Author Archives: Michael Bernardo

Questions to Ask About Cremations

Are you interested in possibly arranging a cremation service in Silver Spring, MD? Perhaps you’ve heard about the benefits of this particular body disposition and want to learn more. While cremation is now the leading final service option, there are still things about it that people either don’t know or are confused about. Here’s a look at some questions to ask about cremation.

What Can I Do with My Loved One’s Cremated Remains?
There are lots of things you can do with your deceased relative’s cremated remains. Options include scattering the ashes, keeping the ashes at home in an urn, getting cremation jewelry, and more. There are loads of options, so you’ll want to consider as many of them as possible.

Will My Loved One be Clothed Before Being Put into the Cremation Chamber?
Yes, your loved one will be clothed prior to being placed into the cremation chamber. They can be whatever garments your family members select.

Is it Possible to Have Some Sort of Service After the Cremation?
The planning of an event such as a memorial or celebration of life service is possible whether you plan a cremation or a burial. So choosing a creation won’t limit you in this regard.

Do I Have to Buy an Urn from a Funeral Home or Can I Get it Someplace Else?
The choice is yours. You can get the urn you need from the funeral home you plan with or you can buy it from another vendor. But there are good reasons for buying the urn from the funeral home you hire to perform the cremation. The funeral home will be most helpful in finding the right urn for you and your family. Depending on what your plan is for the urn, the funeral home will be able to give specialized assistance.

If I Plan a Cremation, Does My Deceased Loved One Have to be Embalmed?
Embalming is optional if you are arranging a cremation service. You can speak to the funeral director helping you to plan. They’ll be able to advise you.

How Long Does the Cremation Process Take?
The whole cremation process can use up to a couple of hours. The exact amount of time will depend on the size of the individual and on the cremation chamber temperature setting.

How Can I be Sure I Choose the Right Body Disposition for My Loved One?
A funeral director can direct you in clarifying the various choices available to you. You’ll be able to ask questions, and you’ll get the answers you need. You can get recommendations as needed.

Will the Funeral Home Help Me Write an Obituary?

Yes, the funeral director who assists you at the funeral home will help you write the obituary. As well, they’ll get the obituary published in
a newspaper.

Do you have any more questions about cremation services in Silver Spring, MD? If so, we have the answers you need, so get in touch for the assistance you require. We’re a family owned and operated funeral home that has been serving the community since the early 1900s. This means we have deep roots in the area and a connection to the people here. For the help you require, you can reach us by phone to speak with one of our licensed industry professionals. You can also visit our office to speak to someone in person.

3 Reasons You Should Hold a Funeral Service

Have you stopped to ponder what benefits can be had by planning a funeral service? Cremation is now the most popular body disposition option, but that certainly does not mean that there isn’t a place for traditional funeral services followed by graveside services and casket burials. So if you’re leaning towards holding a funeral service but aren’t quite certain, you can get the help you need from the funeral director at a funeral home in Silver Spring, MD. They’ll be able to answer your questions and to help you choose the final service package you need.

In case you’re sitting on the fence but are learning toward arranging a funeral, here’s a look at 3 reasons why a funeral service makes a great deal of sense.

1. Acknowledge a Passing
Funerals provide a way to acknowledge the passing of someone near and dear to you. You can imagine that it can be extremely tough to wrap your head around losing a loved one. This is especially the case if the death occurred rather suddenly. It’s important to come to terms with what has happened and to gain closure. Without doing this, you will find it hard to heal in a healthy way and to ultimately move forward with your life. Also consider that the funeral service won’t only be beneficial to you and yours, but also to friends of the deceased.

2. Mourn Corporately
Another reason that funeral services are so vital is that they supply the chance for people to be there for one another. Every person in attendance will certainly be experiencing something comparable. It will be easy for you to empathize with others and for others to empathize with you. It’s good to mourn individually, but it’s also a good idea for people to mourn corporately. That way, people can support one another, and this will boost morale and bring encouragement.

3. Take Stock of Life
People tend to take stock of their own lives at funeral services. It’s the perfect opportunity for people to think about their mortality and to evaluate how they’re living their lives. Sitting in the church or chapel with other mourners will drive home the point that life could be over all too soon. So while you’re at the funeral service, you’ll have some time to think. Chances are that everyone at the funeral service will leave with a renewed sense of purpose.

Do you need help from a funeral home in Silver Spring, MD? We can certainly help. In fact, we have a reputation for helping grieving people who need to arrange funeral or cremations.

