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.

Funeral Thank-You Cards: Do You Need to Send Them and Who Should Get One?

Funeral Thank-You Cards: Do You Need to Send Them and Who Should Get One?

Right after a death, life becomes a strange mix of heavy emotions and practical to-dos. You may be fielding texts you can’t answer yet, deciding on service details, and trying...

Sympathy Flowers and Their Meanings: A Complete Guide to Choosing the Right Arrangement

Sympathy Flowers and Their Meanings: A Complete Guide to Choosing the Right Arrangement

When someone dies, most people don’t struggle to care—they struggle to translate care into something they can actually do. That’s why sympathy flowers have lasted as a tradition for so...

Funeral Cards Handed Out at Services: Memorial Cards, Prayer Cards, and Other Keepsakes

Funeral Cards Handed Out at Services: Memorial Cards, Prayer Cards, and Other Keepsakes

There is a moment at many services that feels almost ordinary: someone stands near the entrance, hands folded around a small stack of cards, and quietly offers one to each...

Funeral Prayer Cards: Wording Ideas, Templates, and How Many to Order

Funeral Prayer Cards: Wording Ideas, Templates, and How Many to Order

In the days surrounding a loss, families are asked to make decisions that feel both practical and deeply personal. Some choices are big and visible—whether to hold a service, where...

End-of-Life Planning Checklist: The Documents, Conversations, and Digital Accounts to Organize Now

End-of-Life Planning Checklist: The Documents, Conversations, and Digital Accounts to Organize Now

Most people don’t avoid end-of-life planning because they don’t care. They avoid it because it feels like inviting something terrible into the room. But the truth is gentler than that:...

What Should a Woman Wear to a Funeral? Outfit Ideas for Every Season and Setting

What Should a Woman Wear to a Funeral? Outfit Ideas for Every Season and Setting

When you’re getting dressed for a funeral, you’re often doing it with a tight chest and a busy mind. You might be grieving, supporting someone you love, or trying to...

Are Ceramic Urns Good? Pros, Cons, and How Ceramic Compares to Metal, Wood, and Stone

Are Ceramic Urns Good? Pros, Cons, and How Ceramic Compares to Metal, Wood, and Stone

If you’re looking at cremation urns for the first time, ceramic can feel like the most “human” option. It looks like something made by hands, not machinery. The shape is...

How to Preplan a Funeral: Checklist, Costs, and What to Watch for With Prepaid Plans

How to Preplan a Funeral: Checklist, Costs, and What to Watch for With Prepaid Plans

Most people don’t begin funeral planning because they enjoy paperwork. They begin because they’ve seen what happens when a family has to make financial and emotional decisions quickly, under pressure,...

Funeral Order of Service Booklet: What It Is, What to Include, and Examples

Funeral Order of Service Booklet: What It Is, What to Include, and Examples

When you are planning a funeral, you quickly learn that there are two kinds of “paperwork.” There is the kind you never want to see again, like permits, authorizations, and...

Funeral Colors and Dress Code: When Black Isn’t Required

Funeral Colors and Dress Code: When Black Isn’t Required

Standing in front of your closet before a service can feel strangely stressful. You want to show up with care, not distraction. You want the family to feel supported, not...

Funeral Memorial Cards: Wording, Photo Ideas, and Printing Tips

Funeral Memorial Cards: Wording, Photo Ideas, and Printing Tips

There is a moment in nearly every family’s planning process when something unexpectedly small becomes surprisingly emotional. It might be choosing a song, deciding on a time, or realizing you...

Funeral Thank-You Notes: Who to Thank, When to Send, and Message Templates

Funeral Thank-You Notes: Who to Thank, When to Send, and Message Templates

After a funeral, the world gets quiet in a way that can feel both merciful and strange. The calls slow down. The car leaves the driveway. The last casserole dish...

Pet Loss Quotes and Readings: Comforting Words for a Memorial or Card

Pet Loss Quotes and Readings: Comforting Words for a Memorial or Card

When a pet dies, the quiet can feel unreal. A food bowl that doesn’t need refilling, a leash that stays on the hook, a familiar spot on the couch that...

Holy Cards and Prayer Cards: Meaning, History, and Modern Funeral Uses

Holy Cards and Prayer Cards: Meaning, History, and Modern Funeral Uses

At a wake, a visitation, or the quiet moment when guests begin to file out of a church, there is often a small, ordinary exchange that carries surprising weight. Someone...

Funeral Programs: What to Include, Examples, and Printing Options

Funeral Programs: What to Include, Examples, and Printing Options

A funeral program is one of those details that can feel small until you’re the one standing at the door, greeting people, and watching them look for something to hold...

Funeral Tie Etiquette: Best Tie Colors, Patterns & Knots (Plus When You Can Skip the Tie)

Funeral Tie Etiquette: Best Tie Colors, Patterns & Knots (Plus When You Can Skip the Tie)

When you’re getting ready for a funeral, it’s rarely just about clothes. It’s about showing up for someone—often on a day when emotions are heavy and everyone feels a little...