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.

Traumatic Pet Loss: Coping with Accidents and Unpreventable Tragedies

Traumatic Pet Loss: Coping with Accidents and Unpreventable Tragedies

Sudden loss throws your entire world off its axis. One moment your pet is part of your daily rhythm, the footsteps following you down the hallway, the weight on the...

Pet Euthanasia Guilt: What to Do When You Keep Asking 'Did I Do the Right Thing?

Pet Euthanasia Guilt: What to Do When You Keep Asking 'Did I Do the Right Thing?

There is a particular silence that follows euthanasia. It is not just the quiet house or the empty bed on the floor; it is the silence in your own mind...

How to Cope With the Loss of a Dog: Gentle Steps for the Hardest Goodbye

How to Cope With the Loss of a Dog: Gentle Steps for the Hardest Goodbye

When a dog dies, the world can tilt in ways that other people don’t always see. The bed is still made, the emails still arrive, the traffic still moves—but the...

When a Loved One Dies by Suicide: Gentle Guidance for Language, Memorials, and Support

When a Loved One Dies by Suicide: Gentle Guidance for Language, Memorials, and Support

The moment you learn that someone you love has died by suicide, time can feel split in two. There is the world “before,” and then the surreal blur that follows:...

The Guilt of Being Happy Again: Why Joy Isn't a Betrayal

The Guilt of Being Happy Again: Why Joy Isn't a Betrayal

There is a strange, almost jarring moment that many grieving people recognize. You are washing dishes, scrolling your phone, or talking with a friend, and something makes you laugh out...

When the Vet Makes a Mistake: Handling Anger and Grief

When the Vet Makes a Mistake: Handling Anger and Grief

Sometimes the worst part of losing a pet is not just that they are gone, but how it happened. You might find yourself replaying one specific moment in a clinic...

When Grief Turns into Depression: Knowing When to Seek Professional Help

When Grief Turns into Depression: Knowing When to Seek Professional Help

Grief after a death, especially after the loss of a pet who was your constant companion, can feel like your whole inner world has shattered. One moment, you might find...

The Guilt of Relief: Why It’s Okay to Feel Relieved Their Suffering Is Over

The Guilt of Relief: Why It’s Okay to Feel Relieved Their Suffering Is Over

There’s a quiet moment that rarely appears in sympathy cards or social media posts. The vet has left the room, or the last breath has come at home. The house...

Losing a Reptile or Exotic Pet: When People Don’t Understand Your Grief

Losing a Reptile or Exotic Pet: When People Don’t Understand Your Grief

When most people picture pet loss, they think of dogs and cats. They imagine leashes and litter boxes, wagging tails, and purring bodies. What they often don’t picture is the...

When Your Pet Was Your Routine: Rebuilding Daily Life After a Loss

When Your Pet Was Your Routine: Rebuilding Daily Life After a Loss

There are some losses that do not only break your heart; they break your days. When a pet dies, you are not just grieving a companion, you are grieving a...

Missed Signs: Forgiving Yourself for Not Catching the Illness Sooner

Missed Signs: Forgiving Yourself for Not Catching the Illness Sooner

The moment you realize there were “signs” is often not at the vet’s office or in the middle of the emergency. It is days or weeks later, when the house...

Disenfranchised Grief: When Your Loss Isn’t Recognized or Taken Seriously

Disenfranchised Grief: When Your Loss Isn’t Recognized or Taken Seriously

When you are grieving a loss that no one else seems to see, the world can feel strangely split in two. On the surface, you go to work, run errands,...

Creating Art as Pet Loss Therapy: Painting, Drawing, and Creative Expression

Creating Art as Pet Loss Therapy: Painting, Drawing, and Creative Expression

When a beloved animal dies, the world can suddenly feel strangely quiet and colorless. You may find yourself sitting in the spot where your dog curled up beside you, or...

Trauma Anniversaries and Difficult Dates: Birthdays, Death Dates, and Other Times Grief Spikes

Trauma Anniversaries and Difficult Dates: Birthdays, Death Dates, and Other Times Grief Spikes

There are days on the calendar that feel heavier than others long after a death. You might be moving through an ordinary week and then suddenly realize your chest feels...

Self-Care in Grief: Sleep, Nutrition, Movement, and Gentle Routines When You Feel Numb or Overwhelmed

Self-Care in Grief: Sleep, Nutrition, Movement, and Gentle Routines When You Feel Numb or Overwhelmed

Grief is not linear, and in its wake, even the simplest daily tasks can feel monumental. Taking care of yourself after a death may seem impossible when exhaustion, sorrow, and...