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.

Balancing Children’s Activities and School with Grief: Attendance, Homework, and Gentle Flexibility

Balancing Children’s Activities and School with Grief: Attendance, Homework, and Gentle Flexibility

On the outside, the morning looks normal. Backpacks by the door, a half-finished cereal bowl on the table, a reminder email from the school about an upcoming project. But everything...

How to Write a Eulogy That Sounds Like Your Loved One

How to Write a Eulogy That Sounds Like Your Loved One

Standing before family and friends, clutching your notes or a piece of paper, the weight of love, memory, and grief presses down. Then comes the question that can feel both...

Social Security and Death: Survivor Benefits, One-Time Payments, and What to Report

Social Security and Death: Survivor Benefits, One-Time Payments, and What to Report

The days following the loss of a loved one can feel disorienting and emotionally heavy. Families often find themselves juggling numerous responsibilities at once, arranging a service, coordinating with a...

Death Certificates: Why You Need Them, How Many Copies to Order, and How to Get Replacements

Death Certificates: Why You Need Them, How Many Copies to Order, and How to Get Replacements

Life can change in an instant. One moment, everyday routines carry on as usual; the next, you are faced with the sudden absence of someone who shaped your world. Amid...

Pet Loss Support Groups: Are They Right for You?

Pet Loss Support Groups: Are They Right for You?

Losing a pet can rearrange your whole world in a way that people around you do not always understand. The bed is emptier, the yard is quieter, and your routines...

Digital Legacies: Creating a Virtual Memorial for Your Pet

Digital Legacies: Creating a Virtual Memorial for Your Pet

When a pet dies, the quiet moments often feel the loudest. You may catch yourself reaching for your phone to show a favorite video, only to remember that the dog...

The First Christmas Without Them: Surviving the Holidays

The First Christmas Without Them: Surviving the Holidays

The first Christmas after a pet dies has a way of sneaking up on you. One moment you are scrolling past holiday sales and recipe ideas; the next, you see...

Missed Signs: Forgiving Yourself for Not Catching the Illness Sooner

Missed Signs: Forgiving Yourself for Not Catching the Illness Sooner

The moment you realize there were “signs” is often not at the vet’s office or in the middle of the emergency. It is days or weeks later, when the house...

Euthanasia vs. Natural Death: Understanding Your Options

Euthanasia vs. Natural Death: Understanding Your Options

When a beloved dog or cat is nearing the end of life, many families find themselves facing a question they never wanted to ask: “Should we choose euthanasia, or wait...

How Much Does Pet Cremation Cost? Price Ranges, Options, and Ways to Save

How Much Does Pet Cremation Cost? Price Ranges, Options, and Ways to Save

When a pet dies, you are grieving and doing math at the same time. It feels cruel to compare prices while your heart is breaking, and many people quietly worry...

Pet Loss and Couples: How to Stay Close Instead of Drifting Apart

Pet Loss and Couples: How to Stay Close Instead of Drifting Apart

When a shared pet dies, the loss doesn’t just leave an empty bed or a quiet corner of the house. It can shift the entire rhythm of a relationship. The...

Scattering Ashes vs Keeping an Urn at Home: Emotional, Practical, and Legal Things to Consider

Scattering Ashes vs Keeping an Urn at Home: Emotional, Practical, and Legal Things to Consider

When someone you love is cremated, you don’t just receive a container of ashes. You receive a new kind of responsibility: deciding what to do with ashes in a way...

Handling Photos, Videos, and Voicemails After a Death: Saving, Editing, and Setting Boundaries

Handling Photos, Videos, and Voicemails After a Death: Saving, Editing, and Setting Boundaries

When someone dies, it’s often the phone in your hand—not a photo album on a shelf—that first reminds you of them. A smiling selfie pops up under “Memories,” a voicemail...

Home Funerals and Family-Led Care: Legal Basics, Preparation, and When It Makes Sense

Home Funerals and Family-Led Care: Legal Basics, Preparation, and When It Makes Sense

When someone dies, many families move almost automatically into a familiar script: call a funeral home, schedule a viewing, let professionals take the lead. Increasingly, though, some families pause and...

How to Talk About Pet Loss With People Who Don't Get It

How to Talk About Pet Loss With People Who Don't Get It

When a pet dies, the silence in your home can feel deafening. The missing footsteps on the floor, the empty spot on the couch, the unused food bowl in the...

How to Support a Friend Who Lost a Pet: What to Say (and What Not to Say)

How to Support a Friend Who Lost a Pet: What to Say (and What Not to Say)

When a friend loses a pet, it can be surprisingly hard to know what to say. You may feel their grief deeply and still find yourself staring at a blank...