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.

Poems to Honor the Loss of a Loved One

Poems to Honor the Loss of a Loved One

Loss is deeply personal, touching each individual in unique ways. No two experiences of grief are the same, and the emotions it brings, sadness, confusion, anger, or even relief, can...

Choosing a Pet Urn for Ashes: How to Make It Feel Like Them

Choosing a Pet Urn for Ashes: How to Make It Feel Like Them

When a beloved pet passes away at home, the moment can feel surreal. One instant, you are hearing the soft thud of paws across the floor, feeling the warm weight...

Preplanning Your Own Funeral or Cremation: Benefits, Decisions, and What to Put in Writing

Preplanning Your Own Funeral or Cremation: Benefits, Decisions, and What to Put in Writing

There’s a moment when you realize that preplanning your own funeral or cremation isn’t morbid, it’s practical, protective, and deeply loving. Thinking about it isn’t about dwelling on the end;...

Green Burial and Natural Burial Grounds: Eco-Friendly Alternatives to Traditional Funerals

Green Burial and Natural Burial Grounds: Eco-Friendly Alternatives to Traditional Funerals

The growing awareness of environmental issues has reshaped how many people approach end-of-life planning. Increasingly, families are turning to green burial guide options as a way to honor loved ones...

How to Choose a Funeral Home: Questions to Ask, Red Flags, and Comparing Local Options

How to Choose a Funeral Home: Questions to Ask, Red Flags, and Comparing Local Options

The moment you realize you need to start choosing a funeral home rarely comes with a clear head. It might be late at night after a sudden loss, or in...

Closing Accounts and Subscriptions After a Death: Step-by-Step Help for Everyday Bills

Closing Accounts and Subscriptions After a Death: Step-by-Step Help for Everyday Bills

After a death, life can feel divided between emotional responsibilities and practical tasks. On one side are decisions like planning a funeral, selecting a cremation urn, or arranging a home...

Supporting a Surviving Parent After the Other Parent Dies: Boundaries, Roles, and Emotional Care

Supporting a Surviving Parent After the Other Parent Dies: Boundaries, Roles, and Emotional Care

When one parent dies, it can feel as if the very foundation of your family has shifted beneath your feet. The grief is heavy, not just for the parent who...

Choosing a Memorial Charity: Turning “In Lieu of Flowers” into a Living Tribute

Choosing a Memorial Charity: Turning “In Lieu of Flowers” into a Living Tribute

The little line near the bottom of an obituary can carry a surprising amount of weight. You read, “In lieu of flowers, please donate to…,” and suddenly a quiet but...

How to Write and Deliver a Eulogy: Tips, Examples, and Handling Emotions

How to Write and Deliver a Eulogy: Tips, Examples, and Handling Emotions

Writing a eulogy can feel overwhelming, but it’s also a powerful way to honor a loved one and celebrate the unique life they lived. It allows you to share memories,...

Talking About End-of-Life Wishes with Family: Conversation Starters and Common Roadblocks

Talking About End-of-Life Wishes with Family: Conversation Starters and Common Roadblocks

"Talking about the end of life is not about bringing sadness—it’s about bringing clarity, peace, and love to the ones we care about most." Most people say they want their...

Holding a Second Memorial or Anniversary Gathering: Remembering a Loved One Later On

Holding a Second Memorial or Anniversary Gathering: Remembering a Loved One Later On

Losing a loved one leaves a lasting void, and the grief that follows doesn’t always fit neatly into the days and weeks after a funeral. For many families, the idea...

Planning a Funeral from Out of Town: Long-Distance Coordination Made Easier

Planning a Funeral from Out of Town: Long-Distance Coordination Made Easier

Planning a funeral when you’re far away can feel overwhelming, especially when grief is paired with the stress of distance. Planning a funeral from out of town involves coordinating multiple...

Caring for Cremation Urns: Cleaning, Display, and Long-Term Protection

Caring for Cremation Urns: Cleaning, Display, and Long-Term Protection

Caring for your loved one’s cremation urn is a meaningful way to honor their memory and preserve a tangible connection to their life. An urn is more than just a...

Casket Choices Explained: Materials, Features, Rental Options, and Saving on Costs

Casket Choices Explained: Materials, Features, Rental Options, and Saving on Costs

When you first sit down to make casket choices, it can feel like you are being asked to make an enormous decision in a very small window of time. A...

Unique Memorial Keepsakes: From Fingerprint Jewelry to Artwork Made with Ashes

Unique Memorial Keepsakes: From Fingerprint Jewelry to Artwork Made with Ashes

Honoring a loved one’s memory often extends far beyond traditional caskets or urns. Unique memorial keepsakes allow families to create personalized tributes that capture the essence of a person’s life...

Faith, Spirituality, and Doubt in Grief: When Beliefs Are Comforting—and When They Are Challenged

Faith, Spirituality, and Doubt in Grief: When Beliefs Are Comforting—and When They Are Challenged

Grief has a way of touching every layer of life, including whatever you believe (or don’t believe) about God, the soul, and what happens after death. For some people, a...