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 a Funeral Director Wishes Families Knew

What a Funeral Director Wishes Families Knew

Most families I meet don’t walk into a funeral home expecting to talk about containers. They expect to talk about a person. And yet, somewhere between the phone calls, the...

Virtual Funerals on Zoom: Step-by-Step Setup, Privacy Settings, and Host Checklist

Virtual Funerals on Zoom: Step-by-Step Setup, Privacy Settings, and Host Checklist

A zoom funeral or virtual memorial service Zoom can feel surprisingly intimate. When travel isn’t possible, when health concerns make gathering complicated, or when family is spread across time zones,...

Tipping Clergy for a Funeral in 2026: Honorariums, Typical Ranges, and What’s Actually Expected

Tipping Clergy for a Funeral in 2026: Honorariums, Typical Ranges, and What’s Actually Expected

In the middle of grief, it can feel strangely awkward to ask a practical question like tipping clergy funeral. Families often worry they’ll offend someone by offering money—or offend someone...

Tipping Funeral Musicians: When the Fee Is Enough (and When an Extra Honorarium Makes Sense)

Tipping Funeral Musicians: When the Fee Is Enough (and When an Extra Honorarium Makes Sense)

If you are planning a funeral or memorial, there is a particular kind of stress that shows up in the small, practical questions. Music is one of them. A singer...

Do You Tip the Funeral Director? Etiquette, When to Skip It, and Better Ways to Show Appreciation

Do You Tip the Funeral Director? Etiquette, When to Skip It, and Better Ways to Show Appreciation

If you are asking do you tip the funeral director, it usually means something important happened: someone treated your family with steadiness and care at a moment when you were...

What to Wear to a Winter Funeral: Coats, Boots, and Graveside Weather Tips

What to Wear to a Winter Funeral: Coats, Boots, and Graveside Weather Tips

Winter services can feel like two events happening at once: the emotional weight of showing up for someone you care about, and the very real logistics of cold, wind, snow,...

How to Become a Funeral Planner: Job Duties, Skills, and Career Path

How to Become a Funeral Planner: Job Duties, Skills, and Career Path

In the U.S., the funeral planner (often called a funeral planning counselor or funeral arranger) helps families turn urgent, emotional decisions into a clear plan. This guide explains what the...