This funeral resource section contains articles about veteran’s funerals, whole-body donation, Medical Examiner deaths, and alternative funeral options.
The table below lists by State what type and level of financial assistance may be offered by a State and/or County to assist families with funeral expenses. State State-level Assistance County Department County-level Assistance Limit of family contribution Alabama No County Dept. of Human Services Minimal – $400 According to Alabama law, each county needs … Read more
Tough economic times have left many families struggling with day-to-day expenses, with little savings to cope with an emergency. Unfortunately, death is still a taboo subject in our society, so often, a family member can pass, and there has been no preparation for their funeral. This can mean that no financial provision has been made … Read more
There are a significant number of United States citizens now living permanently or semi-permanently in Mexico. According to the last Mexican census in 2010, more than 738,000 people born in the US now reside in Mexico. This is still an approximate figure, as it may not include many ex-pats who remain in Mexico without the … Read more
So what exactly is aquamation or resomation? Aquamation does basically as its name suggests and disposes of a body by water instead of fire. It is deemed a more natural, ethical, and environmentally friendly alternative to cremation or burial. It is also referred to as water cremation, hydro cremation, or bio cremation. Why is aquamation … Read more
Whole Body Donation in the United States Donating your body to science once you die is a unique way to deal with the disposition of your remains at the end of your life. It is, at once, both practical and yet an unequivocal way of making a human, ethical, and lasting legacy from your life. … Read more
Why choose body donation? A whole body donation can provide a compassionate and humane possible choice for a funeral. Although full-body donation is not as commonly known as organ donation, it presents an opportunity to donate a greater gift to the future of humankind. A body donation to science provides a vital learning mode for … Read more
Choosing between Burial or Cremation When it comes to arranging a funeral today, you have two main funeral options to choose between when selecting your disposition method – burial or cremation. A ‘funeral’ refers to the activity that takes place in arranging the disposition. A funeral or funeral service can be a burial or a … Read more
This article covers all the aspects of arranging a Jewish Funeral Service. Understanding the ritual of a Jewish funeral How is the body prepared for a Jewish funeral? The Jewish Funeral Service Jewish Customs and Rituals that follow the burial Shiva – the immediate period of mourning after the death has occurred Shloshim – the … Read more
When you first receive news of a death, be it expected or unexpected, the initial reaction is shock. Even if you have nursed a loved one through illness or old age, it can still be numbing and distressing when they finally pass away. If you are the next-of-kin and responsible for making the funeral arrangements … Read more
The transition from a home funeral to funeral home What we consider a ‘traditional’ American Funeral today is quite different from the practice of funerals that occurred across our nation over two hundred years ago. Before the American Civil War home funerals were the general practice. By the mid-nineteenth century, the preservation of bodies by … Read more
When a loved one who was a member of the United States military forces dies, the family will sometimes wish to arrange a burial with military honors. There are 114 national VA cemeteries in the United States, however, not every state has a national cemetery. There are also a number of state-run Veteran cemeteries. The … Read more
A smooth and cooperative relationship is required between the Medical Examiner’s office and local funeral homes in order that funeral directors can liaise with families, provide prompt information about the examination process, and make arrangements to schedule the collection of the deceased for a funeral or cremation in a timely manner. Why is a body … Read more
The Baby Boomer generation has already made its mark upon the death-care industry, the first generation to demonstrate a changing attitude towards funerals. This post-war generation, that has been attributed to being radical and revolutionary in all aspects of their lives, is now impacting on the death-care industry as they face their ‘final curtain’ or … Read more