Funeral-related products & services

The death care industry in the United States is presently experiencing a period of significant change.  Americans are turning to cremation as a funeral alternative at a much higher rate than was originally forecast.  Tradition is eroding, environmentalism is expanding, and the memorialization aspect of the funeral ritual now presents boundless possibilities when the body … Read more

We have been in the throes of a digital revolution for some time now, and it has slowly crept into a once very stoic funeral industry.  Progressive funeral homes have seen the opportunity to embrace digital culture and technology, and how it can enhance their business offering. Over ten years ago when we first launched … Read more

The ritual of lighting a candle to pay tribute to a life ‘passed’ has long been a part of our culture.  Keeping a light burning in remembrance signifies that the memory still lives on and burns bright.  It is a ritual that promotes reflection and signifies remembrance.  It can be traced back to ancient pagan … Read more

As the cremation rate continues to rise, and people continue to seek out new and personalized unique services to mark their passing, memorial diamonds are gaining popularity. So what is a Memorial Diamond? A memorial diamond is an artificially created diamond made using the carbon DNA extracted from the cremated remains of a human being.  … Read more

This guide to shipping cremated remains aims to highlight exactly what you need to know to transport cremated remains, either within the United States or to another country.  As the cremation rate increases and families are more dispersed, there is a growing demand for the easy transportation of cremated remains.  In some cases, the family … Read more

Memorial tributes form an integral part of how we commemorate the memory of the person we have lost.  There are many forms of memorial tributes, and new ones are emerging as modernity fuses with the funeral industry, and memorialization becomes an intrinsic aspect of death care rituals. Funeral homes offer various memorial tribute services as … Read more

We all spend more waking hours in the ‘digital world’ these days, and with 89.4% of the U.S. population online(1), living our life, and indeed our eternity, in a virtual space is becoming an intrinsic aspect of our culture.  Culturally the ‘space’ of online memorials is becoming our virtual cemeteries! For those of you who … Read more

The funeral industry has witnessed many changes to tradition in recent years, one of which is the purchasing and selling of cemetery plots.  The costs for a burial plot can vary enormously from area to area, and even within a cemetery.  In order to secure plots, many families buy cemetery plots well in advance to … Read more

There are many life assurance companies in the U.S. who offer Burial Insurance.  Here we have outlined some basic information about what burial insurance is, and why it can be an essential element of planning ahead.   What is Burial Insurance? Burial insurance, also referred to as Funeral Insurance or Final Expense Insurance, is a … Read more

How to Scatter Ashes Where Can Ashes be Scattered Scattering By Sea Memorial Reefs Holyland Ash Scattering Cremation Diamonds Scattering By Air Cremation Fireworks Balloon Scattering Ashes Scattered into Space Niche and Quirky Options for Ash Scattering Cremated remains, ‘cremains’, and ash scattering Once a body is cremated, the remains, which are often called cremains, … Read more

The purchase of a casket or coffin is an integral aspect of making funeral arrangements. It is also typically the single, largest purchase related to a funeral.  Unfortunately, most people are thrust into making a decision about buying a casket when they are feeling extremely emotional, and this means their buying decisions are not necessarily … Read more

The death care industry is undergoing some significant changes at present, and what most of us thought of, as the ‘traditional American funeral’ is maybe something of a dying ritual.  Although I believe there will always be a place in American culture for the full-service traditional funeral, it certainly seems that more options are available … Read more

With a more transient population today, and with the size of the United States alone, the need for the transportation of human remains has been growing in demand.  As families have moved away from their State of origin for employment, relationships or retirement so has the issue of ‘repatriating’ their remains following death become a … Read more

You may have already heard of the term ‘life celebration’, it is certainly becoming ingrained into our culture now.  Life celebrations are ritualistic celebrations for life events, these can be births, engagements, marriages and deaths.  Holding a Life Celebration either in lieu of, or as an integral aspect of, a funeral is becoming much more … Read more

A complete Guide to Buying a Cremation Urn There is a wide array of Cremation Urns available on the market today, and as the cremation rate in the U.S. increases, so this market will expand.  In addition to the market for Cremation Urns for human remains, there is also a large market for keepsake urns … Read more