Life- is a glorious crown; death is its harsh reality. All those who are born have to die, but when it comes to death of a loved one, not everyone can cope with the negative emotions and the turmoil broiling forth. Wretchedly the family members are also burdened with the most painful task of carrying out funeral plans for the deceased. In a few cases, where the deceased have already outlined burial wishes or crematory plans, the family only needs to accomplish the plan and carry out an appropriate service. But in cases where death comes as a shock, and there are no funeral plans pre-arranged, confusion reigns and the family members are all overwhelmed by the immense responsibility.

Planning a Funeral

The first step in planning a funeral is to track down a funeral home which accords with the family’s financial position and is known for its consideration and thoughtfulness. The funeral home helps in detailing the entire funeral process. If the burial method is chosen, they will provide a casket and help in locating the right venue for the burial. The place will also depend on the religious and cultural values of the deceased. If the method of cremation is chosen, the funeral home will help with the care of the body, cremation urn and all the other details surrounding it.

Other funeral planning

Funeral planning may include music, flowers, grave marker and how to manage the guests.

• Funeral Music.

Funeral music should never be off-hand or reckless. It should be selected with utmost care, as at that time people are passing through the valley of grief and need to take solace through soft and classical music which evokes memories of the good times.

• Flowers.

Flowers should also be the portrayal of love and care. A casket spray, wreath or a heart are the best options to signify peace and respect for the deceased.

• Grave markers.

Help can be taken from a planning consultant to select the grave marker. Engravings or carvings can be done on gravesite markers depending on the size of the marker. Gravesite markers are usually put off until a few weeks or a month so that they can be selected with care and concern. Most long lasting gravesite markers are made from granite or bronze so usually they are the first choice of the family members.

• Burial Insurance

Since death is an unpredictable blow, many people tend to obtain burial insurance. Burial insurance ensures that the deceased’s loved ones are not wearied by the burial expenses and services when the fatality takes place. The policyholder i.e. the obtainer of the insurance pays the necessary charges in his/ her lifetime. But it is necessary to secure the right burial insurance policy. Contracts must be read before any agreements and only those policies agreed to which cater to the policyholder’s needs.

Although handling death is a difficult process, to cope best with funeral plans, and to honor the deceased in the most loving way, it is advisable to be equipped with the necessary information beforehand. Funeral information can be obtained from any church, synagogue or religious place. Funeral homes are also willing to walk all the way through the arrangements, so families should take heart and not be baffled when the calamity strikes.

Losing someone dear to you is painful enough. It is an agonizing truth that this person will never be able to share memories with you again, but what’s even harder for those people whom he or she left behind are the decisions to be made. Decisions about the remains, what to do thereafter, and where the funeral will be held, be it in a funeral home or at the place where the family gathers together during special times. Even more burdensome about any funeral is the thought of choosing funeral services and crematories. These factors will altogether put more load on those who are left behind by their loved ones.

A funeral home should be a cozy and comfortable place to stay not only for the loved one who has passed away, but also for the mourning family members. The Funeral Rule enacted in 1984 and rewritten in 1994 was passed for the purpose of protecting families across the United States from abuse that often occur in funeral homes at the time when bereaving members are most vulnerable.

Funeral Services and Crematories

There are several reasons as to why funeral services and crematories are chosen over the traditional rites in a funeral home. The top reason for that is because funeral services and crematories are much less expensive. It is a preference made by many Americans since it uses less land, it is much simpler, and it is even environment-friendly. Another reason why cremation is the preferred choice is that the ashes can be strewn or “scattered” back to the earth. Others may even keep the ashes and place it at an important corner of their home which will serve as a keepsake or a remembrance.

Nowadays, cremation is a practical way of memorial and disposition. By definition, cremation is the process of reducing the human remains into the basic elements such as bone fragments and the likes by undergoing heat or fire. In contrast to superstition, the remains found in cremation are not ashes yet they are coined as it is as a general thought.

In 2001, about 27 percent of deaths in the United States led to cremation from just 6 percent in 1975 and approximately 400,000 cremations are held annually in a crematorium. The Western Coast leads as the highest state-by-state cremation percentage with currently seven states with over 50 percent of those deaths lead to cremation.

The Process of Cremation

Cremation is a complex process which involves a lot of steps. The entire process will take about an hour and a half to burn the body and reduce it by 80 kg every hour. The cremation is held in a crematorium which houses several cremators. A cremator is much like a furnace except in this case, a corpse is being burned. Only one corpse is cremated at a time as this may pose not only several legal issues but moral issues as well. But at times, there are some exemptions, such as a deceased mother cremated along with her unborn or stillborn child. Before the entire cremation process can begin, the corpse is checked thoroughly to ensure jewelries and prosthetics are removed, and the cremation process will begin.

The death of a loved one will always be painful. Grief is the only emotion felt and it will always be there. Missing the person you love will pacify you from doing the routine work you used to do. But, preparing him or her for the next life with respect will help ease the pain. Be it by cremation or by an interment in a funeral home, a solemn and respectful ceremony will somehow relieve the pain and the grief caused by the loss of a loved one.