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.

Aquamation: The Eco-Friendly Alternative to Pet Cremation

Aquamation: The Eco-Friendly Alternative to Pet Cremation

When a pet dies, the world doesn’t pause just because your heart does. One moment you’re counting medications, refilling a water bowl, hearing familiar footsteps in the hallway. The next,...

When Will My Pet’s Ashes Be Returned? What to Expect, and What to Do When They Arrive

When Will My Pet’s Ashes Be Returned? What to Expect, and What to Do When They Arrive

The period between saying goodbye to your companion and receiving their cremated remains can feel heavy and uncertain. Many families wonder, “When will my pet’s ashes be returned?” and what...

Crying for Weeks After a Pet Dies: Is It Normal? What Does Healing Look Like?

Crying for Weeks After a Pet Dies: Is It Normal? What Does Healing Look Like?

Losing a pet can feel like losing a part of yourself. The grief that follows is often intense, overwhelming, and persistent, and it is common to find yourself crying for...

What to Do Right Now After a Pet Dies

What to Do Right Now After a Pet Dies

The bond with a pet is filled with daily moments of love, companionship, and quiet joy. Morning greetings, shared routines, playful antics, and the comfort of their presence become woven...

Coping with the Quiet House After a Pet Dies: How to Adjust to the Silence

Coping with the Quiet House After a Pet Dies: How to Adjust to the Silence

There is a particular kind of silence that settles over a home after a pet dies. It is not the ordinary quiet of a house at night or the stillness...

Finding a Pet Loss Counselor: What Credentials to Look For

Finding a Pet Loss Counselor: What Credentials to Look For

When a pet dies, the grief can be as sharp and disorienting as losing a close family member. In today’s world, where most U.S. households now include at least one...

Pet Loss for Highly Sensitive People: Why Grief Hits So Hard

Pet Loss for Highly Sensitive People: Why Grief Hits So Hard

When a pet dies, some people feel sad and then slowly find their footing again. For others, especially those who recognize themselves as highly sensitive, the loss can feel like...

How to Create a Peaceful Final Day for Your Pet

How to Create a Peaceful Final Day for Your Pet

When you realize your pet is nearing the end of their life—whether because of a slow decline or a scheduled euthanasia—time suddenly feels both too fast and painfully slow. You...

How to Journal Through Pet Loss: Prompts, Practices, and Healing Techniques

How to Journal Through Pet Loss: Prompts, Practices, and Healing Techniques

When a beloved animal dies, the world can feel strangely off-balance. You might still catch yourself listening for paws in the hallway, glancing at a favorite spot on the couch,...

Grieving the Loss of a Pet: Why It Hurts So Much and How to Cope Day by Day

Grieving the Loss of a Pet: Why It Hurts So Much and How to Cope Day by Day

There are moments in grief when loss hits with such force that the world suddenly feels unfamiliar, quieter, and fragile. Losing a pet can bring you to that place before...

Are You Ready for a New Dog? 7 Signs You’re Not (And Why That’s Okay)

Are You Ready for a New Dog? 7 Signs You’re Not (And Why That’s Okay)

There’s a moment after losing a dog when the house feels unnaturally quiet. You still pause, expecting to hear paws on the floor, or glance at the corner where they...

What to Put on a Pet Memorial Stone

What to Put on a Pet Memorial Stone

A pet memorial stone is more than a marker, it is a lasting tribute to a cherished companion. It provides a quiet, dedicated place for reflection, remembrance, and connection. Choosing...

What Actually Happens During Pet Cremation?

What Actually Happens During Pet Cremation?

For many families, the idea of pet cremation can feel like a mysterious process. Your pet leaves your care, and later, a container of ashes is returned. The time in...

How to Honor a Pet’s Birthday or Adoption Day After They’re Gone

How to Honor a Pet’s Birthday or Adoption Day After They’re Gone

The first time your pet’s birthday or adoption day comes around after they’re gone can feel unexpectedly heavy. The date carries a strange gravity, pulling memories forward, the “gotcha day”...

When Your Child Wants Another Pet Right Away: How to Respond with Care

When Your Child Wants Another Pet Right Away: How to Respond with Care

There is a moment many parents are not prepared for: the house still feels painfully quiet after a pet’s death, and a child suddenly asks for another pet right away....

Grieving a Pet While Living Alone: Filling the Silence With Compassion

Grieving a Pet While Living Alone: Filling the Silence With Compassion

Living alone while grieving a pet creates a uniquely quiet form of loss because the relationship was woven into the physical fabric of daily life. Pet loss in solitude changes...