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.

Can You Split Cremation Ashes Among Family? How It Works and What to Buy

Can You Split Cremation Ashes Among Family? How It Works and What to Buy

The question usually arrives in a quiet moment. The cremation is complete, the temporary container is home, and someone finally says what everyone has been thinking: can you split cremation...

Is Cremation Jewelry Tacky or Beautiful? Etiquette, Style, and Talking with Family

Is Cremation Jewelry Tacky or Beautiful? Etiquette, Style, and Talking with Family

The question usually arrives in a whisper, not a declaration. Someone scrolls late at night, sees a pendant that can hold ashes, and thinks, “That might help.” Then another voice—sometimes...

Paw Prints After Pet Death: Clay vs. Ink vs. Foam (Which Looks Best and Lasts Longest)

Paw Prints After Pet Death: Clay vs. Ink vs. Foam (Which Looks Best and Lasts Longest)

After a pet dies, time does something strange. Minutes can feel too fast, and the next days can feel slow and unreal. In the middle of that, a paw print...

Keeping a Pet Skull: Legal and Ethical Considerations and Safe, Respectful Cleaning Options

Keeping a Pet Skull: Legal and Ethical Considerations and Safe, Respectful Cleaning Options

There’s a particular kind of grief that shows up after a pet dies—quiet, domestic, and strangely physical. Their food bowl is still by the wall. The leash is still hung...

Pet Taxidermy: Freeze-Dry vs. Traditional Methods (Cost, Realism, and Emotional Considerations)

Pet Taxidermy: Freeze-Dry vs. Traditional Methods (Cost, Realism, and Emotional Considerations)

There are some losses that change the shape of a home. A leash hanging by the door that no longer gets picked up. A food bowl you can’t quite put...

Do Caskets Have Warranties? What’s Usually Covered (and Why “Sealer” Claims Matter)

Do Caskets Have Warranties? What’s Usually Covered (and Why “Sealer” Claims Matter)

When someone dies, families often find themselves making choices that feel both deeply personal and unexpectedly technical. A casket can look like a simple decision—wood or metal, classic or modern,...

Casket Delivery Inspection Checklist: How to Check for Damage Before You Accept It

Casket Delivery Inspection Checklist: How to Check for Damage Before You Accept It

A casket delivery can feel like a small detail in the middle of a very big week. But when a casket arrives with a dented corner, a scraped finish, or...

Casket Kits: What to Look For in Pre‑Cut DIY Options (Fit, Fasteners, and Compliance)

Casket Kits: What to Look For in Pre‑Cut DIY Options (Fit, Fasteners, and Compliance)

There’s a particular kind of quiet that settles in when you’re responsible for arrangements. Even if your family has talked about wishes for years, the moment you need to make...

Plywood vs Solid Wood for DIY Caskets: Strength, Cost, Appearance, and Eco Tradeoffs

Plywood vs Solid Wood for DIY Caskets: Strength, Cost, Appearance, and Eco Tradeoffs

Building a coffin or casket yourself can feel like one of the most personal things a family can do. Sometimes it comes from deep tradition. Sometimes it comes from a...

What Are Cremation Ashes Made Of? The Science Behind Cremated Remains

What Are Cremation Ashes Made Of? The Science Behind Cremated Remains

The moment the cremated remains come home can feel strangely quiet. The hard part is “over” in the way paperwork is over—forms signed, calls returned, a receipt tucked into a...

Cremation Urns Buying Guide: Types, Prices, Where to Buy, and What to Avoid

Cremation Urns Buying Guide: Types, Prices, Where to Buy, and What to Avoid

Buying an urn can feel deceptively complicated. You might be trying to make a meaningful choice while also navigating deadlines, budgets, and a flood of options that look similar online....

Full-Size Cremation Urns: Standard Sizes, Price Range, and How to Shop

Full-Size Cremation Urns: Standard Sizes, Price Range, and How to Shop

A full size cremation urn is the most common choice families make after cremation, largely because it’s the simplest plan: one secure container designed to hold the complete remains of...

Where to Buy an Urn for Ashes: Online vs Funeral Home vs Local Stores

Where to Buy an Urn for Ashes: Online vs Funeral Home vs Local Stores

When you’re grieving, “shopping” for an urn can feel like an unfair task. The question where to buy urns for ashes sounds practical, but it’s rarely just about a product....

Postmortem Fingerprints for Memorial Jewelry: How Prints Are Taken, Saved, and Used

Postmortem Fingerprints for Memorial Jewelry: How Prints Are Taken, Saved, and Used

The first days after a death can feel like decision-making in a fog. You’re arranging care for your loved one, answering calls you don’t remember making, and trying to hold...

Cremation Bracelets for Ashes: Styles, Pros & Cons, and Buying Tips

Cremation Bracelets for Ashes: Styles, Pros & Cons, and Buying Tips

Cremation bracelets are one of the most discreet ways to keep someone close. For many people, a bracelet feels more natural than a necklace—it sits at the edge of your...

How to Choose a Cremation Urn: Size, Material, Price, and Where to Buy

How to Choose a Cremation Urn: Size, Material, Price, and Where to Buy

Most families don’t sit down one day and decide to shop for an urn. The decision usually arrives in a smaller, harder moment: you’re picking up a temporary container, you’re...