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.

Family Pet Memorial Ceremony: Simple Ideas Kids Can Help Lead (Readings, Rituals, and Keepsakes)

Family Pet Memorial Ceremony: Simple Ideas Kids Can Help Lead (Readings, Rituals, and Keepsakes)

A pet memorial ceremony doesn’t have to be elaborate or formal to carry deep meaning. For many families, the gentlest farewell is often the simplest: a short gathering at home,...

Books to Help Toddlers Understand the Death of a Pet

Books to Help Toddlers Understand the Death of a Pet

When a pet dies, adults often feel two kinds of grief at once: the heartbreak of missing a beloved companion, and the ache of trying to explain something enormous to...

Children and Pet Loss: The "Rainbow Bridge" Explanation vs. Biological Truth

Children and Pet Loss: The "Rainbow Bridge" Explanation vs. Biological Truth

When a pet dies, adults often feel two kinds of pain at once: the ache of missing a beloved companion, and the fear of saying the wrong thing to a...

How to Talk to Teens About the Death of a Pet Without Minimizing Their Grief

How to Talk to Teens About the Death of a Pet Without Minimizing Their Grief

When a pet dies, adults often expect the grief to look “simple”: a few hard days, a small ritual, a gradual return to normal. But teenagers can surprise you. A...

Comforting Children at a Pet's Euthanasia Appointment

Comforting Children at a Pet's Euthanasia Appointment

There are few moments in family life that feel as heavy—and as tender—as a pet’s euthanasia appointment. Adults often describe it as a “final act of love,” but for kids,...

How to Support Kids When a Classroom Pet Dies

How to Support Kids When a Classroom Pet Dies

The day a classroom pet dies rarely looks dramatic from the outside. The fish doesn’t swim to the surface. The hamster doesn’t come out of its hide. A turtle stays...

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....

How Can I Explain a Pet’s Death to Children?

How Can I Explain a Pet’s Death to Children?

For many children, a pet is their first encounter with deep loss. They curl up with them during storms, whisper secrets into fur, and count on that steady presence in...

Explaining Pet Death to Children Without Saying “They Went to Sleep”

Explaining Pet Death to Children Without Saying “They Went to Sleep”

For many families, a pet’s death is the first time a child comes face to face with loss. You are grieving yourself, making decisions about cremation, memorials, and what to...

How to Tell Children a Pet Has Died When They Weren’t There

How to Tell Children a Pet Has Died When They Weren’t There

For many families, a pet’s last moments happen away from home. A dog may be euthanized at the vet after a sudden emergency. A cat might die while a child...

Helping Neurodivergent Kids and Teens Cope With Pet Loss

Helping Neurodivergent Kids and Teens Cope With Pet Loss

When a beloved pet dies, the whole rhythm of a household changes. For neurodivergent kids and teens—including autistic children, young people with ADHD, or those with other learning and processing...

Helping Children Understand the Death of a Pet: Gentle Words That Help

Helping Children Understand the Death of a Pet: Gentle Words That Help

A beloved pet is more than a companion, they are a constant presence, a listener, a playmate, and a source of comfort. When a pet passes away, it can shake...

Talking to Children About a Pet’s Death: Honest, Gentle Guidance for Families

Talking to Children About a Pet’s Death: Honest, Gentle Guidance for Families

Losing a beloved pet is often a child’s first encounter with the permanence of death. The wagging tail, the soft purrs, and the joyful companionship can vanish in an instant,...

Helping Kids Create a Pet Memorial: Simple Crafts and Rituals

Helping Kids Create a Pet Memorial: Simple Crafts and Rituals

When a beloved pet dies, adults often juggle calls to the vet, decisions about funeral planning, and practical questions like what to do with ashes. Children feel the same loss,...

Balancing Children’s Activities and School with Grief: Attendance, Homework, and Gentle Flexibility

Balancing Children’s Activities and School with Grief: Attendance, Homework, and Gentle Flexibility

On the outside, the morning looks normal. Backpacks by the door, a half-finished cereal bowl on the table, a reminder email from the school about an upcoming project. But everything...

When Kids Blame Themselves After a Pet Dies: How to Reassure and Support Them

When Kids Blame Themselves After a Pet Dies: How to Reassure and Support Them

The loss of a family pet touches every member of the household, but children often experience a unique layer of worry they can’t always express. You might notice it in...