying.  However, facing death – either our own or the death of a loved one – is a fact of life.  Few people stop to think about what death entails beyond the loss of life.  There will be final arrangement details that may seem superficial compared to the loss of your loved one during your time of grief, but will be of utmost importance to attend to.

If the departed has pre-planned their own funeral arrangements, your job will simply be to make sure all of the details that were laid out ahead of time are followed.  More often, though, the loss of life is sudden and without warning, meaning you will need to make decisions quickly and efficiently. One of the first steps you will have to take is deciding how to handle the internment of the deceased.

In the U.S., traditional burial in a cemetery is still the first choice for final arrangements of the departed.  If your loved one did not already have burial property, this means you will need to find cemetery plots for sale.  Hardly anyone ever gives any thought to how cemetery plots are sold, so the idea of trying to locate one quickly – usually within only a few days time – is unimaginable.  Here are some suggestions of where you can start your search.

Funeral Homes

If you choose to use a funeral home and funeral director to help you with funeral arrangements, he or she will be able to assist you in locating burial property.  This is an easy and convenient means of finding burial space, but be sure to ask for several options of lots.

Online Cemetery Registry

An online Cemetery Registry will provide listings for burial property in your area.  There are registries that will also have listings for cemetery plots in other states if you need to plan a funeral for someone not living near you.  The nice thing about an online Cemetery Registry is that you will easily be able to see many options for what is available within the area or cemetery that you would like to make the final resting place for your loved one.

Religious Affiliates

Local religious leaders may have information about burial plots for sale, especially if you are in need of burial space within a certain religious cemetery property.

Veterans Administration

If the deceased was a veteran he or she may be able to be buried in a military cemetery.  You can check with the local veterans administration for information and availability.

Anyone Who Assists in Estate Planning

If the deceased had a will or trust, the consultant for that will or trust may know of available cemetery property.  Likewise, accountants, attorneys, estate planners – anyone who plays a role in taking care of matters surrounding death may have knowledge of available burial property.

A Word About Cost

Cemetery property is much like housing real estate in that location affects the price of the lot.  Not only does each cemetery affect the value of the property, but also the location within the cemetery.  One way to save money is to decide if you need to have a premium location for your loved ones final resting place.  Though lots located on hilltops and by waterways are nice, consider how often friends and family will visit the gravesite before making your final decision.  It’s a good idea to have someone less affected by the loss of your loved one accompany you when making the cemetery plot purchase.

Funeral Arrangements: What is the difference between a funeral and a memorial service?

Making funeral arrangements for a loved one’s passing, or pre-planning your own funeral or memorial service can be a confusing and overwhelming task.  When making funeral arrangements, one of the first questions you should ask yourself is what type of service is preferred.  Though the terms funeral and memorial service are sometimes used interchangeably, there are important differences between the two services.

The Funeral

A funeral refers to the ceremonies held prior to the burial of the deceased. The time frame for a funeral is one of the most significant differences between a funeral and memorial service. Usually a funeral is held close to the time of the passing of the deceased.

Typically funerals are associated with religious or cultural traditions, and can be held within the religious centers themselves, at a funeral home or graveside.  Many funeral services include a multi-day gathering time commonly referred to as a viewing.  Not all viewings include an open casket.  Some families choose to make the viewing a closed casket event, with individual family members reserving the right to see the deceased privately for final goodbyes.

Though this is not always the case, most often funerals are associated with traditional burial services rather than cremation. For this reason, many funerals conclude with a funeral procession to the actual burial site where a final ceremony may be held.

Funeral arrangements for traditional funeral services usually include plans for where the body is to be buried, selection of a funeral home to help with the arrangements, selection of music, eulogists, scripture readings, and selection of a religious officiant.

The Memorial Service

The memorial service has become increasingly popular as families and friends are more dispersed from one another than in previous generations.  Memorial services can occur anytime after the passing of a loved one, and often take place in cities other than where the deceased may have lived or been interred.

Memorial services are considered by some to be more secular, or non-religious services, though religious foundations to the service are not unusual.  Memorial services typically are less formal than traditional funeral services and also tend to have a “celebration of life” atmosphere.