We’re also a family owned and operated funeral home that has been serving the community since the early 1900s. This means we have deep roots in the area and a connection to the people here. For the help you require, you can reach us by phone to speak with one of our licensed industry professionals. You can also visit our office to speak to someone in person.

Main Reasons People Plan Cremation Services

Have you experienced a death in the family recently? If so, you may need to help arrange a body disposition service on their behalf. As you consider your options, you’ll likely see that more and more people are arranging cremation services these days. That’s not to say that funerals and burials are not popular anymore. It’s just that more people are contact funeral homes to plan cremation services in Columbia, MD than they are to arrange funerals.

Here’s a look at some of the primary reasons why people choose to plan cremations these days.

Cremations Are More Cost-Effective Than Funerals
Among the primary reasons people arrange cremations rather than funerals is that cremations are more cost-effective than funerals. The gap in terms of prices is actually quite considerable. You can see for yourself by checking out the general price lists offered by different funeral homes. When you see what they offer in terms of cremations and funerals, you will realize that going with a cremation rather than a burial will wind up saving you a lot of money. Of course, you won’t want to focus only on cost. Check out what the final services packages offer – not just what they cost. Doing so will increase the odds of your planning a great final send-off.

More Final Resting Place Options
If you prepare a funeral service as well as a graveside service, the final resting place will be wherever the grave plot is at the cemetery. You will have far more options if you prepare a cremation. You can bury the container someplace on your own property if you wish. You can also spread the ashes in a manner that celebrates the dearly departed. For instance, if they had loved gardening, you can scatter their ashes in the garden. If they had loved to travel, you can scatter some of their ashes in each new place you visit going forward. So sit down with your family to determine how you can best honor the memory of your deceased loved one.

Portability
Many people who plan cremations do so because of mobility considerations. What this means is that cremation offers the opportunity for you to take the ashes with you. So if you need to move, you can take the urn containing your loved one’s cremated remains with you. As you can well imagine, that option is pretty much off the table if you plan a funeral and a burial. So if the idea of being able to keep a loved one’s cremated remains with you appeals to you, cremation is the body disposition you need to plan.

We offer funeral services and cremation services in Columbia, MD. You can count on us to help you arrange a final service for a loved one or to help you preplan if you’d like to do so. We’re a family owned and operated funeral home that has been serving the community since the early 1900s. This means we have deep roots in the area and a connection to the people here. For the help you require, you can reach us by phone to speak with one of our licensed industry professionals. You can also visit our office to speak to someone in person.

There Are Good Reasons to Preplan Your Funeral or Cremation

If you’re the type of individual who likes to do things your own way, then you might want to consider going to a funeral home in Columbia, MD to preplan your own final service. While many people let their families plan on their behalf after they die, preplanning is a better option. Going to a funeral home means you’ll get help from a funeral director. And this means that preplanning will be easier than you may have thought. Consider these preplanning benefits.

Do Things Your Way

If you want control over anything pertaining to yourself, you’ll naturally want to preplan. Do you trust your household to do things the way you would have? Do you even want to burden your loved ones with arranging your funeral service or cremation service? When you take it upon yourself to preplan your body disposition, you will be in control.

Spare Loved Ones

When you preplan, your loved ones will get to focus on grieving your passing rather than on having to plan your final service. It can be quite difficult for people who are grieving to have to contact a funeral home to make plans. Your family will be dealing with a wave of emotions that will make it hard to focus on arranging your body disposition service. All of this can be prevented if you take some time out of your schedule to preplan with the funeral director at a funeral home.

Prevent Squabbles

If your family is left to plan on your behalf, they might get into disagreements about what to do. Some might be in favor of planning a funeral and burial while others may insist on planning a cremation. It would be a shame if there were any disagreements that could have been avoided. When you preplan, you’ll ensure your family won’t have to argue over the final service package.

Save Money

You will save money by preplanning. The first step is to get a general price list from the funeral home you’re interested in hiring. This will show you the products and services they offer. You’ll be able to compare funeral homes and final services packages. Since you’ll be preplanning, you won’t be under the same stress as family members who have to plan after you pass away. So come up with a budget and make financially responsible decisions.

Do you want to preplan a final service with a dependable funeral home serving Columbia, MD families and individuals? We can help you preplan your final service so that your loved ones don’t have to do so after your passing. You’ll much better after having completed this important task. We’re a family owned and operated funeral home that has been serving the community since the early 1900s. This means we have deep roots in the area and a connection to the people here. For the help you require, you can reach us by phone to speak with one of our licensed industry professionals. You can also visit our office to speak to someone in person.

