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.

Talking About Pet Loss in Therapy: What to Expect and How It Can Help

Talking About Pet Loss in Therapy: What to Expect and How It Can Help

When a beloved dog, cat, or other companion animal dies, the grief can feel just as intense as losing a person you love. Research backs this up: surveys show that...

Explaining Pet Euthanasia to Children: Gentle Language for a Very Hard Topic

Explaining Pet Euthanasia to Children: Gentle Language for a Very Hard Topic

When a beloved pet is very sick or in pain, adults often find themselves wrestling with two heartbreaks at once: the decision to choose euthanasia, and the question of explaining...

Cremation Urns, Pet Urns, and Cremation Jewelry: A Practical Guide for Real Families

Cremation Urns, Pet Urns, and Cremation Jewelry: A Practical Guide for Real Families

The moment a loved one passes, families are faced with a mix of practical and emotional decisions. Cremation brings choices that extend beyond paperwork, deciding where ashes will live, how...

cremation urn on the table

Siblings and Inheritance: Preventing Conflict Over Money, Keepsakes, and Care Decisions

Family dynamics are complex, and they become even more intricate when questions of inheritance arise. Stories unfold not just around bank accounts or property, but around who showed up when...

Companion Urns and Double Headstones: Planning Memorials for Two People

Companion Urns and Double Headstones: Planning Memorials for Two People

Honoring the bond between two people in life can extend meaningfully into their memorials, creating a lasting tribute that reflects the depth of their relationship. Companion urns and double headstones...

What to Do When Someone Dies at Home: Step-by-Step Guide for Expected and Unexpected Deaths

What to Do When Someone Dies at Home: Step-by-Step Guide for Expected and Unexpected Deaths

Knowing what to do when someone dies at home can feel overwhelming, especially when emotions run high and decisions need to be made quickly. Whether facing an expected death at...

Veterans Funeral Benefits and Military Honors: What Families Need to Know

Veterans Funeral Benefits and Military Honors: What Families Need to Know

For those who have served in the military, the sacrifices made extend far beyond the battlefield. Veterans dedicate years of their lives to protect their country, and in return, the...

Preplanning Your Own Funeral or Cremation: Benefits, Decisions, and What to Put in Writing

Preplanning Your Own Funeral or Cremation: Benefits, Decisions, and What to Put in Writing

There’s a moment when you realize that preplanning your own funeral or cremation isn’t morbid, it’s practical, protective, and deeply loving. Thinking about it isn’t about dwelling on the end;...

Green Burial and Natural Burial Grounds: Eco-Friendly Alternatives to Traditional Funerals

Green Burial and Natural Burial Grounds: Eco-Friendly Alternatives to Traditional Funerals

The growing awareness of environmental issues has reshaped how many people approach end-of-life planning. Increasingly, families are turning to green burial guide options as a way to honor loved ones...

How to Choose a Funeral Home: Questions to Ask, Red Flags, and Comparing Local Options

How to Choose a Funeral Home: Questions to Ask, Red Flags, and Comparing Local Options

The moment you realize you need to start choosing a funeral home rarely comes with a clear head. It might be late at night after a sudden loss, or in...

Closing Accounts and Subscriptions After a Death: Step-by-Step Help for Everyday Bills

Closing Accounts and Subscriptions After a Death: Step-by-Step Help for Everyday Bills

After a death, life can feel divided between emotional responsibilities and practical tasks. On one side are decisions like planning a funeral, selecting a cremation urn, or arranging a home...

How to Write and Deliver a Eulogy: Tips, Examples, and Handling Emotions

How to Write and Deliver a Eulogy: Tips, Examples, and Handling Emotions

Writing a eulogy can feel overwhelming, but it’s also a powerful way to honor a loved one and celebrate the unique life they lived. It allows you to share memories,...

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...

Cremation Jewelry Care Guide: Cleaning, Wearing, and Keeping Ashes Secure

Cremation Jewelry Care Guide: Cleaning, Wearing, and Keeping Ashes Secure

Caring for cremation jewelry is about more than preserving a beautiful keepsake; it’s a daily way to feel connected to the memory of a loved one. Each necklace, bracelet, or...

Should Children Attend Funerals? Age-by-Age Guidance and How to Prepare Them

Should Children Attend Funerals? Age-by-Age Guidance and How to Prepare Them

Deciding whether children should attend funerals is one of the most sensitive choices a family can face. Parents often feel a mix of emotions, grief, uncertainty, and the desire to...

Digital Legacy Planning: Passwords, Social Media Accounts, and Online Memories

Digital Legacy Planning: Passwords, Social Media Accounts, and Online Memories

Most of us now live a significant part of our lives online. We scroll through social media, upload photos, pay bills through apps, store important documents in the cloud, and...