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.

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...

Online Support for Pet Loss: Forums, Groups, and How to Find a Safe, Caring Space

Online Support for Pet Loss: Forums, Groups, and How to Find a Safe, Caring Space

In the first days after a pet dies, the world can feel strangely loud and strangely quiet at the same time. Loud because life keeps moving—notifications, errands, people talking about...

Arizona Pet Cremation Guide: Laws, Costs & Options

Arizona Pet Cremation Guide: Laws, Costs & Options

Updated December 20, 2025 for 2026. Losing a pet is never easy, and making decisions about cremation can feel overwhelming. This guide aims to answer your questions and help you...

When a Pet Dies Suddenly: Shock, Trauma, and How to Begin Healing

When a Pet Dies Suddenly: Shock, Trauma, and How to Begin Healing

There are losses we can imagine, and then there are the ones that split a day in two: before and after. When a pet dies suddenly—an accident at the curb,...

Grieving the Loss of a Service Dog or Therapy Animal: When Your Helper Was Also Family

Grieving the Loss of a Service Dog or Therapy Animal: When Your Helper Was Also Family

There are losses that rearrange your heart, and then there are losses that rearrange your whole life. When a service dog or therapy animal dies, grief doesn’t just show up...

How to Compliment a Nice Memorial for Loss of Pet?

How to Compliment a Nice Memorial for Loss of Pet?

A thoughtfully created pet memorial reflects deep love, cherished memories, and the unique bond shared between a pet and their family. When someone invests time and care into honoring their...

What Is the Best Thing to Say Instead of Condolences?

What Is the Best Thing to Say Instead of Condolences?

When someone you care about experiences a loss, it can feel almost impossible to find the right words. Simple phrases like “condolences” are common, yet they often fail to capture...

When Your Pet Dies: What To Do Next (At Home Or At The Vet)

When Your Pet Dies: What To Do Next (At Home Or At The Vet)

There’s a particular kind of silence that follows a pet’s last breath. Even in a noisy house, everything can feel suddenly paused, like the world expects you to know exactly...

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...

When the Urn Arrives: What You Might Feel, What to Do Next & Gentle Setup Ideas

When the Urn Arrives: What You Might Feel, What to Do Next & Gentle Setup Ideas

There’s a particular kind of silence that can settle over a home when the urn arrives. It isn’t always dramatic. Sometimes it’s the sound of a box placed carefully on...

What Flower Is Best for a Funeral?

What Flower Is Best for a Funeral?

If you want the safest, most universally accepted option, white lilies remain the clearest choice. They’re widely recognized as a traditional sympathy flower, and they communicate calm, respect, and quiet...

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...

Alaska Pet Cremation Guide: Laws, Costs & Options

Alaska Pet Cremation Guide: Laws, Costs & Options

Updated December 19, 2025 for 2026. Losing a pet is never easy, and making decisions about cremation can feel overwhelming. This guide explains pet cremation in Alaska in clear, compassionate...

Dementia in Dogs: Grieving the Dog Who is Still Physically There

Dementia in Dogs: Grieving the Dog Who is Still Physically There

The first time it happens, you might not even call it “dementia.” It may look like stubbornness, or a new quirk, or a dog having an off day. Your older...

Euthanasia at the Shelter: The Trauma of Surrendering a Sick Pet

Euthanasia at the Shelter: The Trauma of Surrendering a Sick Pet

There are goodbyes that happen in your arms, in a quiet room, with a familiar voice and a hand on warm fur. And then there are goodbyes that happen in...

Losing an Emotional Support Animal (ESA): The Double Hit to Mental Health

Losing an Emotional Support Animal (ESA): The Double Hit to Mental Health

The first thing many people notice after an Emotional Support Animal dies isn’t just the silence—it’s the missing rhythm. The familiar nudge at the edge of the bed. The soft...