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.

Step-by-Step: How the Embalming Process Works at a Modern Funeral Home

Step-by-Step: How the Embalming Process Works at a Modern Funeral Home

If you’ve never been inside a funeral home’s care center, it’s completely normal to feel uneasy about the unknown. Many families search what happens during embalming at the exact moment...

What Really Happens During Embalming? A Plain-Language Walkthrough for Families

What Really Happens During Embalming? A Plain-Language Walkthrough for Families

If you’re planning a funeral while you’re exhausted, grieving, and trying to make a dozen decisions at once, the word “embalming” can land like a thunderclap. People imagine something frightening,...

Funeral Flower Etiquette: What to Send, When to Send It, and How to Respect the Family’s Wishes

Funeral Flower Etiquette: What to Send, When to Send It, and How to Respect the Family’s Wishes

If you’ve ever stared at a florist’s menu or lingered in a grocery store aisle thinking, “I genuinely want to do the right thing… but what is the right thing?”...

What Is Embalming, Really? History, Process, and When Families Can Say No

What Is Embalming, Really? History, Process, and When Families Can Say No

In the first hours after a death, families often feel pulled in two directions at once. Part of you wants time to breathe, to call the people who need to...

Funeral, Wake, and Visitation: What Each One Means and How to Choose What Fits Your Family

Funeral, Wake, and Visitation: What Each One Means and How to Choose What Fits Your Family

In the first days after a death, language can feel like one more thing you’re expected to “get right” while you’re barely sleeping. Someone says “we’ll have a wake,” another...

Bereavement Leave and Workplace Policies: What You Can Ask For and How to Advocate for More Support

Bereavement Leave and Workplace Policies: What You Can Ask For and How to Advocate for More Support

The first work message after a death can feel impossible to write. You may be in shock, making family calls, and suddenly responsible for logistics that don’t wait—travel, paperwork, services....

Is Cremation Biblical? How Different Christian Traditions View Cremation Today

Is Cremation Biblical? How Different Christian Traditions View Cremation Today

If you grew up in a church where burials were simply “what Christians do,” cremation can feel like a spiritual question before it feels like a practical one. Families ask...

Wake Etiquette 101: What to Wear, What to Say, and How Long to Stay

Wake Etiquette 101: What to Wear, What to Say, and How Long to Stay

Walking into a wake can feel strangely intimidating, even when your intentions are completely good. You might be thinking about the door you’re about to open, the family you care...

End-of-Life Doulas: What They Do, How They Work with Hospice, and Questions to Ask Before Hiring

End-of-Life Doulas: What They Do, How They Work with Hospice, and Questions to Ask Before Hiring

Most families don’t start their week thinking, “We should hire a doula.” They start with smaller, more urgent thoughts: “Mom isn’t eating.” “He’s sleeping more.” “The nurse says we should...

Open vs. Closed Casket Funerals: What to Expect & How to Choose

Open vs. Closed Casket Funerals: What to Expect & How to Choose

When you are in the middle of planning a funeral, the question of an open casket funeral versus a closed casket funeral can land like a weight you did not...

Bringing a Living Pet to a Funeral or Cemetery: Etiquette, Pros and Cons, and Safety Tips

Bringing a Living Pet to a Funeral or Cemetery: Etiquette, Pros and Cons, and Safety Tips

There’s a particular kind of quiet that settles around a funeral home chapel or a cemetery lane. It’s not just the absence of noise—it’s the feeling that everyone is carrying...

What Does the Bible Say About Cremation? Myths, Misunderstandings, and Modern Christian Practice

What Does the Bible Say About Cremation? Myths, Misunderstandings, and Modern Christian Practice

You might not expect a faith question to arrive in the middle of logistics. But it often does. A loved one dies, the funeral home asks about burial or cremation,...

What Is the Meaning of Funeral Arrangements?

What Is the Meaning of Funeral Arrangements?

Funeral arrangements are more than just a series of tasks to complete, they are a deeply personal expression of love, respect, and remembrance. They provide a structured way for families...

What Colors to Wear to a Funeral for Women?

What Colors to Wear to a Funeral for Women?

Attending a funeral can be one of the most emotionally charged moments in life, and women often find themselves wondering, what colors to wear to convey respect while managing their...

Do You Really Need Embalming? When It’s Required, When It’s Optional, and Alternatives

Do You Really Need Embalming? When It’s Required, When It’s Optional, and Alternatives

The question usually shows up in the middle of a harder moment. A nurse hands you a folder. A funeral home calls back. A family group chat lights up with...

Palliative Care vs. Hospice for Pets: Understanding Your Options

Palliative Care vs. Hospice for Pets: Understanding Your Options

There’s a particular kind of heartbreak that arrives before a pet is gone. It shows up in small moments first: your dog pausing halfway up the stairs, your cat choosing...