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.

Grieving the Loss of a Service Dog or Therapy Animal: When Your Helper Was Also Family

Grieving the Loss of a Service Dog or Therapy Animal: When Your Helper Was Also Family

There are losses that rearrange your heart, and then there are losses that rearrange your whole life. When a service dog or therapy animal dies, grief doesn’t just show up...

Grieving the Loss of a Dog After Euthanasia: Making Peace With a Loving Choice

Grieving the Loss of a Dog After Euthanasia: Making Peace With a Loving Choice

The house can feel impossibly quiet after euthanasia. Even if you knew it was coming, even if you’d been carrying the worry for weeks, the moment afterward can feel like...

How to Compliment a Nice Memorial for Loss of Pet?

How to Compliment a Nice Memorial for Loss of Pet?

A thoughtfully created pet memorial reflects deep love, cherished memories, and the unique bond shared between a pet and their family. When someone invests time and care into honoring their...

What Is the Meaning of Funeral Arrangements?

What Is the Meaning of Funeral Arrangements?

Funeral arrangements are more than just a series of tasks to complete, they are a deeply personal expression of love, respect, and remembrance. They provide a structured way for families...

Can’t Stop Replaying The Last Day? Grief Rumination After Pet Loss And How To Break The Loop

Can’t Stop Replaying The Last Day? Grief Rumination After Pet Loss And How To Break The Loop

If you feel trapped in a mental replay, replaying the last day of your pet like a scene your brain insists on revisiting, you’re not alone, and you’re not broken....

What Is the Best Thing to Say Instead of Condolences?

What Is the Best Thing to Say Instead of Condolences?

When someone you care about experiences a loss, it can feel almost impossible to find the right words. Simple phrases like “condolences” are common, yet they often fail to capture...

When Your Pet Dies: What To Do Next (At Home Or At The Vet)

When Your Pet Dies: What To Do Next (At Home Or At The Vet)

There’s a particular kind of silence that follows a pet’s last breath. Even in a noisy house, everything can feel suddenly paused, like the world expects you to know exactly...

What Colors to Wear to a Funeral for Women?

What Colors to Wear to a Funeral for Women?

Attending a funeral can be one of the most emotionally charged moments in life, and women often find themselves wondering, what colors to wear to convey respect while managing their...

When the Urn Arrives: What You Might Feel, What to Do Next & Gentle Setup Ideas

When the Urn Arrives: What You Might Feel, What to Do Next & Gentle Setup Ideas

There’s a particular kind of silence that can settle over a home when the urn arrives. It isn’t always dramatic. Sometimes it’s the sound of a box placed carefully on...

What Flower Is Best for a Funeral?

What Flower Is Best for a Funeral?

If you want the safest, most universally accepted option, white lilies remain the clearest choice. They’re widely recognized as a traditional sympathy flower, and they communicate calm, respect, and quiet...

Sudden Pet Loss & Panic: Grounding Exercises For Shock, Anxiety & The First Week

Sudden Pet Loss & Panic: Grounding Exercises For Shock, Anxiety & The First Week

There’s a profound emotional shock that accompanies the sudden loss of a beloved pet. One moment, life feels ordinary, refilling a bowl, hearing familiar paws on the floor, and the...

Social Anxiety and Grief: When Being Around People Feels Hard but Isolation Isn’t Helping Either

Social Anxiety and Grief: When Being Around People Feels Hard but Isolation Isn’t Helping Either

Social anxiety and grief can collide in a frustrating way. You may genuinely want support, but the moment someone texts “How are you holding up?” your chest tightens. A funeral,...

Pet Loss After Cancer: Anticipatory Grief, Caregiver Exhaustion, And Healing After A Long Illness

Pet Loss After Cancer: Anticipatory Grief, Caregiver Exhaustion, And Healing After A Long Illness

Grief following a pet’s long battle with cancer is often complex and layered, beginning quietly long before their passing. It can emerge during the weeks or months when life slowly...

Best Children’s Books About Pet Death: 20 Picks By Age And Discussion Questions For Families

Best Children’s Books About Pet Death: 20 Picks By Age And Discussion Questions For Families

If your child has lost a pet, you are often navigating two layers of grief at the same time: your own sorrow, and the heartbreak of watching someone you love...

Do You Really Need Embalming? When It’s Required, When It’s Optional, and Alternatives

Do You Really Need Embalming? When It’s Required, When It’s Optional, and Alternatives

The question usually shows up in the middle of a harder moment. A nurse hands you a folder. A funeral home calls back. A family group chat lights up with...

Alaska Pet Cremation Guide: Laws, Costs & Options

Alaska Pet Cremation Guide: Laws, Costs & Options

Updated December 19, 2025 for 2026. Losing a pet is never easy, and making decisions about cremation can feel overwhelming. This guide explains pet cremation in Alaska in clear, compassionate...