Monthly Archives: September 2022

Popular Ideas and Considerations for Creating a Custom Urn

Losing a loved one can be an excruciating process for some, and once the cremation services in Silver Spring, MD, are completed, it’s essential to have an urn that feels authentic. There are thousands of ways to create a personalized vessel for the ashes of the loved one, so we have gathered some of the most popular ideas and considerations to help you customize one that feels appropriate.

What is the Urns Use?

The first thing you will need to consider is how the urn will be used. In some cases, the individual will have requested to be scattered or buried, and if this is the situation, you may want to invest in a biodegradable option. These can come in different materials ranging from paper to unfired clay and won’t begin to break down until they come in contact with soil or water.

If you’re choosing to keep the individual’s remains at home, you will need a more durable material, and you could pick between options like stainless steel, brass, or even granite.

Design Ideas

The design of the urn will highlight its uniqueness, so one thing to consider is what kind of a person your loved one was. You want to choose something that feels authentic and reminds you of them, so for a more lighthearted individual, you could pick and earn that has interesting and unique lines. Or, if the individual was more structured, you might want something streamlined-looking.

There’s also the option of utilizing items that they worked with regularly. This could be anything ranging from a favored toolbox to a kitchen container like a cookie jar and decorate them as elaborately as you feel necessary.

Adding in Color

Depending on the color, it can evoke feelings of familiarity or connection to the individual, so why not incorporate some color into the urn. The material you choose will determine if this is a possibility, and some may not be able to accommodate this. However, there are some material choices that you could decorate yourself, so it depends on what feels appropriate.

Choosing Photos

Customization is an in-demand option for most people, so consider adding a favorite photo or image to the urn. Several companies specialize in adding pictures to the material, so choosing a loved picture of the individual or something representing them can be another option.

Inscriptions and Words

The last recommendation in this list is to add inscriptions or words that remind you of the loved one. This could be a favorite phrase, Bible scripture, quote, or your own saying that can create an urn that brings a sense of comfort and connection.

A Source for Comfort, Care, and Professional Services

Personalizing the urn can help with the grief process because it can remind you of the loved one and offer a sense of comfort. When planning memorable cremation services in Silver Spring, MD, we would love to help you through the process. We are a locally owned company providing exceptional services with a trusted name, so contact us today.

Eulogy Delivery Tips

Delivering and Creating a Eulogy Is Simpler with these Great Tips

The eulogy is a document commonly read at the services performed with one of the funeral homes in Silver Spring, MD, and can offer a sense of connection and healing for those suffering the loss. This speech is integral to reflect on aspects of the person’s life, so we have created this helpful guide to get you started in developing and delivering a thoughtful and memorable eulogy.

What Should You Add to It?

Traditionally, the eulogy is intended to highlight an individual’s life and what they offer to the world around them. The idea is to highlight specific parts of their personality and who they were when they were living positively. A few pieces of information you can add to the eulogy are:

If they had any special activities or interests
What they did for a living
If they had any accomplishments in education or work
Any special or unique relationships they had with friends or family
Stories or memories that you shared with them

Edit and Review

Once you’ve completed the document, it’s essential to review it because this ensures that you have fixed any errors with grammar or spelling. It also can allow you to add additional information that you feel is important. You might also consider speaking with friends or family members who knew the individual to see if they have anything they would like to add to make it a more memorable document.

Practice the Speech

Taking the time to practice reading it can help you understand the tone of your speech and the appropriate volume needed for your voice. It also allows you to review document sections that may be more emotionally challenging to read through when you’re in front of an audience.

Use Note Cards

Note cards can be a highly recommended addition for delivering the speech. They not only help support you if you find yourself sidetracked by emotions, but they also can help highlight important parts of the document that you want to cover.

Accept What Comes

The last consideration is to understand that loss is challenging for almost everyone. This can be important to recognize while reading in front of the audience because you may have different emotions. Remembering that the individuals at the event our friends and family members and that they are there to remember the loved one, offer support, and not judge can also be helpful.

A Trusted Source for Compassionate Care

Finding ways to create a thoughtful and memorable eulogy can help create a more positive and enhanced experience for anyone at the event. And if you are looking for professional and expert support from one of the funeral homes in Silver Spring, MD, let us help you through the process. We are locally owned and have been providing exceptional services with compassionate care for over four generations for our community have the talk of a lifetime now. We understand what it takes to create a truly meaningful event, so contact us today if you have any questions or need to schedule an appointment.

