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.

Funeral Memorial Cards: Wording, Photo Ideas, and Printing Tips

Funeral Memorial Cards: Wording, Photo Ideas, and Printing Tips

There is a moment in nearly every family’s planning process when something unexpectedly small becomes surprisingly emotional. It might be choosing a song, deciding on a time, or realizing you...

Funeral Thank-You Notes: Who to Thank, When to Send, and Message Templates

Funeral Thank-You Notes: Who to Thank, When to Send, and Message Templates

After a funeral, the world gets quiet in a way that can feel both merciful and strange. The calls slow down. The car leaves the driveway. The last casserole dish...

Pet Loss Quotes and Readings: Comforting Words for a Memorial or Card

Pet Loss Quotes and Readings: Comforting Words for a Memorial or Card

When a pet dies, the quiet can feel unreal. A food bowl that doesn’t need refilling, a leash that stays on the hook, a familiar spot on the couch that...

Holy Cards and Prayer Cards: Meaning, History, and Modern Funeral Uses

Holy Cards and Prayer Cards: Meaning, History, and Modern Funeral Uses

At a wake, a visitation, or the quiet moment when guests begin to file out of a church, there is often a small, ordinary exchange that carries surprising weight. Someone...

Funeral Tie Etiquette: Best Tie Colors, Patterns & Knots (Plus When You Can Skip the Tie)

Funeral Tie Etiquette: Best Tie Colors, Patterns & Knots (Plus When You Can Skip the Tie)

When you’re getting ready for a funeral, it’s rarely just about clothes. It’s about showing up for someone—often on a day when emotions are heavy and everyone feels a little...

What to Wear to a Memorial Service or Celebration of Life: Modern Etiquette & Outfit Ideas

What to Wear to a Memorial Service or Celebration of Life: Modern Etiquette & Outfit Ideas

If you’ve ever stared into your closet before a memorial and felt your stomach drop, you’re not alone. The hard part isn’t the clothing—it’s the fear of getting it wrong...

What Should a Woman Wear to a Funeral? Respectful Outfit Ideas, Colors & Etiquette

What Should a Woman Wear to a Funeral? Respectful Outfit Ideas, Colors & Etiquette

If you’re standing in front of your closet thinking, “Why does this feel so hard?”, you’re not alone. Grief makes even simple choices feel heavy. And when you’re trying to...

What to Wear to a Funeral: Dress Code Basics for Men, Women & Kids

What to Wear to a Funeral: Dress Code Basics for Men, Women & Kids

If you’re staring at your closet and feeling unsure, you’re in good company. Most people don’t attend funerals often, and the rules can feel both unspoken and high-stakes—especially when you’re...

Headstone Requirements in U.S. Cemeteries: Size, Material & Installation Rules

Headstone Requirements in U.S. Cemeteries: Size, Material & Installation Rules

Most families don’t start this process thinking about paperwork. You start with a name you want to honor, a set of dates that still feel unreal, and a quiet desire...

What to Do With a Wedding Ring After a Spouse Dies: Meaningful Options and Practical Next Steps

What to Do With a Wedding Ring After a Spouse Dies: Meaningful Options and Practical Next Steps

In the first weeks after a loss, the smallest objects can feel the heaviest. A wedding ring is one of them. It’s not only jewelry; it’s a daily ritual, a...

How to Clean and Care for a Granite Headstone Without Causing Damage

How to Clean and Care for a Granite Headstone Without Causing Damage

If you have ever stood in front of a loved one’s marker and felt the urge to “make it right,” you are not alone. Dirt, streaks, moss, and dark staining...

Pet Ashes vs Human Ashes: What’s the Same, What’s Different, and What It Means for Memorials

Pet Ashes vs Human Ashes: What’s the Same, What’s Different, and What It Means for Memorials

When a family chooses cremation—whether for a parent, a partner, or a beloved dog or cat—there’s a moment that can feel unexpectedly heavy. The phone call comes. The container is...

Scattering Ashes in Parks, Forests, and on Hiking Trails: Permissions and Best Practices

Scattering Ashes in Parks, Forests, and on Hiking Trails: Permissions and Best Practices

Scattering the cremated remains of a loved one can be a deeply meaningful part of funeral planning, but it also raises important questions about legality, respect, and environmental stewardship. Whether...

Scattering Ashes at Sea: Laws, Safety, and Ceremony Ideas for Ocean Farewells

Scattering Ashes at Sea: Laws, Safety, and Ceremony Ideas for Ocean Farewells

For many families, an ocean farewell feels like the most honest kind of goodbye. The sea is vast, rhythmic, and steady. It holds memory without needing a marker. And when...

Customizing a Casket: Interiors, Colors, and Personal Touches That Feel Authentic

Customizing a Casket: Interiors, Colors, and Personal Touches That Feel Authentic

When a family starts talking about “customizing a casket,” what they are usually trying to do is not decorate something. They are trying to make a hard day feel less...

Flag Folding and Presentation at a Veteran’s Funeral: Meaning and What to Expect

Flag Folding and Presentation at a Veteran’s Funeral: Meaning and What to Expect

There is a particular kind of quiet that settles in at the end of a veteran’s funeral. It might be at the graveside, at a committal shelter, or at the...