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.

Choosing Cremation Memorials That Feel Like Love: Urns, Keepsakes, Jewelry, and a Clear Plan

Choosing Cremation Memorials That Feel Like Love: Urns, Keepsakes, Jewelry, and a Clear Plan

When a death happens, whether it’s someone you love deeply or a pet who was woven into your daily life—there’s a moment when the world goes quiet and practical decisions...

Burial Service

Burial Service

A burial service is often labeled as “traditional,” but for most families, the meaning is much simpler and far more human. It is a defined moment in time, sometimes a...

How Much Should I Spend on Flowers for a Funeral?

How Much Should I Spend on Flowers for a Funeral?

Planning a funeral involves countless decisions, each carrying profound emotional weight. From selecting the service location to arranging meaningful tributes, every choice reflects the love and respect you hold for...

How Do Pet Funerals Work? A Gentle Guide to Saying Goodbye, Pet Cremation, and Memorial Choices

How Do Pet Funerals Work? A Gentle Guide to Saying Goodbye, Pet Cremation, and Memorial Choices

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,...

How to Make a Picture Board for a Funeral

How to Make a Picture Board for a Funeral

Creating a picture board for a funeral is a deeply personal way to celebrate the life of a loved one. It allows friends and family to connect with memories, honor...

How Do I Choose a Life Insurance Agent?

How Do I Choose a Life Insurance Agent?

Most people don’t start looking for a life insurance agent because it sounds fun. They start because something feels urgent or important. A new baby. A mortgage. A spouse who...

What Is the Cheapest Way to Plan a Funeral?

What Is the Cheapest Way to Plan a Funeral?

The most cost-effective approach to planning a funeral often involves separating the disposition from the ceremony. By choosing the simplest professional disposition option, most commonly a direct cremation, families can...

Why Are Carnations a Funeral Flower?

Why Are Carnations a Funeral Flower?

Funerals are moments filled with profound emotion, where love, grief, and remembrance come together in quiet, meaningful ways. During these times, every detail matters, especially the flowers chosen to honor...

Is There Such a Thing as a Funeral Planner?

Is There Such a Thing as a Funeral Planner?

Planning a funeral can feel like navigating a maze of decisions, each carrying deep emotional weight. From choosing caskets or cremation urns for ashes to arranging a service that truly...

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

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

Walking into a wake, a viewing, or a visitation can feel strangely hard—especially if you haven’t been to one in years, or if you’re worried about “doing the right thing.”...

Human Ashes 101: Legal, Emotional, and Practical Things Families Should Know

Human Ashes 101: Legal, Emotional, and Practical Things Families Should Know

When the crematory calls and says your loved one is ready to be picked up, most families are surprised by how ordinary that moment can feel. You sign paperwork, you’re...

Understanding Your Cemetery Contract: Plot Rights, Fees, and Long-Term Obligations

Understanding Your Cemetery Contract: Plot Rights, Fees, and Long-Term Obligations

In a season of loss—or even in the quieter weeks of funeral planning—a cemetery contract can feel like a different language. The phrases look familiar (plot, deed, perpetual care), but...

Traveling with Cremation Ashes: Airline Rules, TSA Guidelines, and Peace of Mind

Traveling with Cremation Ashes: Airline Rules, TSA Guidelines, and Peace of Mind

Traveling with someone’s ashes is one of those tasks that can feel deceptively simple on paper—until you’re actually doing it. You’re juggling logistics and grief at the same time, and...

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...

Do Funeral Homes Provide Prayer Cards?

Do Funeral Homes Provide Prayer Cards?

When a loved one passes, families are often faced with an overwhelming number of decisions about the funeral service. From choosing caskets to planning the order of ceremonies, every choice...

What Are the Disadvantages of Funeral Insurance?

What Are the Disadvantages of Funeral Insurance?

Making end-of-life arrangements is one of the most emotionally challenging experiences a family can face. Grief is raw, and decisions must often be made quickly, combining both financial pressure and...