Things No Funeral Director Will Dare Say About Cremation Services

Are you planning a cremation service in honor of a family member who has died? While cremation is now the leading body disposition option for many families, there are still many misconceptions about cremation. But you can count on the funeral director at a provider of cremation services in Clarksburg, MD to give you accurate information.

Here’s a look at misconceptions about cremations that no funeral will ever try to pass off as fact.

No Funeral Director Will Say That a Cremation is Inferior to a Funeral with a Burial

You can be certain that no funeral director will say that a funeral with a casket burial is better than a cremation. On the other hand, they also won’t say that a cremation is better than a funeral with a casket burial. Both options offer a fitting way to give a loved one a final send-off. You and your family will need to sit down and have a frank discussion so. That’s the best way to decide what final service option is the best choice for your deceased loved one.

Nor Funeral Director Will Say That Christians Shouldn’t Arrange Cremations

You might be surprised to learn that the majority of denominations accept both burial and cremation. This is a big reversal from the way it used to be. At one point long ago, most Christian denominations favored burial and either rejected or strongly discouraged cremation. You’ll now find that there are very few religions that are not in favor of cremation. If you’re not sure what your faith community teaches about cremation, ask one of the leaders affiliated with your faith. You can also ask the funeral director. If they don’t know the answer, they’ll find someone who does.

No Funeral Director Will Say That You Can’t Combine a Cremation with a Funeral

If you’re planning a cremation, there’s nothing stopping you from also holding a funeral or memorial. You can look at the price list to see what funeral service options are available. There are some crematories specializing in direct cremation that might not offer other services. But most funeral homes will allow you to plan a cremation and a formal service either before the cremation or after the cremation. It is advised to hold a service of some sort. It helps with the grieving process, allows people to be there for one another, and helps people gain closure.

Do you need our help planning a cremation service in Clarksburg, MD? We’re here to help in any way we can to help you plan a final service. We’re a family owned and operated funeral home that has been serving the community since the early 1900s. This means we have deep roots in the area and a connection to the people here. For the help you require, you can reach us by phone to speak with one of our licensed industry professionals. You can also visit our office to speak to someone in person.

Questions You Should Ask Before Planning Funeral Service

Do you need to plan a final service for a loved one who has died or who is on the verge of passing away? You can bet that the funeral director at a Clarksburg, MD funeral home will be able to assist you in making the necessary body disposition arrangements. While working with the funeral director, there are some questions you should ask. See some of them below.

Why Final Services Options Do You Offer?

It’s important to know your options before you commit to anything. So you’ll want to know what different funeral homes offer in terms of funeral services and cremation services. If you already know what body disposition type your loved one preferred, then you’ll want to learn about final services packages related to that specific body disposition type. If you’re not offered a general price list right off the bat, be sure to request one. This document details everything the funeral home offers. You’ll find planning to be so much easier if you have this price list in hand.

How Can I Know if Cremation is the Right Option for My Relative?

Cremations are becoming more and more popular. In fact, more people arrange cremations than burials these days. If you’re leaning toward planning a cremation but aren’t 100% certain that’s the way to go, you should consider different things. For instance, you can consider your budget. If you’re on a tight budget, cremation makes sense since it’s more cost-effective than a burial. It also makes sense to consider what the deceased would have wanted. Would they have been open to a cremation? You should also think about options following the final service. Do options like scattering ashes, burying the urn, or getting cremation jewelry appeal to you?

How Will You be Able to Assist Me?

It’s important that you ask how the funeral director will actually assist you. They will explain the final service planning process, let you know what final service packages are available, answer any questions you have, assist with paperwork, set up the venue where the final service will be held, help with the obituary, and will assist you with many other things.

Is a Funeral Better Than a Cremation?

You can plan a funeral service with a casket burial, a cremation service, or a cremation with a funeral service. The one that is “better” really all boils down to which one you want. Does your family have a preference? Whatever you decide as a family is the right option for your family.

Do you have any more questions that you’d like answers to? You should reach out to a

funeral home serving Clarksburg, MD residents. We happen to be such a service provider. We’re a family owned and operated funeral home that has been serving the community since the early 1900s. This means we have deep roots in the area and a connection to the people here. For the help you require, you can reach us by phone to speak with one of our licensed industry professionals. You can also visit our office to speak to someone in person.

