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 a Pet in Secret: What to Do When You Feel Ashamed of Your Grief

Grieving a Pet in Secret: What to Do When You Feel Ashamed of Your Grief

There’s a particular kind of loneliness that can settle in after a pet dies—one that doesn’t come only from the empty bed, the quiet hallway, or the way your body...

Why Losing a Dog Can Feel Worse Than Losing a Relative: The Psychology Behind the Pain

Why Losing a Dog Can Feel Worse Than Losing a Relative: The Psychology Behind the Pain

If you’ve lost a dog and found yourself thinking, “Why does this hurt so much—sometimes even more than losing certain relatives?” you’re not broken, dramatic, or disloyal to your family....

Secondary Guilt: When You Cry More for Your Pet Than a Passed Relative

Secondary Guilt: When You Cry More for Your Pet Than a Passed Relative

There’s a particular kind of shame that can sneak in after a loss—quiet, sharp, and surprisingly persistent. It’s the feeling that your grief has somehow “betrayed” your family. You might...

Disenfranchised Grief: Why Society Doesn't Respect Pet Loss

Disenfranchised Grief: Why Society Doesn't Respect Pet Loss

There’s a particular kind of loneliness that can settle in after a pet dies. Not the loneliness of an empty leash hook or the silence where paws used to click...

Why People Feel Embarrassed About Pet Grief

Why People Feel Embarrassed About Pet Grief

The first time someone says, “It was just a dog,” or “At least it wasn’t a person,” it can land like a small betrayal—especially when your whole day has been...