Monthly Archives: April 2022

How You Choose Between Cremation or Burial?

There are many differences when it comes to burial or cremation services in Columbia, MD. without the proper knowledge, you might choose one when the other one would have been more appropriate for the situation. Understanding the difference between the two is essential, so here’s more information on what makes them unique.

Different Processes

The way an individual is going to be laid to rest is a very personal decision, and if there was no preplanning in place, it will be up to the friends or family members to choose.

Cremation: cremation is when the deceased’s body is brought to the facility and prepared for the process of cleaning and dressing. They are then placed into a casket made for the process and incinerated. This takes anywhere from two to three hours, and once it is completed, they are returned to their loved ones.

Burial: Burial is a slow process where the remains decompose in the earth inside a plot in a cemetery or natural setting. This process takes much longer due to the extra details, which can include hiring staff, picking out flowers, and planning any specific events that you might want to have taken place. Once that is completed, the burial and the memorial need to be organized.

Cost Variations

Cremation: Cremation is a more cost-effective way to go for the process between the two. The average price is around $2400 for a standard service, but some companies offer direct cremation, which is more affordable than this. There are a few other things that could be included with the cremation that could bring the price up, which are:

Facility rentals for a visitation
Any decorations or floral arrangements
Choosing to have a viewing before the cremation

Burial: The cost of a traditional burial is around $8000 but depending on the extravagance of the casket you choose and any extra details, this can dramatically increase the price. The burials might need to include things like:

Hearse rental
Headstone
Embalming the body
Hiring staff

Environmental Impacts

There are just a few other things to consider, like the environmental impact. With cremation, the incineration process does emit some elements into the air, such as carbon monoxide. With a burial, situations like the embalming fluid could leach into the soil, and you want to consider how much space the casket and coffin will take up in the ground.

Choosing the Right Course for Your Loved One 

When it comes to making a decision, whether it’s preplanning or laying a loved one to rest, you want to make sure that the choice feels appropriate for the individual. Trying to plan funeral or cremation services in Columbia, MD, might feel like a confusing task have the talk of a lifetime, especially if you’ve never had to go through it before, so you want to find a company that can help you through the process from start to finish. We focus on creating an event that is truly memorable for your loved one, so if you’d like more information or need to schedule an appointment, give us a call today to get started or check out our community outreach for more information.

Ways to Express Feeling When in Grief

Grief is a natural and essential part of the healing process for individuals to go through. It can look different for each person, and there’s no set amount of time that the emotions will last. Because there are five stages, it can feel confusing for some, especially after the services are completed at one of the funeral homes in Columbia, MD. It’s essential to find ways to express the pain of the loss, and here are just a few suggestions to get started.

Keep a Journal 

For some people, grief can make them feel like they have many emotions running through them but do not know how to express them. One great place to start to lay out how you feel is to keep a journal. A journal will give you a place to look at your emotions as you’re writing them out in any way that you see fit. This could mean using different colored pens or pencils, making pictures, whatever way feels right to you is appropriate.

Writing Unsaid Words

When an individual passes away, there may be things that you had left unsaid, or you just might want to tell them that you care for them. A letter can be a great way to express emotions around the individual’s last and let them know how you are feeling. Once you’re completed, you can choose to keep the document, or you may want to find other ways to let the letter go to let the feelings go.

Connect with Others

Depending on the person, it might feel challenging to talk to others about the loss and your experience. But in many cases, this can be a very healing experience if the other individual is also grieving because coming together can create a sense of connection and a feeling of support.

Seek Outside Support 

Sometimes it can be beneficial to have an outside perspective on a situation. This is no different when it comes to loss period; trained therapists and counselors can help you talk about your emotions and work through the grief in a healthy way. Reaching out to a professional can be an effective method to opening up and processing grief.

Embrace the Emotions

One of the last suggestions is something that has been recommended around the world, and this is through meditation. In many cases, when individuals are in a state of grief, they may try to avoid the feelings, but meditation focuses on expressing them and letting them go to reduce some discomfort. Thankfully there are many different resources online listed as guided meditations that can be beneficial.

From Start to Finish We are Here 

Whether you’re looking for cremation or trying to find funeral homes in Columbia, MD, for a standard burial or pre-arrangements, we are here to help. Laying a loved one to rest is a very personal matter, so you want a company that has years of experience, so you know that they will be truly honored. We offer multiple services, and they’re here to provide compassionate care, so give us a call today or check out our community outreach.

