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.

Columbariums and Scattering Gardens: Final Resting Places Beyond Traditional Graves

Columbariums and Scattering Gardens: Final Resting Places Beyond Traditional Graves

Choosing a final resting place for ashes is a journey that begins long before decisions are made, one that touches the heart as deeply as the life being honored. It...

Miscarriage, Stillbirth, and Infant Loss: Memorial Options and Gentle Support

Miscarriage, Stillbirth, and Infant Loss: Memorial Options and Gentle Support

When a baby dies during pregnancy or shortly after birth, the grief can feel invisible to the world. People may offer well-meaning words like, “At least it was early,” or...

Companion Urns and Double Headstones: Planning Memorials for Two People

Companion Urns and Double Headstones: Planning Memorials for Two People

Honoring the bond between two people in life can extend meaningfully into their memorials, creating a lasting tribute that reflects the depth of their relationship. Companion urns and double headstones...

What to Do When Someone Dies at Home: Step-by-Step Guide for Expected and Unexpected Deaths

What to Do When Someone Dies at Home: Step-by-Step Guide for Expected and Unexpected Deaths

Knowing what to do when someone dies at home can feel overwhelming, especially when emotions run high and decisions need to be made quickly. Whether facing an expected death at...

Child and Teen Grief: How to Support Younger People After a Death in the Family

Child and Teen Grief: How to Support Younger People After a Death in the Family

Grief in children and teenagers can be confusing and unpredictable. They often express loss differently than adults expect, shifting from laughter to tears, asking blunt questions, or acting out at...

Important Papers to Organize Before and After a Death: Documents, Passwords, and Where to Store Them

Important Papers to Organize Before and After a Death: Documents, Passwords, and Where to Store Them

Imagine your kitchen table on an ordinary afternoon. There is a stack of mail pushed to one side, a laptop that still has not been shut for the day, and...

Veterans Funeral Benefits and Military Honors: What Families Need to Know

Veterans Funeral Benefits and Military Honors: What Families Need to Know

For those who have served in the military, the sacrifices made extend far beyond the battlefield. Veterans dedicate years of their lives to protect their country, and in return, the...

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,...