Monthly Archives: October 2022

How To Make A Memorial Service Special

People who use funeral homes in Washington Township, MI often ask how they can make the memorial service of a loved one special. Due to challenging times, most people are looking for creative and affordable ways to perform memorial services that honor their loved ones. Here are some creative ways to make a memorial service special.

The Memorial Service A Celebration Of Life

Celebrating the life of your loved one can be done in a number of ways during a memorial service. Since it will be an informal occasion, you can share the memories of the deceased in a cheerful manner. This may involve performing the service at a location your loved one frequented such as a beach, a skating rink, a forest, or even a park. Attendees can share happy memories they have about the deceased including even joking about their experiences together. Drinking and merriment can also be included in the service.

Flowers And Decorations Can Make A Memorial Service Unforgettable

Adding decorative details such as flowers can help you honor your loved one. Create flower arrangements that include your loved one’s favorite color or even plants. Colorful flowers personalize the memorial service, unlike white flowers which are often used in traditional funerals. You don’t have to include many different colors, just use two colors. The flower arrangements don’t have to be too complicated.

Have A Custom Memorial Stone Made

A granite memorial stone that either has the photo or symbol of your loved one is a great way to personalize a memorial service. The stone can have other information such as the name of the deceased, date of birth, and date of death. Display the stone during the memorial service and then take it home with you and place it in an appropriate place. Some people place custom memorial stones at a place their loved ones spent most of their time in their house.

Display Photos Of Your Loved One’s Happy Times

Presenting happy photos of your loved one can make it easier for people attending the memorial service to start conversations about their experiences with the deceased. These conversations are like numerous eulogies that family members share with each other. You may place clothing or sports memorabilia or other items that family members associate with the deceased at the place where you display the photos.

Plant A Special Tree

Planting a tree in memory of your loved one is a great idea if your loved one was cremated. You can put the ashes in the place you want to plant the tree if that is what your loved one wanted. But you can just plant a tree even if there was no cremation. The tree can remind you of your loved one whenever you look outside.

These are just a few ideas you can add to your memorial service plan when looking for funeral and cremation services in Washington Township, MI. Our caring and experienced staff can help you create a plan for an unforgettable memorial service for your loved one. Contact us today and let us support you in your time of need.

What To Consider When Choosing A Casket

When choosing a casket at funeral homes in Shelby Charter Township, MI you have to think about a number of factors. Caskets are often only necessary if you chose a traditional funeral because it involves burying the deceased. The casket provided for viewing the body before cremation is not similar in quality to the one provided for a burial. Here are ways you can choose a casket for a traditional funeral.

Consider The Type Of Casket You Want

If you want your loved one to be entombed, you may want a casket that can last a long time. That means buying a casket made from durable materials. You may also need to buy a casket for cremation purposes especially if there will be a viewing before the cremation. Cremation caskets are often made from biodegradable materials such as cardboard, bamboo, or even wood. Your casket choice can also be determined by your budget. On the other hand, a bigger budget means you can quality caskets made from durable materials complete with elaborate designs.

High-Quality Materials For Caskets

Caskets made of wood or metal are commonly used in funerals. High-quality wood includes Mahogany, Walnut, and Cherry, which are obviously not cheap. A great alternative for costly wood materials includes Maple, Oak, or Birch. If you have a smaller budget, then you can always buy caskets made from Willow, Poplar, or Pine.

Metal Caskets Are Durable

Metal caskets also vary in quality just like wood caskets. The least expensive option is a standard steel casket that can either be 20-gauge, 18-gauge, or 16-gauge. Among all these, the 20-gauge casket is the most affordable but that doesn’t mean it’s not durable. The 20-gauge option is the thinnest compared to the 18-gauge (medium) and the 16-gauge (thickest). A great alternative if you have a slightly bigger budget is stainless steel because it’s more durable and is available in the same gauges. Another option is to go for either a copper or bronze coffin that is just as durable and rust-resistant. But apart from being more expensive than stainless steel, copper and bronze oxidize after a certain period of time, which is a similar process to rusting.

Green Caskets Save The Environment

Green or eco-friendly caskets can be made from bamboo, sea grass, or willow. You may be presented with the option of using an eco-friendly burial shroud made from linen, wool, or silk when you buy a green casket. They are called eco-friendly because they break down easily and enrich the soil around them, unlike metal caskets that last much longer. Cardboard caskets can also be included in the eco-friendly category.

Buying The Casket From A Funeral Home

Choosing the casket at our funeral home is a convenient option because it means you have more time to grieve. But if you are pre-planning a funeral, you can go to stores that specialize in selling caskets, especially if you are interested in custom caskets.

