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.

White Candle Meaning in Remembrance: Memorial Candle Etiquette and Simple Ritual Ideas

White Candle Meaning in Remembrance: Memorial Candle Etiquette and Simple Ritual Ideas

There’s a reason so many families reach for a white candle when words don’t come easily. In grief, the mind can feel crowded—logistics, emotions, memories, and decisions all arriving at...

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...

What Does “Ashes to Ashes, Dust to Dust” Really Mean at a Funeral?

What Does “Ashes to Ashes, Dust to Dust” Really Mean at a Funeral?

There is a particular kind of quiet that falls over a graveside. Even if the day has been full of movement—cars arriving, greetings exchanged, tissues offered, people trying to say...

Common Symbols on Headstones and What They Mean: Crosses, Flowers, Animals, and More

Common Symbols on Headstones and What They Mean: Crosses, Flowers, Animals, and More

Standing in front of a headstone for the first time can be surprisingly emotional, even if you have been “doing okay” day to day. A marker is small in the...

Talking to Children About Losing a Pet: Age-Appropriate Words and Comforting Rituals

Talking to Children About Losing a Pet: Age-Appropriate Words and Comforting Rituals

For many families, the death of a pet is a child’s first real encounter with grief. Adults often feel two pressures at once: you want to protect your child from...

What Is an Ash Necklace Called? Cremation Necklace vs Urn Pendant (Names, Styles, and How to Choose)

What Is an Ash Necklace Called? Cremation Necklace vs Urn Pendant (Names, Styles, and How to Choose)

If you’ve searched for an “ash necklace,” you’ve probably seen a dozen names for what looks like the same thing: cremation necklace, urn necklace, memorial pendant, ashes locket, keepsake jewelry....

Funeral Flowers and Color Meanings: How to Choose the Right Sympathy Arrangement

Funeral Flowers and Color Meanings: How to Choose the Right Sympathy Arrangement

Standing in front of a florist’s cooler—or scrolling through pages of arrangements late at night—can make grief feel even louder. You want to show up with something kind, something appropriate,...

Famous Mothers & Symbols of Motherhood: Memorial Ideas, Flowers, and Meaningful Tributes

Famous Mothers & Symbols of Motherhood: Memorial Ideas, Flowers, and Meaningful Tributes

Some losses split time in two: the life you had with your mother, and the life you’re learning to live without her. When that happens, many families reach for the...

Memorial Photo Necklaces: How to Choose a Picture Pendant That Lasts

Memorial Photo Necklaces: How to Choose a Picture Pendant That Lasts

There are days when you don’t want to “move on,” you just want something steady to hold onto. A memorial photo necklace can be that—quiet, wearable, and close enough to...

Hourglass Urns for Ashes: How They Work, Capacity, and What to Know Before You Buy

Hourglass Urns for Ashes: How They Work, Capacity, and What to Know Before You Buy

There’s something quietly comforting about an hourglass. Even people who don’t consider themselves “sentimental” understand the feeling: time passing, love staying, a life held gently between before and after. That’s...

15 Famous Mothers in History and Pop Culture—and How Their Memorials Keep Their Stories Alive

15 Famous Mothers in History and Pop Culture—and How Their Memorials Keep Their Stories Alive

Some mothers become famous because history recorded their choices. Others become famous because a story—on a page or a screen—captured a kind of love people recognized instantly. Either way, what...

Funeral Flower Arrangements Explained: Types, Average Costs, and Meaning

Funeral Flower Arrangements Explained: Types, Average Costs, and Meaning

Funeral flowers can feel surprisingly complicated—especially when you’re trying to comfort someone while your own emotions are running high. You may be looking at funeral flower arrangements like wreaths, standing...

Headstone vs. Grave Marker vs. Gravestone: Differences and How to Choose

Headstone vs. Grave Marker vs. Gravestone: Differences and How to Choose

If you’ve ever found yourself typing headstone vs grave marker into a search bar late at night, you’re not alone. This is one of those funeral-planning details that feels deceptively...

The Rainbow Bridge Poem: History, Meaning, and Alternatives

The Rainbow Bridge Poem: History, Meaning, and Alternatives

If you’ve ever lost a pet, there’s a good chance someone sent you “Rainbow Bridge” within days—sometimes within hours. It often arrives with good intentions: a friend trying to offer...

50 Meaningful Ways to Memorialize Your Pet (That Aren’t Tattoos)

50 Meaningful Ways to Memorialize Your Pet (That Aren’t Tattoos)

Some losses rearrange the furniture of your life. A leash that still hangs by the door. A food bowl you can’t bring yourself to move. The quiet at the hour...

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...