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.

How to Create a Simple Pet Memorial Ceremony at Home

How to Create a Simple Pet Memorial Ceremony at Home

The days after a pet dies can feel strangely quiet. The leash still hangs by the door. The food bowl hasn’t moved. Even when you’re “doing okay,” your body notices...

Seasonal Grave Decorations: Ideas for Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter Within Cemetery Rules

Seasonal Grave Decorations: Ideas for Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter Within Cemetery Rules

A gravesite changes with the seasons, even when nothing “new” is added. Grass grows fast in spring, heat bakes flowers in summer, leaves pile up in fall, and winter can...

Should You Buy a Headstone Before You Need It? Pros, Cons, and Planning Tips

Should You Buy a Headstone Before You Need It? Pros, Cons, and Planning Tips

For most families, a headstone is something you choose after a death—when the grave is fresh, the paperwork is still unfolding, and the emotional weight of “making it final” feels...

Burial in a National Cemetery: Eligibility, Costs, and How to Apply

Burial in a National Cemetery: Eligibility, Costs, and How to Apply

When a loved one served, families often carry two realities at the same time: pride and grief, gratitude and paperwork, the desire to honor a life well-lived and the need...

Visiting a National Cemetery: Etiquette, Photography Rules, and How to Honor the Space

Visiting a National Cemetery: Etiquette, Photography Rules, and How to Honor the Space

There are places that ask something quiet of us the moment we arrive. A national cemetery is one of them. Even before you read a sign or see a uniform,...

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 months of funeral planning—a cemetery contract can feel like a different language. The words look familiar: plot, deed, perpetual care, interment. But...

What to Do If a Headstone Is Leaning, Cracked, or Damaged

What to Do If a Headstone Is Leaning, Cracked, or Damaged

You might notice it from a distance first: a headstone that doesn’t look quite square anymore, a tilt that wasn’t there last time, a corner that seems chipped, or a...

Marking the Anniversary of a Pet’s Death: Gentle Ideas for a Day of Remembrance

Marking the Anniversary of a Pet’s Death: Gentle Ideas for a Day of Remembrance

The first time the date comes back around, it can feel surprisingly sharp. You may be doing “okay” in the practical sense—going to work, answering messages, even laughing again—and then...

Minnesota Pet Cremation Guide: Laws, Costs & Options

Minnesota Pet Cremation Guide: Laws, Costs & Options

Updated December 22, 2025 for 2026. Losing a pet is never easy, and making decisions about cremation can feel overwhelming. This guide explains pet cremation in Minnesota in a clear,...

Military Headstone Symbols and Abbreviations: How to Read a Veteran’s Grave

Military Headstone Symbols and Abbreviations: How to Read a Veteran’s Grave

The first time you stand in front of a veteran’s grave, you might notice how much is said in so few lines. A name. Two dates. A short row of...

Why People Leave Coins on Military Headstones: Penny, Nickel, Dime, and Quarter Meanings

Why People Leave Coins on Military Headstones: Penny, Nickel, Dime, and Quarter Meanings

If you’ve ever walked through a veterans cemetery or a section of military graves on Memorial Day, you’ve probably noticed how quiet the details can be. A small flag placed...

Healing Rituals After Pet Loss: Letters, Keepsake Boxes, and Everyday Reminders

Healing Rituals After Pet Loss: Letters, Keepsake Boxes, and Everyday Reminders

After a pet dies, the house can feel strangely loud and strangely empty at the same time. You still reach for the leash. You still listen for a familiar nail-click...

What Is the Most Appreciated Sympathy Gift?

What Is the Most Appreciated Sympathy Gift?

When someone you care about is grieving, the question isn’t just what to give—it’s how to show up in a way that feels sincere, comforting, and lasting. The most appreciated...

When a Loved One Dies from Overdose: Grief, Stigma, and Honoring Both Struggles and Strengths

When a Loved One Dies from Overdose: Grief, Stigma, and Honoring Both Struggles and Strengths

Some losses arrive with a single, shattering phone call, and there are losses that carry the weight of years. When someone dies from an overdose, many families recognize both at...

Can I Be Buried with My Pet? Human–Pet Companion Burial Options Explained

Can I Be Buried with My Pet? Human–Pet Companion Burial Options Explained

If you’ve ever looked at your dog sleeping at your feet or your cat curled up in the same sunny spot each afternoon and thought, “We’ve done life together,” it...

Pet Burial vs Cremation: Pros, Cons, Costs, and How to Decide What’s Best

Pet Burial vs Cremation: Pros, Cons, Costs, and How to Decide What’s Best

When a pet dies, you don’t just lose an animal—you lose a daily rhythm. The click of nails on the floor, the pause at the door, the weight of a...