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.

Memorials and Monuments Around the World: Famous Sites, Symbolism, and How They’re Designed

Memorials and Monuments Around the World: Famous Sites, Symbolism, and How They’re Designed

When families visit a place of remembrance—whether it’s a national mall, a hillside cemetery, or a quiet corner of a city—they’re rarely only “sightseeing.” They’re practicing something older and more...

“I’m Sorry for Your Loss”: What It Means, When to Say It, and Better Alternatives

“I’m Sorry for Your Loss”: What It Means, When to Say It, and Better Alternatives

“I’m sorry for your loss” is one of the most common condolence phrases in English, and it’s common for a reason: it gives people a simple way to acknowledge grief...

57 Things to Put Ashes In: Urn Alternatives, Keepsakes, and Creative Memorial Ideas

57 Things to Put Ashes In: Urn Alternatives, Keepsakes, and Creative Memorial Ideas

After a cremation, families often discover a small, surprising truth: the hardest choices are not always the paperwork or the phone calls. Sometimes it’s the quiet moment when the temporary...

Celebration of Life Quotes: Short, Uplifting Sayings for Programs, Speeches, and Tributes

Celebration of Life Quotes: Short, Uplifting Sayings for Programs, Speeches, and Tributes

In grief, you can know exactly who someone was and still feel stuck when you’re asked to “choose a few words.” A blank line on a program. A caption under...

What to Write on Facebook After Someone Dies: Condolence Posts That Are Respectful

What to Write on Facebook After Someone Dies: Condolence Posts That Are Respectful

Facebook is often where people learn about a death now—sometimes before a family has even had time to call everyone privately. That’s why posting feels delicate. You want to express...

How to Write a Sympathy Note: Dos and Don’ts + Condolence Message Templates (Spanish & English)

How to Write a Sympathy Note: Dos and Don’ts + Condolence Message Templates (Spanish & English)

Most people don’t avoid writing because they don’t care. They avoid it because they care—and they’re afraid of saying the wrong thing. If you’re staring at a blank card, a...

Cremation Necklaces for Ashes: Types, Materials, Filling Tips & What to Buy

Cremation Necklaces for Ashes: Types, Materials, Filling Tips & What to Buy

A cremation necklace for ashes is often chosen for a simple reason: grief doesn’t stay in one place. It shows up on the drive home, in a grocery aisle, at...

Comfort Food Ideas to Bring After a Death: Easy, Reheatable Meals People Actually Eat

Comfort Food Ideas to Bring After a Death: Easy, Reheatable Meals People Actually Eat

If you’re searching comfort food ideas because someone has died, you’re probably trying to do something quietly important: remove one burden from a household that is carrying too many at...

Have Too Many Eggs? Easy Egg-Based Comfort Meals (Great for Meal Trains)

Have Too Many Eggs? Easy Egg-Based Comfort Meals (Great for Meal Trains)

If you have a refrigerator full of eggs and a heart that wants to do something useful with them, you’re in a good place. Eggs are one of the simplest...

Do You Need an Urn Vault? Burial Urns, Cemetery Requirements, and Long-Term Storage Options

Do You Need an Urn Vault? Burial Urns, Cemetery Requirements, and Long-Term Storage Options

Most families don’t begin with the words “urn vault.” They begin with a simpler question: what happens next after cremation? Then a cemetery mentions a requirement, or a funeral director...

Large Dog Urns: How to Choose the Right Size (Plus Extra-Large Pet Urn Options)

Large Dog Urns: How to Choose the Right Size (Plus Extra-Large Pet Urn Options)

Choosing large dog urns is one of those decisions that feels purely “practical” until you’re actually making it. Then it becomes emotional fast. You’re not just buying a container—you’re trying...

Cooking a Comfort Meal in Someone’s Memory: Simple Lamb Chop Dinner Ideas + Best Sides

Cooking a Comfort Meal in Someone’s Memory: Simple Lamb Chop Dinner Ideas + Best Sides

Some meals do more than feed people. They hold a story. The smell hits the kitchen and, for a second, someone is back in the room again—laughing, insisting on “just...

Easy, Healthy Breakfasts for Grief: Simple Meals When You Have No Appetite

Easy, Healthy Breakfasts for Grief: Simple Meals When You Have No Appetite

If you’re searching for breakfast ideas for grief, you’re probably not looking for a Pinterest-perfect morning. You’re looking for something that gets you through the next hour with a little...

Holiday Meals After a Loss: Gentle Christmas Dinner Ideas for Grieving Families

Holiday Meals After a Loss: Gentle Christmas Dinner Ideas for Grieving Families

Holiday meals after loss can feel like walking into a room that used to be warm and familiar, only to realize the air is different now. The calendar says “Christmas,”...

What to Cook for a Grieving Family: Comforting Dinners, Meal Train Ideas & What to Avoid

What to Cook for a Grieving Family: Comforting Dinners, Meal Train Ideas & What to Avoid

If you’re searching what to cook for a grieving family, you’re probably trying to do something quietly important: remove one decision from a household that has too many decisions all...

What to Send Instead of Flowers: Sympathy Gift Ideas That Actually Help (With Examples)

What to Send Instead of Flowers: Sympathy Gift Ideas That Actually Help (With Examples)

When someone dies, flowers can be beautiful. They can also feel strangely small against the weight of what just happened. If you’re reading this, you may be standing in that...