Most families choose a memorial service when cremation is involved.  For this reason many people associate burial with funerals and cremation with memorial services.  However, it has also become more common for families to hold a burial service with a later memorial service to accommodate distant family and friends who may not be able to make travel and work plans quickly enough to participate in the funeral services.

Memorial service planning is not limited to a funeral home setting.  Many families choose to gather at a location of some significance to the deceased, for example a natural setting on a beach or at the home of a family member. Because there are usually fewer costs involved, memorial services also tend to be less expensive options than traditional funerals.  Memorial services can be simply a gathering of family and friends who come together to celebrate the life of the departed.

Making funeral arrangements for a loved one’s passing is an important part of the grieving process.  When choosing between a funeral or memorial service, take time to consider the kind of farewell ceremony that would have meant the most to the deceased, as well as taking into account the various travel plans necessary for family and friends.

Funeral Arrangements: Choosing a Memorial Marker

Part of your funeral arrangements planning may include the selection of a grave marker, also referred to as a headstone, gravestone or monument.  The selection of the burial marker is perhaps the most important choice you will make, aside from the actual location of the burial site.

The burial marker will be a permanent, lasting impression of your loved one.  This is not the time for hasty decisions. Don’t worry about having the monument ready for the actual day of the funeral.  Many families choose to place the marker at a later date, and may include a separate, private memorial service at that time.

There are several different types of grave markers from which to choose.  Here is a brief description of each of the most common choices:

Headstone

A headstone is the most popular type of grave marker selected during funeral arrangements planning.  It is important to check with the cemetery to find out about any height restrictions, material limitations, etc.  The headstone will usually have an epitaph, the name of the deceased, and birth and death dates.  Some headstones are very simple in design, while others may include shaped carvings, sculptures, statues, or etchings.  Be sure to research and ask for recommendations for reputable companies to ensure the quality and price of your headstone.

Flat Markers

Due to maintenance costs and limitations, some cemeteries (most commonly referred to as Memorial Parks) do not allow the use of headstones, instead requiring flat markers that allow for easier plot care.  Though simpler in design, much can be done with fonts, etchings and flat carving on these markers.

Bronze Memorial

Very much like the flat marker, bronze memorials lay flat with the ground and are the preferred choice of some cemeteries.  Bronze memorials can be made in various sizes and design.  Typically they are mounted to either a cement or granite base.

Monuments and Statues

Monuments and statues are typically larger memorial markers than most, and therefore also are more expensive choices.  It is important before choosing this type of memorial marker that you check with the cemetery to verify any size, design or material limitations.

Cremation Memorials

With the increase in the number of people choosing cremation, there has also been the creation of cremation memorials so that loved ones have a place to visit the deceased and as a physical remembrance of the life they lived.  Some memorials are very similar in style to grave markers.  There are also some cremation memorials that are in the style of benches, plaques or memorial gardens.

When making funeral arrangements for the recent passing of a loved one, be sure to take your time to thoroughly research the many options available to you for grave markers.  Remember that though this is one funeral expense that will have a lasting impression throughout time, there are still ways to try to be as cost-effective as possible.  Don’t allow yourself to be taken advantage of in your time of grief.  Have another family member or friend assist you in your selection process.

Additionally, when making your own funeral arrangements, it is possible to pre-order a grave marker.  The marker will be left blank until your passing when your vital information will be completed on it.  This is a good way to secure current market prices for grave markers. Much like cemetery property the costs of grave markers rises each year. Be sure to leave instructions with your pre-planning materials as to any additional epitaph or design you wish to have added.

The Funeral Planning Guide: How-to Write a Eulogy

The funeral or memorial service you plan for yourself or for a loved one will most likely include a eulogy or remembrance speech.  This speech is usually given by friends and loved ones, and there may be more than one eulogy given. Eulogies are wonderful opportunities to reflect on the departed person’s life through memorable stories or moments, anecdotes, a chronicling of accomplishments, a significant poem or scripture – any thoughts that will help the funeral guests remember the person and offer him or her a fond good-bye.

Here are ten how-to tips on writing a eulogy that will be both heartfelt and memorable:

1.   Devote time for the process. This is not a project you want to try to squeeze in between other tasks.  You need to find a quiet place where you can think and reflect.

