Sara Marsden-Ille So you’ve been named an executor of an estate, but what does that really mean? An executor is the person in charge of someone’s affairs after they die. This can include tasks such as making sure the deceased’s will is followed, cleaning out and selling a home, closing accounts and keeping the peace among beneficiaries, … Read more
Understanding the ritual of a Jewish funeral How is the body prepared for a Jewish funeral? The Jewish Funeral Service Jewish Customs and Rituals that follow the burial Shiva – the immediate period of mourning after the death has occurred Shloshim – the following period of mourning Yahrzeit – the anniversary of the death Can … Read more
The death care industry in the United States is presently experiencing a period of significant change. Americans are turning to cremation as a funeral alternative at a much higher rate than was originally forecast. Tradition is eroding, environmentalism is expanding, and the memorialization aspect of the funeral ritual now presents boundless possibilities when the body … Read more
As the cremation rate continues to rise, and people continue to seek out new and personalized unique services to mark their passing, memorial diamonds are gaining popularity. So what is a Memorial Diamond? A memorial diamond is an artificially created diamond made using the carbon DNA extracted from the cremated remains of a human being. … Read more
This guide to shipping cremated remains aims to highlight exactly what you need to know to transport cremated remains, either within the United States or to another country. As the cremation rate increases and families are more dispersed, there is a growing demand for the easy transportation of cremated remains. In some cases, the family … Read more
We all spend more waking hours in the ‘digital world’ these days, and with 89.4% of the U.S. population online(1), living our life, and indeed our eternity, in a virtual space is becoming an intrinsic aspect of our culture. Culturally the ‘space’ of online memorials is becoming our virtual cemeteries! For those of you who … Read more
There are many life assurance companies in the U.S. who offer Burial Insurance. Here we have outlined some basic information about what burial insurance is, and why it can be an essential element of planning ahead. What is Burial Insurance? Burial insurance, also referred to as Funeral Insurance or Final Expense Insurance, is a … Read more
We all know that cremation is on the increase in the United States. Cremation only accounted for 4% of dispositions in the 1960s. Today industry observers forecast the rate to now reach over 60% by 2025. Not only is the cremation rate on the increase, but also cultural attitudes have shifted. The lavish, full-service ‘traditional’ … Read more
For much of its history, the Catholic Church banned cremation as a means of disposition for deceased Catholics. Cremation was not allowed according to the Catechism of the Church, as it was not a proper way to respect the dead and respect the human body. This is related to the notion that man was created … Read more
Funerals can be expensive, so much so, that these days a traditional funeral service can be beyond the means of most families. The average funeral costs around $8,000 and the average cremation costs in the region of $3,500. With many families struggling to make ends meet, laying out thousands of dollars for a funeral is … Read more
When you first receive news of a death, be it expected or unexpected, the initial reaction is shock. Even if you have nursed a loved one through illness or old age, it can still be numbing and distressing when they finally pass away. If you are the next-of-kin and responsible for making the funeral arrangements … Read more
The transition from a home funeral to funeral home What we consider a ‘traditional’ American Funeral today is quite different from the practice of funerals that occurred across our nation over two hundred years ago. Before the American Civil War home funerals were the general practice. By the mid-nineteenth century, the preservation of bodies by … Read more
Cremation is on the increase in North America, and forecast to rise considerably over the next fifteen years. It appears that Americans are shifting in their preference for tradition and burial. The Cremation Association of North America CANA (2010) conducted research that has evidenced the following nine factors as considerations as to why cremation is … Read more
Dealing with a death & making funeral or cremation arrangements Dealing with a bereavement that has recently occurred, or is imminent, is an extremely distressing time. For those who have not had to deal with making the necessary arrangements following a family death, this can be an additional stress, especially with the need to take … Read more
What can you expect to pay for a funeral or cremation? A funeral is an expenditure that most of us do not give any thought to until faced with the role of making arrangements for a lost loved one. However, it is usually the third largest one-time purchase we will make, following a home and … Read more
Crestone, Colorado is the location of the only outdoor human cremation facility in the United States. Some may consider it an archaic tradition, but the facility in Crestone will perform a funeral pyre for anyone, regardless of their religion. Funeral industry professionals say that this facility is the only one of its kind in the … Read more
A cremation society is an organization, made up of members, who through their membership ensure their future cremation wishes are met. Society members usually pay a subscription fee to become a member and can either preplan and prepay their cremation, or merely pre-register. In some states, state law allows a funeral business to use “society” … Read more
The ‘fusion funeral’ – the alliteration works well doesn’t it? As Dan Katz rightly points out in his post ‘The emergence of the fusion funeral’ we are witnessing some amazing examples of innovation by some funeral companies now. It is an interesting time for this industry, with the huge shift towards cremation, a radical shift … Read more
The death care industry is undergoing some significant changes at present, and what most of us thought of, as the ‘traditional American funeral’ is maybe something of a dying ritual. Although I believe there will always be a place in American culture for the full-service traditional funeral, it certainly seems that more options are available … Read more
With a more transient population today, and with the size of the United States alone, the need for the transportation of human remains has been growing in demand. As families have moved away from their State of origin for employment, relationships or retirement so has the issue of ‘repatriating’ their remains following death become a … Read more
The Baby Boomer generation has already made its mark upon the death-care industry, the first generation to demonstrate a changing attitude towards funerals. This post-war generation, that has been attributed to being radical and revolutionary in all aspects of their lives, is now impacting on the death-care industry as they face their ‘final curtain’ or … Read more
