The Funeral.com Journal

Resources to help you create tributes as unique as the people (and pets) you love. Learn how engraving, photos, colors, and symbols add meaning; discover scattering rituals and at-home memorial ideas. We focus on the details that matter—because small choices can carry a lifetime of comfort.

Grieving the Loss of a Pet: Why It Hurts So Much and How to Cope Day by Day

Grieving the Loss of a Pet: Why It Hurts So Much and How to Cope Day by Day

There are moments in grief when loss hits with such force that the world suddenly feels unfamiliar, quieter, and fragile. Losing a pet can bring you to that place before...

Are You Ready for a New Dog? 7 Signs You’re Not (And Why That’s Okay)

Are You Ready for a New Dog? 7 Signs You’re Not (And Why That’s Okay)

There’s a moment after losing a dog when the house feels unnaturally quiet. You still pause, expecting to hear paws on the floor, or glance at the corner where they...

Embalming: What It Is, When It Helps, and When You Can Skip It

Embalming: What It Is, When It Helps, and When You Can Skip It

If you’ve found yourself searching for information about embalming during a period of grief or urgent funeral planning, you’re not alone. Most families aren’t curious about the technical process, they...

Cremation Jewelry: A Gentle, Practical Guide to Keeping Someone Close

Cremation Jewelry: A Gentle, Practical Guide to Keeping Someone Close

There comes a quiet, reflective moment for many families after a cremation, when the urgent tasks have eased and most of the paperwork is complete. The temporary container of ashes...

Tombstone Words in a Cremation-First World: What to Write, Where to Place a Marker, and How Ashes Fit

Tombstone Words in a Cremation-First World: What to Write, Where to Place a Marker, and How Ashes Fit

A single word like “tombstone” can carry a surprising amount of weight. Sometimes the question is practical—what should it say, how much space do we have, what will the cemetery...

What to Put on a Pet Memorial Stone

What to Put on a Pet Memorial Stone

A pet memorial stone is more than a marker, it is a lasting tribute to a cherished companion. It provides a quiet, dedicated place for reflection, remembrance, and connection. Choosing...

What Actually Happens During Pet Cremation?

What Actually Happens During Pet Cremation?

For many families, the idea of pet cremation can feel like a mysterious process. Your pet leaves your care, and later, a container of ashes is returned. The time in...

How to Honor a Pet’s Birthday or Adoption Day After They’re Gone

How to Honor a Pet’s Birthday or Adoption Day After They’re Gone

The first time your pet’s birthday or adoption day comes around after they’re gone can feel unexpectedly heavy. The date carries a strange gravity, pulling memories forward, the “gotcha day”...

When Your Child Wants Another Pet Right Away: How to Respond with Care

When Your Child Wants Another Pet Right Away: How to Respond with Care

There is a moment many parents are not prepared for: the house still feels painfully quiet after a pet’s death, and a child suddenly asks for another pet right away....

Grieving a Pet While Living Alone: Filling the Silence With Compassion

Grieving a Pet While Living Alone: Filling the Silence With Compassion

Living alone while grieving a pet creates a uniquely quiet form of loss because the relationship was woven into the physical fabric of daily life. Pet loss in solitude changes...

What Should I Put On My Dog’s Grave?

What Should I Put On My Dog’s Grave?

Standing at your dog’s grave is a moment filled with emotion, memory, and the quiet ache of a bond that shaped your life every single day. It’s where silence feels...

Bereavement Leave and Time Off Work After a Death: What Employees Should Know

Bereavement Leave and Time Off Work After a Death: What Employees Should Know

Experiencing a death in the family can make work feel both distant and urgent at the same time. Balancing funeral arrangements, paperwork, and family communications while managing job responsibilities often...

Short-Notice Funerals and Quick Cremation Services: What’s Realistic on a Tight Timeline

Short-Notice Funerals and Quick Cremation Services: What’s Realistic on a Tight Timeline

The hours after a death can feel urgent and overwhelming. Families often juggle travel logistics, faith-based timelines, and the emotional weight of saying goodbye. In these moments, questions about short...

Cremation vs Traditional Burial: Pros, Cons, Costs, and Family Considerations

Cremation vs Traditional Burial: Pros, Cons, Costs, and Family Considerations

Deciding between cremation and traditional burial goes beyond logistics—it is a reflection of your family’s values, emotional needs, and how you want your loved one remembered. The choice touches both...

How Quickly Do I Have To Decide About Cremation or Burial?

How Quickly Do I Have To Decide About Cremation or Burial?

Time moves strangely after a pet passes. Minutes stretch into hours, yet decisions can feel rushed. Facing a veterinarian or pet cremation provider, you may be asked where your pet’s...

What Should I Do If My Pet Dies at Home?

What Should I Do If My Pet Dies at Home?

There are moments in life that stop you in your tracks, and noticing that your pet is unusually still is one of them. Perhaps you walk into a familiar room...