2.  Prepare yourself.  You should be prepared with paper and pen, or a computer.  Other helpful items are photographs of the person to help you remember significant events, you may want to play some of the deceased’s favorite music and listen to the lyrics, or have access to any favorite books or poems the departed appreciated.

3.  Brainstorm for several minutes.  Don’t start writing out your speech right away.  First simply make lists and notes as you brainstorm for ideas.  The best way to do this is “stream of consciousness” writing – just start writing anything that comes to mind.  Don’t write complete sentences. Just write thoughts, phrases, ideas – “snapshots” of what you might include.

4.  Find a theme or pattern. Look over your notes and circle anything that seems to go together.  You don’t necessarily have to do a chronological recounting of the person’s life; it’s better if you can find an aspect of the deceased’s personality or interests to highlight with supporting memories and anecdotes.

5.  Start writing your thoughts down in sentence form. For many people, once you have brainstormed and gotten an idea of the theme for your eulogy, you will find it easier to start writing the actual speech.  Be prepared to write and rewrite throughout the process.  Don’t worry about punctuation and spelling – you will most likely be the only person who sees the written copy (unless you wish to give a copy to other mourners as a keepsake).

6.  Read your eulogy out loud – often.  While you are writing and when you believe you are finished with the speech, be sure to read aloud what you have written.  Note any places you may stumble over words – these will need to be fixed so the words are easier to say.  You may even want to voice record yourself and then listen to the speech to get a better idea of how it will sound to your audience.

7.  Use caution and consideration.  If there were personality issues or personal conflicts between the deceased and attendees, the eulogy is not the time to hash out those topics.  This doesn’t mean that you need to lie about what a person was like, but for any gentle negative remark (“We all know how particular Uncle Joe could be”), be sure to follow immediately with a positive comment on the person (“but no one devoted more time to his children and grandchildren than Joe did.”).  Humor is a difficult but wonderful inclusion in a eulogy, but proceed cautiously.  Your humor should be lighthearted and well-intentioned: “Grandma sure couldn’t cook, as anyone who attended Thanksgiving when we were kids knows, but she did give the best love and support any family could wish for.”

8.  Find a test audience. Try to find someone who will act as a test audience for you to practice reading the eulogy aloud to – and to provide constructive criticism about the content of your speech.  The advantage to this is that the more you practice the eulogy, the easier it will be to deliver it on the day of the funeral.

9.  Put your speech on all one page. Note cards are easy to drop and easy to get out of order.  It’s much better for you to have your eulogy written or typed all on one page.  This is one time when reading the eulogy rather than trying to do it from memory is totally acceptable.  With enough practice you may find that you don’t need to read word for word, but even if nerves or your emotions get the best of you when it comes time to deliver the remembrance speech, you will appreciate having everything printed on one page for easy access.

10.  Don’t be afraid of your emotions.  There is no reason to worry if your emotions get the best of you during your eulogy.  Feel free to pause to cry, dab your eyes with a tissue, or take a drink of water.  No one will think anything less of your speech – on the contrary, it will be obvious how moved you are by your grief.  If the emotions become too much to go on, don’t be afraid to ask someone to finish for you.  This is another reason why it’s good to have your eulogy printed out in its entirety.

Some people who pre-plan the funeral or memorial service arrangements for themselves also choose to write a eulogy meant to act as a good-bye message from you to family and friends.  Should you choose to do this, you should also choose someone to read the eulogy.

A eulogy is a wonderful chance to say a final, heartfelt goodbye.  Therefore, the best eulogies are those that come from your heart.

How do I sell my cemetery or burial plot?

During an economic slowdown such as we are currently experiencing, many people will try to find different ways to make money.  On occasion, one person may have overheard another person talk about having recently sold burial property at a considerable profit.  If you have cemetery plots for sale, or would like to place your burial property for sale, there are some things you should understand before making the effort.

The more important thing to know is that you cannot expect your burial property to sell overnight.  While it’s true that once your property is needed by someone it will sell quickly, the time it takes between when you list it and when it’s needed can be very lengthy.  This is the main reason why you should choose your method of listing the property very carefully.