Food Recipes for Ease and Comfort During Loss

After an individual has had to plan cremation services in Clarksburg, MD, for a loved one, they might feel a sense of confusion as they try to learn how to live their life without the individual. There can be tasks around their home that they need help with, and one of these might be meal planning. This is especially true if a two-parent household has lost a parent and their children to take care of, so providing easy-to-make meals can decrease their stress levels, and here are some ideas.

Easy Food Options

One of the main things you want to remember is if you are preparing meals for individuals, bring them the food in a pan that they do not have to return. There are just a couple of things you will want to keep in mind when planning a food service for a household.

Check for any food intolerances or allergies
If there are food preferences such as vegetarians or vegans
If the household has kitchenware that can accommodate such as an oven or microwave
When the best times for drop off of the meals are
If they want individuals to stay and visit before leaving

The whole idea is to provide meals that can create the most ease for the individuals involved so they can stay focused on other household items that need prioritizing.

Casseroles like lasagna or baked spaghetti can be great options as long as the family has a way to warm up the food if they choose.
Specialty salads or a plain garden salad can be easily prepared and supply a dressing that the family enjoys.
Enchiladas and burritos can also be prepared in a pan and create a simple warm-up option that takes little work.
Chicken and vegetables that are pan-roasted are a healthy option.
Macaroni and cheese is a great comfort food option.
A homemade pot pie can offer comfort and nourishment with minor cleanup.
Preparing packets that are individually wrapped with a fish entrée.
Bringing all the items to put together sandwiches allows the individuals to eat when they’re ready, so there’s more flexibility.
A chili is always a great option, and it doesn’t hurt to bring some cornbread along with it.
If the household loves pasta, you could always consider making an Alfredo or a simple marinara sauce with noodles.

For the Kids 

If the household has children in it, you could consider creating a pizza bar that could be a fun event. In addition to this, providing finger foods like chicken nugget’s price can also be a welcome option.

Commitment From Start to Finish

Losing a loved one is hard enough but trying to plan the cremation services in Clarksburg, MD, can feel like an even greater challenge if you’ve never had to go through it before. We are a locally owned company that takes great pride in serving our community and would love to help you through the process if you need to schedule services. We are here to help, so call us today to schedule an appointment.

Ideas for Funeral Memorial Tokens

Losing a loved one can be an incredibly painful experience, and if you are planning all the details for the event, you want to try to personalize it as much as possible to make it a truly memorable event. Once you have scheduled the date and time for the service at one of the funeral homes in Clarksburg, MD, you can start picking out decorations, and other aspects, including a keepsake that you can offer individuals at the event; here are a few ideas.

Favor Ideas 

Charms

Charms are just one option to choose from, and there are multiple shapes, sizes, and materials available on the market that you can make completely personalized. Whether it is meant to place on a key ring or as a simple token that’s placed inside a bag with a customized note, these can be meaningful items individuals can hold onto and carry with them.

Matchbook

Matches can come in handy in various situations, and this is one item that can also be personalized as a keepsake. You can add photos and any text appropriate around the individual, especially if there’s going to be a candlelight vigil at the service.

Seed Packets

If the individual loved to garden or plants and flowers, you could consider personalizing some seed packets. The standard option is to place the individuals named on the packet and to choose a flower such as forget me nots or sunflower seeds can also be a great option.

Tea Infusers

For the tea lover, some companies specialize in creating heart-shaped infusers that make excellent funeral favors. Not only are they one of the more affordable options on the market, but they can be personalized with a note offering an in memory of statement.

Bookmarks

In the situation that the individual loved to read, you might consider purchasing bookmarks infused with seeds that can be planted. These can be adorned with any phrases such as a poem that was near and dear to the loved one, and they serve two purposes not only for those who are readers but those who are gardeners.

Candles

One of the last suggestions is to create a candle with phrases such as rest and peace or in loving memory and then include the individual’s name in writing. This can be an excellent choice, especially if a candle lighting ceremony is scheduled for the event.

High-Quality and Compassionate Services

The funeral or cremation services can be one of the more painful aspects of laying a loved one to rest, so offering a token to help others remember the beauty of the individual can be a welcome gift. With all the different funeral homes in Clarksburg, MD, it may feel confusing on who to choose. You want to find a company that you know you can count on to offer the highest quality compassionate care on the market, and we are here to help. We take great pride in streamlining our services to meet all of our clients’ needs, so if you would like more information or schedule an appointment, contact us today.

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