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.

Do Animals Go to Heaven? Faith Perspectives, Grief, and What to Do When an Animal Dies

Do Animals Go to Heaven? Faith Perspectives, Grief, and What to Do When an Animal Dies

This article explores how different faith traditions and spiritual viewpoints answer the question “do animals go to heaven?” while also offering practical guidance on what to do when a pet...

How to Choose a Pet Portrait, Paw Print, or Jewelry Memorial That Feels Personal

How to Choose a Pet Portrait, Paw Print, or Jewelry Memorial That Feels Personal

The house can feel impossibly quiet after a pet is gone. Their bowl is still in the same place. The leash is still hanging by the door. And then, at...

The Quality of Life Scale: An Objective Tool for a Subjective Heartbreak

The Quality of Life Scale: An Objective Tool for a Subjective Heartbreak

There’s a particular kind of exhaustion that comes with loving a pet who is declining. Not the obvious tiredness of interrupted sleep or extra appointments, but the quieter fatigue of...

Phantom Noises: Why You Still Hear Their Nails on the Floor

Phantom Noises: Why You Still Hear Their Nails on the Floor

It’s strange what silence does after a pet dies. The house is still the same, but the soundscape has missing pieces—no rhythmic click of nails across tile, no collar jingle...

The "What If" Loop: How to Stop Replaying Their Final Moments

The "What If" Loop: How to Stop Replaying Their Final Moments

The house is quieter than you expected. Not just because the tags aren’t jingling or the nails aren’t clicking down the hallway—but because your mind has filled the silence with...

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...

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...