Some people might think that to simply place an ad in a newspaper or online auction site would do the trick.  But the reality is that you may need to keep placing that ad or re-listing that item for months or years before the right buyer comes along for your property.  Think of the number of dollars wasted during that long wait period.  By choosing a one-time-fee, no commission listing broker such as Final Arrangements Network, you will be saving a lot of money in the long run.

Though the wait can seem counterproductive for someone who is hoping to earn money immediately on burial property, an important thing to consider is that burial real estate, unlike housing real estate, is guaranteed to continue to increase in value over time.  So ultimately your wait will pay dividends in the end.  And besides, if you list your property and it doesn’t sell for a months or years, it’s still better than not listing your property and having zero chance of ever making any profit from it.

The fact of the matter is, that there are not enough cemetery plots for sale for the number of buyers looking to buy.  The problem is the majority of buyers won’t know they need your property until someone they love has recently passed.  This is why the actual sale of your cemetery plot will most likely happen within a matter of hours or days.  You need to make sure that you are ready to sell when the buyer is ready to buy.  Even if your buyer turns out to be someone who feels less pressure because they are pre-planning their own funeral arrangements, you will still need to know how to go about making the actual sale.

Utilizing a professional burial real estate listing service ensures that all required paperwork will be ready to process and that you will have expert assistance in how to handle the transaction of your property.  The sale of cemetery plots is something best left to a professional service.

The added bonus of using an online professional service is the search engine exposure and prominence afforded by a large funeral industry organization such as The Cemetery Registry.  When considering placing cemetery plots for sale, you should first think of a service like this.  We live in a time when the first place most people look when they want to make a purchase is online.  By listing your cemetery plots for sale with an online burial property registry, you will guarantee your cemetery plot listing will have international access to a potential buyer.

Be sure to research your cemetery plot listing options very carefully. Avoid paying annual renewal fees, commission on the sale of your property, or monthly re-listing charges. You want to be sure to choose a professional service that has your rights and interests in mind.

The Funeral Planning Guide: How to Personalize The Funeral or Memorial Service of a Loved One

The funeral or memorial service of a loved one is surrounded by emotion.  The service presents the opportunity for friends and family to offer a final farewell and demonstrations of love and respect for the departed.  Planning the perfect final goodbye can be both cathartic and offer you a sense of closure and acceptance of your loss.  But knowing how to personalize a funeral or memorial service can be overwhelming at a time when your grief may have you reeling.  Final Arrangements Network is here to help you find ways to create the perfect goodbye service for your loved one.

The Music

You will want to select songs to be played softly as background music during various portions of the funeral service.  You will need music for the gathering of friends and family prior to the services beginning, some people like to include a special song that may even be performed live by someone known by the departed during the service, and then you may want to have music planned to be played during any post-funeral gathering (known to many as “the wake”). When choosing what music to play, you should first consider any songs that were particular favorites of the departed or associated with him by family and friends.

Music is important because it will set the overall tone of the funeral or memorial service.  Some people may choose all religious or classical music, which will provide an elegant atmosphere to the service.  Other people choose to select more secular or uplifting music, which creates a sense of celebration and thanksgiving. The choice is largely determined by what best exemplifies the personality of the departed and the preferences of those loved ones involved in the planning.

Photos and Video

A wonderful way to add a personal touch to the funeral or memorial service is to display photos or play video of the departed during the gathering times prior to the service or after the internment.  It’s especially touching if you can find pictures of the departed from various important milestones in life – as a baby, a child, graduations, her wedding, etc.  You should also try to find pictures and/or video of the departed that includes others who will be at the service.  This is an extra special touch that honors the relationships between the departed and the funeral guests.

The Flowers

It is traditional that the immediate family or person who is closest to the deceased provides the casket spray, or in the event of a cremation service, a standing spray or cross.  A florist will be able to help you with the design and flower choices.  The most popular flowers used in funeral arrangements are chrysanthemums, carnations, calla lilies, lilies, and roses.  With perhaps a few exceptions, you are free to choose other types of flowers, though.  If you know the departed had a favorite type or color of flower, then a wonderful way to personalize the floral arrangement is by requesting the display use that flower or color as the focal point.

Try to find peace and comfort as you make these personalizing decisions for the funeral or memorial service of your loved one.  Your attention to detail will not only help you feel some solace, you will also be providing a wonderful final memory for the other service attendees as well.