Ways You Can Commemorate Loved One After Cremation Service

What are some of the ways you can honor a loved one following a cremation service in Silver Spring, MD? You can bet that there are a lot of things you can do. It will come down to what you and your family want most. Here’s a look at some ideas you may want to consider.

Memorial Service

One way you can honor a loved one following their cremation service is by holding a memorial service or a celebration of life service. At such an event, family and friends of the deceased can congregate to pay their last respects and to celebrate the life of someone special. While a memorial can be held after the cremation service, it can also be held before.

Cremation Jewelry

Another way you can commemorate the memory of a loved one is by getting cremation jewelry made. This is a great option if you’re already fond of wearing jewelry. Cremation jewelry is different from regular jewelry because it has an internal compartment for some of the ashes. You can well imagine how meaningful cremation jewelry will become for you and yours. It may very well become a keepsake that you pass down to your children or grandchildren.

Funeral Service

Some people are of the opinion that you can’t have a funeral service if you plan a cremation. In reality, you can hold a funeral service with a cremation if that’s what you want. The cremation is the body disposition while the funeral service is the event where people gather to pay their last respects. You have one or the other, or you can have both.

Columbarium

You can also place the cremation urn in a columbarium. This is almost like an aboveground burial option, and it’s something to consider if you want to place the urn somewhere where people can visit it from time to time. Urns are placed on niches or shelves in a columbarium. You can ask the funeral director about places where you can find these structures.

Scatter Ashes

You can also scatter your loved one’s ashes. You can scatter ashes in the air, on the water, or on the ground. It’s especially fitting to scatter ashes after a memorial service or a celebration of life service. If you buy a scattering urn, you’ll find it easier to scatter the ashes.

Online Memorial Page

You can also commemorate them online via a memorial page. Using a social media account to do so means you can pretty much do it for free. You can post pictures of the deceased and allow people to post tributes. This will provide a virtual location for family and friends to keep the memory of a loved one and friend alive and well.

We can be of assistance if you wish to plan a cremation service in Silver Spring, MD. We’re a family owned and operated funeral home that has been serving the community since the early 1900s. This means we have deep roots in the area and a connection to the people here. For the help you require, you can reach us by phone to speak with one of our licensed industry professionals. You can also visit our office to speak to someone in person.

Final Services Tips for Busy People

Do you need to arrange a final service for a deceased loved one but find yourself pressed for time? Even with your most determined efforts to give them a stellar final send-off, you might find yourself juggling family duties, personal duties, and employment duties. So you’ll want to make the most of the time you do have available and to make things as simple as possible. Finding a dependable funeral home in Silver Spring, MD is a good first step. Read on for more tips.

Gather Your Materials Together

You; need specific information and certain documents to plan a funeral or a cremation for a loved one. No need to fret, though. The funeral director or someone else at the funeral home will let you know exactly what you should bring to the planning consultation. If you come with the documents and information required, the process will be smoother than if you don’t arrive with what you should have with you. So you can make things easier simply by being prepared.

Plan a Cremation

If you’re really pressed for time, you can’t go wrong by planning a cremation service. It’ll be much easier to arrange a cremation than it will be to arrange a funeral. So if you want to make the planning stage as easy as possible, you’ll want to explore planning a cremation service. If you really have your heart set on a funeral service, a funeral director can help you with that too. But cremations tend to be easier to plan since they are by nature simpler to conduct.

Delay the Memorial or Celebration of Life Service

Do you want to plan a simple cremation and hold off on a formal service for the time being? You can do so. Perhaps your family is spread out across vast distances, or maybe people are simply staying put because of the coronavirus pandemic and social distancing requirements. It’s also possible that there might be too much going on right now in your personal life. You might want to hold a memorial or celebration of life a little bit later on when things slow down somewhat.

Make Plans Online

Another way to make the most of your time is by making final services plans online. You can avoid having to make an appointment to go to the funeral home. When you find a death care services provider that offers online planning, you’ll merely need to go to the online planning form on their website. It will be convenient since you’ll be able to do if from wherever you want and at whatever time you want. In other words, you’ll be able to fit it into your own schedule.

When you need to find a funeral home in Silver Spring, MD, let us know how we can help. We’re a family owned and operated funeral home that has been serving the community since the early 1900s. This means we have deep roots in the area and a connection to the people here. For the help you require, you can reach us by phone to speak with one of our licensed industry professionals. You can also visit our office to speak to someone in person.

Why is a Cremation Cheaper Than a Funeral?

