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.

What Is a Wake? Differences Between a Wake, Viewing, Visitation, and Funeral Service

What Is a Wake? Differences Between a Wake, Viewing, Visitation, and Funeral Service

A wake is often the first gathering where love, grief, and remembrance come together in one shared space. It is the moment when stories begin to surface, when hands are...

Funeral Music Ideas: Choosing Songs for Services, Viewings, and Celebrations of Life

Funeral Music Ideas: Choosing Songs for Services, Viewings, and Celebrations of Life

Selecting the right music for a final goodbye is one of the most meaningful choices a family can make. In moments when words fall short, music becomes the emotional thread...

Religions and Cremation: How Different Faiths View Cremation vs Burial

Religions and Cremation: How Different Faiths View Cremation vs Burial

When families start talking about cremation vs burial, the conversation rarely stays purely practical. Very quickly, it touches on religious views on cremation, beliefs about the body and the soul,...

Coping with the Loss of a Pet: Grief Stages, Support, and Memorial Ideas

Coping with the Loss of a Pet: Grief Stages, Support, and Memorial Ideas

If you are reading this because you are coping with the loss of a pet, please know you’re not alone. For so many people, pets are family. Saying goodbye to...

Cat Euthanasia and Cremation Costs: What to Expect at the Vet and Crematory

Cat Euthanasia and Cremation Costs: What to Expect at the Vet and Crematory

Understanding the Emotional and Financial Landscape Saying goodbye to a cat is one of the hardest experiences a pet parent can face. When illness, pain, or age has taken away...

What to Wear to a Funeral, Wake, or Celebration of Life: Dress Code Made Simple

What to Wear to a Funeral, Wake, or Celebration of Life: Dress Code Made Simple

Grief does not come with a wardrobe checklist. Most people only attend a few services in their lifetime, so it is completely normal to wonder what to wear to a...

Catholic Funeral Mass Explained: Rituals, Prayers, and What Families Can Expect

Catholic Funeral Mass Explained: Rituals, Prayers, and What Families Can Expect

If you have not been to a Catholic funeral in a long time, or ever, it can feel a little intimidating. There are prayers, specific rituals, and phrases like “vigil,”...

Preplanning a Funeral: Benefits, Costs, and Questions to Ask Before You Sign

Preplanning a Funeral: Benefits, Costs, and Questions to Ask Before You Sign

Thinking about your own funeral is not easy. But for many people, preplanning a funeral is less about focusing on death and more about giving a practical, lasting gift to...

Choosing the Right Urn Size: Capacity Guide for Adults, Children, and Pets

Choosing the Right Urn Size: Capacity Guide for Adults, Children, and Pets

When you’re grieving, the last thing you want is to worry about math. Yet many families find themselves asking the same urgent question: “What size urn do I need?” Understanding...

Mailing Cremated Remains: USPS Rules, Required Kits, and How to Ship Ashes Safely

Mailing Cremated Remains: USPS Rules, Required Kits, and How to Ship Ashes Safely

When families talk about funeral planning today, the conversation often includes distance. Adult children may live in other states, a memorial service might be scheduled months after a death, or...

Gravesite Decoration Ideas: Flowers, Flags, and Seasonal Tributes That Last

Gravesite Decoration Ideas: Flowers, Flags, and Seasonal Tributes That Last

When it comes to gravesite decoration ideas, knowing where to start can feel overwhelming. From flowers for graves and artificial flowers for headstones to flags on graves and seasonal grave...

Headstone Quotes and Sayings: Choosing the Right Words for a Loved One’s Grave

Headstone Quotes and Sayings: Choosing the Right Words for a Loved One’s Grave

Selecting the right headstone quotes and sayings is an emotional journey that combines love, remembrance, and reflection. Every word etched into stone carries the weight of a life lived, preserving...

Burying a Pet at Home: Legal Rules, Safety Tips, and Alternatives to Consider

Burying a Pet at Home: Legal Rules, Safety Tips, and Alternatives to Consider

Sometimes the quiet after a pet’s final breath feels heavier than words can hold. The house changes, its corners softer, its routines quieter, and yet their presence stays woven into...

Pet Cremation Cost by Size: Small, Medium, and Large Dog and Cat Price Guide

Pet Cremation Cost by Size: Small, Medium, and Large Dog and Cat Price Guide

Caring for a pet’s final arrangements is an important step in honoring the life and companionship they’ve shared with you. When considering pet cremation cost by size, many pet owners...

Coping with the Loss of a Dog: Grief, Rainbow Bridge Rituals, and Memorial Ideas

Coping with the Loss of a Dog: Grief, Rainbow Bridge Rituals, and Memorial Ideas

The quiet paw prints that once echoed through your home are now a tender memory. The wag of a tail, the warm snuggle by your side, the excited greeting at...

Headstone Epitaph Ideas: Beautiful Words, Quotes, and Short Sayings for Gravestones

Headstone Epitaph Ideas: Beautiful Words, Quotes, and Short Sayings for Gravestones

Choosing the right words to honor a loved one’s memory can feel overwhelming. In moments of grief, even the simplest decisions, like what to put on a gravestone, can suddenly...