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.

What to Say Instead of Deepest Sympathy?

What to Say Instead of Deepest Sympathy?

Losing a pet can feel disorienting in a very specific way. The grief is real and heavy, but the world around you often treats it like it should be smaller,...

Is It Okay to Split Ashes? Etiquette, Religious Views, and Practical Tips for Sharing Remains

Is It Okay to Split Ashes? Etiquette, Religious Views, and Practical Tips for Sharing Remains

After cremation, families often expect there will be one “right” next step—choose an urn, decide where it will go, and move forward. In real life, the question is usually softer...

Wake vs Viewing vs Funeral vs Celebration of Life: Which Is Right for Your Family?

Wake vs Viewing vs Funeral vs Celebration of Life: Which Is Right for Your Family?

If you’ve been handed a list of options—wake, viewing, funeral, memorial, celebration of life—it can feel like someone just asked you to plan an event while your heart is in...

How to Send Food to a Grieving Family

How to Send Food to a Grieving Family

In the first days after a death, time does a strange thing. Hours blur, decisions pile up, and even the simplest routines, drinking water, answering a text, heating up a...

What Is the Proper Etiquette for Thank You Cards for Funerals?

What Is the Proper Etiquette for Thank You Cards for Funerals?

Grief can feel like an unrelenting tide, pulling you in different directions as you navigate the days after a funeral. Each morning may bring the ache of absence, while the...

Is a Black Dress OK for a Funeral?

Is a Black Dress OK for a Funeral?

Funerals are moments of profound reflection and heartfelt remembrance, where emotions run high and even the smallest gestures carry deep meaning. During these times, what you wear can communicate empathy,...

Choosing Funeral Flowers: What to Pick and Why It Matters

Choosing Funeral Flowers: What to Pick and Why It Matters

Choosing funeral flowers can feel heavier than it sounds. You are not just picking something that looks nice—you are selecting a symbol meant to sit quietly beside grief. When people...

Wake, Viewing, Visitation, and Funeral: What Each One Means and How They’re Different

Wake, Viewing, Visitation, and Funeral: What Each One Means and How They’re Different

If you’ve ever found yourself Googling wake vs viewing or visitation vs funeral at 1 a.m., you’re not alone. Families often inherit a swirl of terms in the days after...

Traveling to a Funeral: Etiquette, Planning, and Making the Most of Time with Family

Traveling to a Funeral: Etiquette, Planning, and Making the Most of Time with Family

Traveling for a funeral is one of those trips you never wanted to make and yet feel deeply compelled to take. You may be staring at flight prices, juggling childcare...

What to Write in a Sympathy Card: Messages for Friends, Coworkers, and Acquaintances

What to Write in a Sympathy Card: Messages for Friends, Coworkers, and Acquaintances

Staring at a blank sympathy card can feel strangely intimidating. You care about the person who is grieving, you want to say the right thing, and yet every phrase you...

What Happens at a Visitation or Viewing?

What Happens at a Visitation or Viewing?

A visitation or viewing is a time for family and friends to come together, share memories, and offer support after a loss. For those attending for the first time, the...

Is It Okay to Wear Cremation Jewelry?

Is It Okay to Wear Cremation Jewelry?

You’ve likely found yourself holding a pendant or bracelet that carries ashes and wondered, “Is this really okay?” For many people, cremation jewelry isn’t about fashion, it’s about having a...

Is It Okay to Take Photos at a Funeral? Etiquette, Boundaries, and Alternatives

Is It Okay to Take Photos at a Funeral? Etiquette, Boundaries, and Alternatives

Why This Question Comes Up So Often In the past, funerals were private, camera-free spaces. Today, nearly everyone carries a phone with a high-quality camera, and moments of grief often...

Pets at Funerals and Memorials: When It Works, When It Doesn’t, and How to Prepare

Pets at Funerals and Memorials: When It Works, When It Doesn’t, and How to Prepare

Bringing a pet to a funeral or memorial can be a profoundly moving and comforting experience, offering a sense of companionship and emotional support during a time of grief. For...

What to Wear to a Funeral, Wake, or Celebration of Life: Dress Code Made Simple

What to Wear to a Funeral, Wake, or Celebration of Life: Dress Code Made Simple

Grief does not come with a wardrobe checklist. Most people only attend a few services in their lifetime, so it is completely normal to wonder what to wear to a...