We provide funeral and cremation services in Shelby Charter Township, MI, and also help you find the right casket for your loved one.

What Is The Difference Between Traditional And Contemporary Funerals

Many funeral homes in Shelby Charter Township, MI offer more than one type of funeral. You can either choose a traditional funeral that follows common traditions and rituals, or a contemporary funeral that includes different rituals and customized services to personalize a funeral. Your choice between the two can be guided by the wishes of your departed loved one and the amount of money you are willing to spend. Here are some of the differences between traditional and contemporary funerals.

Common Characteristics Of A Traditional Funeral

Traditional Funerals often have four main events including visitation, funeral service, committal service, and funeral reception. Family and friends visit the bereaved to comfort them and pay their respects to the deceased. After this, a funeral service is held to honor the deceased and then a committal service is held at the burial site before the grave is covered. A funeral reception is then held to allow family and friends to spend time together and share their memories of the deceased. At every stage of this traditional funeral, there are various rituals observed depending on the religion of the deceased.

Contemporary Funerals Break All The Rules

Most of the rules of a traditional funeral service are broken during a contemporary funeral service. For example, contemporary funeral services can be held in various locations, not just a church or a funeral home. To honor a loved one that loved skating, you can hold a funeral service at a skating rink or a room decorated with a skating theme. Even the rituals observed in a contemporary funeral are not often religious in nature and do not follow any common traditional practices. In fact, there may be no hint of religion in a contemporary funeral at all. The objects or images included in a contemporary funeral are deliberately chosen to individualize the funeral and honor the deceased loved one.

How To Choose Either A Traditional Or Contemporary Funeral

It helps if your loved one gave specific instructions about what kind of funeral they prefer. But if there were no instructions, then it’s up to you what kind of funeral you feel will be appropriate. A traditional funeral includes rituals that have both cultural and religious significance. Not only do these rituals mark an important milestone that every human must experience but also help you feel like you are not alone when grieving. On the other hand, a contemporary funeral frees you to celebrate the life of your loved one without any cultural or religious restrictions. You can make the ceremony as cheerful or as somber as you like without worrying about anyone’s disapproval.

Talk to our funeral director to help you organize the type of funeral that you want. We will not only help you understand our cremation services in Shelby Charter Township, MI but also explain all the factors you need to consider for any type of funeral. Our caring professionals have years of experience helping families and will be glad to help you create a lasting and meaningful tribute to the life of your loved one.

Funeral Home Planning Steps

When someone in your family passes on and you find yourself in charge of their final services, you might recognize that you have never had to make final service plans before. That’s okay. The professionals at funeral homes in Chesterfield Township, MI make these plans on a regular basis and they know just what steps you need to take to get things in order for your loved one. They won’t let you leave anything important out. Here are a few of the funeral home planning steps.

1-Choose Funeral Home Professionals

The first thing you are going to need is a funeral home to help you with the planning process. You need the professionals to be by your side, presenting options to you, supporting you, and showing compassion every step of the way—and they will be. While you want to hand your loved one over to experts soon, you have a little time to figure out what funeral home you are going to use. Research websites, make some phone calls, and take a few tours and the answer should be clear enough.

2-Consider The Service Options

Most funeral homes have two basic options, funerals and cremation services, from which to choose. They will tell you about each and show you package options that include everything you need. It’s a good idea to start with a package while keeping in mind that you can add anything you want, rearrange, or change things to your liking. The package can help you meet your loved one’s needs without forgetting anything important. The main decision is revolving around whether you want a traditional funeral and burial or a cremation service for them.

3-Go Over The Budget

It is always a good idea to have a budget in place and in mind for the final services. You might get the money from your loved one’s life insurance, their savings, your own savings, money family has pooled together, or wherever else you can access the cash you need. Let the professionals know how much you have to work with and that can help them to understand what options will work for you and what might be out of your price range. They can help you to meet your loved one’s needs in an honorable manner without going over your budget.

4-Getting Into The Details

No matter which service option you choose, there are going to be details to decide upon. With a funeral, you’ll need a casket, a burial plot, a headstone, and other such things. With a cremation, you might want an urn, you have to decide between full and direct cremation, you’ll want to think about final resting place options, and so on. The funeral home knows everything you have to decide and can help you along the way.

When you plan for a loved one who has passed on, you’ll want to consider what they would want in every decision you make. Contact funeral homes in Chesterfield Township, MI for details and help.

BLOG