Shipping the Remains

If You Need to Ship the Ashes, Follow these Suggestions for an Easier Process

Cremation services in Columbia, MD, are just one aspect of laying an individual to rest after they have passed away. In some situations, the family may choose to ship the remains to a different destination but getting started with the process can feel confusing if you have no experience. So, we have created this article to give you some ideas and considerations to make the process easier.

USPS has a Specialized Kit

Currently, USPS is the only company that will ship cremated remains. Fortunately, they offer a specialized kit that you can order online for free. It comes in two different options: the first kit is just the box trauma or the second kid, which contains the bubble wrap, express mail tape, sealable plastic bag, and the box. This is the recommended option to utilize because it is an easily recognized item by USPS, ensuring a safer, more efficient delivery of your package.

Use Caution with Packing the Contents

The next tip is to be mindful of how you are packing the contents; you want to place the urn or container inside a sealable plastic bag to ensure that there are no spills or sifting while it is being shipped. You can also add some additional bubble wrap or packaging material to the inside of the container because this will help reduce the risk of the contents moving around or shifting.

Another recommendation for packing the materials is to add a document with your contact information and the destination’s information as an extra added security benefit.

Use Label 139

This label is another essential part of the packaging, and if you use the kit from USPS, it will already be applied to the container. If you’re using your box, you want to ensure that this label is placed on all exterior surfaces of the container, including the top and bottom. The words cremated remains are written in bold letters with bright colors making it more noticeable for delivery purposes.

International Shipping

For international shipping, it is highly recommended to check with the country’s local embassy about the remains to go to ensure that they can be shipped there and that you follow all rules and regulations. Speaking to someone over the phone or by e-mail can help give you insight into any additional information you need and ensure that you have the appropriate customs paperwork.

Other Considerations

The last thing to consider is that shipping the remains will always risk damages or loss. One way to help ease the stress is to add on extra items like a signature required or proof of delivery.

Your Source for Professional and Expert Results

Shipping the remains can be made simpler with these steps and if you need support for the cremation services in Columbia, MD, let us guide you through the process. We are a locally trusted business that has been providing exceptional care for our community since the early 1900s, so have the talk of a lifetime for more information.

Creating a Meaningful Obituary

Writing the Obituary is Crucial, so here are Some Great Tips to Get you Started

Funeral homes in Columbia, MD, offer essential services to honor an individual after they have passed away. It’s important to let others know about the loss, so writing an obituary might be required, and if you’ve never had to write one before, it can be confusing to create a meaningful one. You can follow several steps and we have them listed here in this article, so keep reading for more information.

What Goes in the Obituary?

Traditionally, an obituary will have basic facts about an individual’s life. This will include information about where they were born and their date of birth, and some people choose to add information to make it more personalized. Its primary purpose is to notify the public about the loss and information about the funeral services but making it more personalized can be helpful.

Gather Facts

One of the first steps is to gather all the facts about the individual you want to include in the document. Keep in mind that you don’t know who will be reading the content, so keeping it more straightforward might feel like the appropriate choice. You can also reach out to friends or family members because they may have additional information that they think is important to include in the document and can help it feel more meaningful.

Tell the Person’s Story

Your main priority is to talk about the individual’s life, and a traditional obituary will start from birth and progress until they have passed away chronologically. It’s not uncommon to add in other information like accomplishments or things they were involved in and their passions. You can also talk about who the individual was and what made them unique, and you may want to add any more specific information, like if they had any traditions they followed or how they wanted to be remembered.

Remember, there is No Perfect Way to Complete it

The last thing to remember when you are writing an obituary is that there is no specific way to write one. There’s no perfection in any individual’s life, and everyone has different experiences. It can also be difficult to summarize an individual’s life in a short document, so you only want to include essential or pertinent things for others to know.

In addition, you also want to keep in mind that if you have a public or private service, mention this in the obituary. And if the individual had any causes or a place where contributions can be made, you can also include this in the obituary for people to donate.

Your Local Source for Compassionate Care

Writing the obituary is one part of the process, and if you need support and are looking at funeral homes in Columbia, MD, we would love to help you. We are a locally owned company that has been providing professional care for our community for over four generations, so contact us today if you have any questions or any to schedule an appointment for any of our services.

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