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.

Teardrop Cremation Necklace Guide: Styles, Materials, and How Much Ashes It Holds

Teardrop Cremation Necklace Guide: Styles, Materials, and How Much Ashes It Holds

A teardrop cremation necklace is one of those choices that can feel surprisingly personal. The shape is familiar and gentle. It looks like everyday jewelry. And for many people, it...

Custom & Personalized Cremation Urns: Photo, Engraving, and Unique Memorialization Ideas

Custom & Personalized Cremation Urns: Photo, Engraving, and Unique Memorialization Ideas

When someone you love is cremated, the questions that follow are rarely “just” practical. You may be choosing an urn while you are still learning how to carry grief through...

Wicker Caskets and Willow Coffins: Costs, Green Burial Benefits, and What to Know Before Buying

Wicker Caskets and Willow Coffins: Costs, Green Burial Benefits, and What to Know Before Buying

Most families don’t set out to “shop for a casket.” They set out to care for someone they love, and then—often quickly—have to make decisions that feel both emotional and...

Famous Mothers and Their Memorials: 15 Iconic Moms and How They’re Remembered

Famous Mothers and Their Memorials: 15 Iconic Moms and How They’re Remembered

When people talk about famous mothers memorials, they’re usually reaching for something deeper than celebrity. They’re trying to understand how love lasts. A mother’s impact can be public or private,...

Memorial Music Boxes and Music Box Urns: Personalized Keepsakes That Play a Meaningful Song

Memorial Music Boxes and Music Box Urns: Personalized Keepsakes That Play a Meaningful Song

When someone dies, we expect the big decisions to feel like the hard part. But for many families, what comes next is quieter and surprisingly personal: deciding what to do...

Cremation Jewelry Guide: Is It a Good Idea, How It’s Filled, and What to Look for When Buying

Cremation Jewelry Guide: Is It a Good Idea, How It’s Filled, and What to Look for When Buying

If you’re reading this, there’s a good chance you’re trying to make a decision that feels both practical and deeply personal. For many families, cremation jewelry sits right at that...

Choosing an Urn to Honor Mom: Meaningful Styles, Personalization Ideas, and Comforting Wording

Choosing an Urn to Honor Mom: Meaningful Styles, Personalization Ideas, and Comforting Wording

Choosing an urn for your mother can feel like a decision that carries more weight than it should. You may be juggling logistics, emotions, family opinions, and a quiet pressure...

Biodegradable Ocean & Water Burial Urns: How They Work, Sea Scattering Tips, and Best Options

Biodegradable Ocean & Water Burial Urns: How They Work, Sea Scattering Tips, and Best Options

For some families, water feels like the most honest place to say goodbye. Maybe it’s the ocean where your loved one found calm, a lake tied to summers and tradition,...

Which Urns Last the Longest? Durability by Material, Outdoor Use, and Burial Protection

Which Urns Last the Longest? Durability by Material, Outdoor Use, and Burial Protection

When a family is choosing an urn, the question often sounds practical: “Which one will last?” But underneath that is something softer—an instinct to protect what remains, and to create...

Unique Urns and Artistic Memorials: Unusual Designs, Keepsakes Made From Ashes, and Where to Buy

Unique Urns and Artistic Memorials: Unusual Designs, Keepsakes Made From Ashes, and Where to Buy

When someone you love dies, it can feel strange to shop for anything—especially an object that will hold something as meaningful as their ashes. Families often start with one simple...

Who Has the Legal Right to Cremation Ashes? Ownership, Uncollected Remains, and Common Disputes

Who Has the Legal Right to Cremation Ashes? Ownership, Uncollected Remains, and Common Disputes

When a family chooses cremation, there’s often a quiet assumption that the hard decisions are behind them. The arrangements are made. The paperwork is signed. The cremated remains are returned....

Cremation Bracelets for Ashes: Styles, Materials, Men’s Options, and How They’re Sealed

Cremation Bracelets for Ashes: Styles, Materials, Men’s Options, and How They’re Sealed

If you are reading this while you are tired, overwhelmed, or simply trying to make one decision at a time, you are not alone. After a cremation, families often find...

Cremation Urn Materials & Styles Guide: What Can Be Buried, Plus Ceramic, Wood, and “Lighthouse” Designs

Cremation Urn Materials & Styles Guide: What Can Be Buried, Plus Ceramic, Wood, and “Lighthouse” Designs

Choosing an urn can feel like a small decision compared to everything else you are carrying right now. But for many families, it becomes one of the most lasting choices...

Military and Veteran Cremation Urns: VA Commemorative Urn/Plaque, Branch Emblems, and Burial Benefits

Military and Veteran Cremation Urns: VA Commemorative Urn/Plaque, Branch Emblems, and Burial Benefits

When someone you love has served, planning their memorial can feel like you’re trying to hold two big truths at once: the pride of their service, and the tenderness of...

Sympathy Gifts That Aren’t Flowers: Practical, Personal, and Lasting Ideas

Sympathy Gifts That Aren’t Flowers: Practical, Personal, and Lasting Ideas

When someone dies, flowers can feel like the default language of sympathy. They are beautiful, they arrive quickly, and they signal, “I’m thinking of you.” But there are also many...

Cremation Urn Size Guide: How Many Cubic Inches You Need (Plus an Easy Calculator)

Cremation Urn Size Guide: How Many Cubic Inches You Need (Plus an Easy Calculator)

There’s a moment that catches many families off guard. The big decisions have already happened, the paperwork is underway (or finished), and then a surprisingly practical question lands with emotional...