If you’re in the process of planning a cremation service in Columbia, MD, you no doubt realize that cremations are far less expensive than funerals. That’s not to say they’re better than funerals. But if you want to plan the most cost-effective body disposition, then a cremation is what you’ll want. You’ll see that funeral homes offer numerous cremation service packages.

Here’s a look at why cremation services are more cost-effective than funeral services.

Can Skip Formal Ceremony

One reason cremations are more cost-effective than funerals is that it’s possible to skip a formal funeral service in a church or someplace else. While you can technically have a funeral service before or after the cremation service, you can skip it if you arrange a cremation. This will save you some money. What some families do is hold a cremation service or a celebration of life following the cremation. This provides an event where family and friends can come together.

No Need for Casket

Planning a cremation service also means you won’t have to purchase a casket. If you look at price ranges for caskets, you’ll see that some of the come at a pretty high price tag. That said, you can get caskets at reasonable costs if you wish to arrange a funeral service for a loved one.

No Visitation or Wake

While you can have a visitation or a wake if you plan a cremation, you don’t necessarily have to. It might not be a bad idea to skip these extras at a time when social distancing measures are in place. Streamlining the cremation service could mean not having a visitation or a wake. You can still arrange a meaningful final service for your deceased loved one if you opt not to plan a visitation or a wake. It really comes down to what you and your family want.

No Embalming

You can also skip the embalming process if you arrange a cremation service. A cremation can be done soon after the passing of a loved one, so there won’t usually be a need for embalming.

No Burial Vault

In addition to not requiring a casket if you arrange a cremation, you won’t need a burial vault. A burial vault is basically a container into which a casket is placed before being buried underground. Most cemeteries require burial vaults because they keep the earth on top of the casket from settling. An urn vault will also safeguard the casket’s structural integrity. If you buy an urn, meanwhile, you will likely need an urn vault if you wish to bury it in a cemetery.

These are just some of the reasons why Columbia, MD cremation services are less expensive than funeral services. Whether you want to arrange a cremation or a funeral, we can be of assistance. We’re a family owned and operated funeral home that has been serving the community since the early 1900s. This means we have deep roots in the area and a connection to the people here. For the help you require, you can reach us by phone to speak with one of our licensed industry professionals. You can also visit our office to speak to someone in person.

Popular Misconceptions About Funeral Services

If you need to go to a funeral home in Columbia, MD to arrange a final service, you will be able to arrange a funeral service or a cremation service. While more and more families are choosing cremation services, some families prefer sticking to funeral services and burial. But even families that do prefer to stick with a funeral service in a church and a graveside service at a cemetery sometimes don’t really understand all the benefits of this tradition.

One reason for this is that there are some misconceptions about funeral services that many people assume are true. Here’s a look at some myths – plus some info on the reality of the matter.

“Funeral Services Are Depressing Affairs”

Some people are of the opinion that funeral services are depressing events that actually make the mourning process worse. Nothing could be further from the truth. People go to funeral services to pay their last respects to a special person, to mourn with other people who are going through the same thing, and to support others and to get support in return. The funeral service is primarily for the deceased, but it’s also for the living. While there’ll be tears and sadness, there will be happy moments as people share interesting and funny anecdotes about the deceased. After the event is done, people tend to leave funeral services with a greater appreciation the value of life.

“Funeral Services Are Too Costly”

Funerals are more expensive than cremations. All you’ll need to do is go through some general price lists offered by funeral homes to see for yourself the difference in costs between the two body dispositions. But when you figure out your budget and sit down with a funeral director, you’ll get all the help you need to plan a final service that’s within your budget. There are different final service packages, so you can plan a service that is cost-effective. So don’t give up on a funeral service in favor of a cremation service just because you think the former is too costly. Talk to the funeral director to learn what options you have available to you.

“Funeral Services Are Old Fashioned. Cremations Are Better”

Some people believe funeral services are old fashioned and that it’s best to plan cremation services instead. Whichever body disposition type you plan is up to you. You can honor the memory of your loved one by planning either a funeral or a cremation. One of the reasons people still plan funeral services is that they offer many benefits. They allow family and friends of the deceased to assemble together in one space. They offer the opportunity for people to pay their last respects. And they offer other benefits that people appreciate.

Do you have any questions to ask about planning final services? Your best bet is to find a reputable funeral home serving Columbia, MD families. We’re a family owned and operated funeral home that has been serving the community since the early 1900s. This means we have deep roots in the area and a connection to the people here. For the help you require, you can reach us by phone to speak with one of our licensed industry professionals. You can also visit our office to speak to someone face to face.

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