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.

Creating a Pet Memory Book or Photo Album: Telling Their Story One Page at a Time

Creating a Pet Memory Book or Photo Album: Telling Their Story One Page at a Time

Memories have a way of appearing when we least expect them, an unexpected pang at the sound of a paw on the floor, a vivid flash of a shared morning...

Paw Prints, Clay Prints, and Ink Prints: Creating Pet Keepsakes That Last

Paw Prints, Clay Prints, and Ink Prints: Creating Pet Keepsakes That Last

The moment a pet is gone, the emptiness is undeniable. The warmth of their body, the softness of their paws, the gentle weight of their head resting on your lap,...

Losing a Service Dog or Emotional Support Animal: A Unique Kind of Grief

Losing a Service Dog or Emotional Support Animal: A Unique Kind of Grief

Some losses leave a silence so deep, it changes the way you move through the world, losing a service dog or emotional support animal (ESA) is one of them. This...

The Loneliness of Losing a Pet When You Live Alone

The Loneliness of Losing a Pet When You Live Alone

When you live alone, a pet is never “just a pet.” They are the one who greets you at the door, the one who listens to your voice in the...

When a Pet Dies in an Accident: Trauma, Guilt, and How to Begin Healing

When a Pet Dies in an Accident: Trauma, Guilt, and How to Begin Healing

The world can change in an instant. When a pet dies suddenly in an accident, grief often hits like a shockwave. One moment, life feels ordinary; the next, everything is...

Sleeping After a Pet Dies: Why Nights Are So Hard and How to Cope

Sleeping After a Pet Dies: Why Nights Are So Hard and How to Cope

The first nights after a pet dies are often some of the longest of your life. Days can feel heavy, but nights carry a unique weight, made of silence, emptiness,...

How Soon Is “Too Soon” to Get Another Pet? Emotional Timing Explained

How Soon Is “Too Soon” to Get Another Pet? Emotional Timing Explained

The house feels quieter. The routine you built around your companion is suddenly empty. You miss the soft weight at the end of the bed, the jingle of a collar,...

Helping Your Family Agree on When to Adopt Another Pet

Helping Your Family Agree on When to Adopt Another Pet

The quiet of the house feels heavier than usual. A favorite spot on the couch sits empty. The food bowl remains untouched, and the familiar sounds of paws on the...

Talking to Children About a Pet’s Death: Honest, Gentle Guidance for Families

Talking to Children About a Pet’s Death: Honest, Gentle Guidance for Families

Losing a beloved pet is often a child’s first encounter with the permanence of death. The wagging tail, the soft purrs, and the joyful companionship can vanish in an instant, leaving...

Feeling Guilty About Loving a New Pet After a Loss

Feeling Guilty About Loving a New Pet After a Loss

Bringing a new pet into your home after a loss can feel like stepping into two worlds at once. On one side is the love you still hold for the...

Scattering Pet Ashes: Symbolic Places and Gentle Guidelines

Scattering Pet Ashes: Symbolic Places and Gentle Guidelines

When a beloved animal dies, time can feel strange. Days blur together, but one question may stand out sharply: what to do with ashes. If you chose or are considering...

Grieving the Loss of a Cat: The Quiet, Deep Bond You’re Mourning

Grieving the Loss of a Cat: The Quiet, Deep Bond You’re Mourning

There is a particular kind of grief that follows the loss of a cat. It does not always roar. It does not always appear dramatic to others. Instead, it settles...

Honoring Your Pet Through Volunteering: Turning Grief Into Quiet Action

Honoring Your Pet Through Volunteering: Turning Grief Into Quiet Action

When a much-loved animal dies, the silence can feel louder than anything. You may still move through the same routines—filling a food bowl that no longer needs filling, glancing at...

How to Create a Pet Memorial Garden at Home: Design Ideas, Plants, and Personal Touches

How to Create a Pet Memorial Garden at Home: Design Ideas, Plants, and Personal Touches

When a pet dies, the whole house feels different. The quiet by the food bowl, the empty spot on the couch, the way the yard suddenly looks a little too...

Is It Okay to Bury Your Pet at Home? Legal, Safety, and Emotional Considerations

Is It Okay to Bury Your Pet at Home? Legal, Safety, and Emotional Considerations

When a beloved dog, cat, or other companion animal dies, many families feel a strong pull to lay them to rest at home. The backyard is where they chased balls,...

When Your Pet Dies at Home: What to Do Next, Practically and Emotionally

When Your Pet Dies at Home: What to Do Next, Practically and Emotionally

When a pet dies at home, life can seem to stop in an instant. One moment they are struggling, resting, or simply aging in front of you, and the next,...