You often can’t plan for a funeral. A death of a loved one can happen without warning. And when it does you have to find the money to pay for what is usually a costly funeral. It’s a horrible position to be in. Funerals are expensive. According to the National Funeral Directors Association the median … Read more
When you lose someone you love the last thing on your mind is who sent what. But once you’re through those first few weeks you might end up with lots of notification cards from a charity telling you that a friend or relative made a donation in your loved one’s memory. It’s a really moving … Read more
When my grandmother passed away the funeral director who looked after our family did something I still haven’t forgotten. He noticed I was struggling to get through the arrangements meeting and just pushed a box of tissues across the table to me without making a big deal of it. Those little things really stay with … Read more
When a church opens its doors for a funeral it’s giving you a place to grieve and for people to find support from. You get the feeling that your loved one is being sent off with dignity. For some funeral Ive attended it wasn’t just the service that stayed with me but the way the … Read more
When a funeral is over one of the first things a lot of us feel is grateful for the funeral home. The director and their team get you through some of the hardest days of your life. And they do it all with such calm that you also miss at the the time. You don’t … Read more
When you’ve lost someone the last thing you want to be doing is admin. But as the days pass and you get more and more thoughtful parcels and cards you might start thinking about how to thank everyone who reached out. Receiving a Sympathy gift can catch you off guard. Somebody sends a memory box, … Read more
A funeral reception can feel a little strange. The service is over and the formal part is done. But you’re now standing in a church hall or someone’s living room and not sure what the right thing to say or do is. It’s a weird mix of grief and small and most of us find … Read more
After a funeral you might not know whether you’re supposed to go to the reception or how long you’re meant to stay. This sort of stuff isn’t ever really explained. So you won’t be alone if you’re not sure about it all. We all know, roughly at least, how a funeral service works. But the … Read more
Being asked to be a pallbearer is meant to be an honor. And most of the time it is. But sometimes you don’t feel up to it. It could be that your grief is so bad that the thought of carrying the casket feels like too much. Or the timing is wrong. And then you’re … Read more
When someone you love passes you’ll probably have started to receive flowers very quickly. And they’re lovely. It’s such a kind and thoughtful gesture. But a lot of families these days would rather see that money go somewhere meaningful. A charity the person cared about. Maybe the hospice that looked after them. Or even a … Read more