Author Archives: Michael Bernardo

Reasons Why People Drag Their Feet on Preplanning Cremation Services

Nearly all individuals who consider the advantages of preplanning will probably acknowledge that taking on this task is important. But most individuals do not contact a Clarksburg, MD cremation services provider to preplan. There are some popular reasons that explain why.

“Who Has the Time to Go to Preplan?”

Many people don’t preplan because they believe they have enough on their plates as it is. The reality, however, is it that preplanning doesn’t take a long time at all. You can also preplan online nowadays if you go to a funeral home’s website and fill in the online preplanning form. When you make arrangements on the web, you will have the freedom to do so at home, at work during your lunch break, on vacation, or anywhere else. So not only will you be able to preplan online, but you’ll also be able to do it any time of the day. You’ll also be able to take your time. This means that the idea that there’s no time to get the task done is definitely not a valid one.

“Families Are Supposed to Bury Their Dead”

Many families are accustomed to the tradition of coming together to plan funeral services or cremation services for their deceased relatives. It is a tradition that lots of families take seriously since that’s simply been the way it’s always been. They wish to provide their deceased family members with honorable final services. But what if there is a better way? When you preplan, you will be able to arrange the final send-off you want. This will spare your families from having to plan at a time when they’ll be in mourning. You’ll do yourself a favor by planning the final service you want and will do your family a favor by ensuring they don’t have to plan.

“I Don’t Want to Have to Go to a Funeral Home”

One more reason why some individuals do not preplan is they just feel uneasy about visiting a funeral home to talk with a funeral director. When you do go to a funeral home, you’ll see that there’s nothing to worry about. These places are actually beacons of hope. The staff will offer compassion and will help you during a trying period in your life. Do your research to find a dependable funeral home to work with. Once you find the right service provider, you’ll be in good hands.

When you need to find a reputable provider of cremation services in Clarksburg, MD, we’re here to help. It would be our honor to help you preplan your final service. You can do that at our facility or online via an online preplanning form. 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

You Don’t Have to Buy Certain Products at Funeral Home But You Really Should!

When you contact a funeral home in Clarksburg, MD to plan a funeral service or cremation service, you will have plenty of options. You won’t only have options in terms of the final services packages available, but also in terms of where you can buy products and services.

But while you can buy a casket, urn, or other related things from anywhere you wish, there are good reasons why it’s best to stick with the funeral home that helps you plan. Here’s why.

Let Running Around

There won’t be a great deal of time between the death of a loved one and the funeral or cremation. So it can be more convenient to buy what you need from the funeral home that helps you to plan than to have to find another vendor for the casket, urn, burial vault, urn vault, or other things you may need for the final service. If you have enough on your plate and don’t want to have to complicate things further, you should buy what you need from the funeral home.

Leverage the Expertise

Another reason you should buy what you need from the funeral home is that you’ll be able to tap into the expertise of the product knowledge experts at the funeral home. The licensed industry professionals at the funeral home will be well able to help you choose the right products. They will also have quality options on hand that you can select from. So you will be in good hands. And not having to run around to find other product and service providers will save you time.

Get the Highest Quality

If you choose a reputable funeral home, you can be sure that they’ll sell a range of quality products that you can choose from. You’ll also see various price points, which will make it easier if you’re on a budget. You’ll also be able to find quality products at affordable prices, and you’ll be able to see them up close and personal. So if you’re the sort of consumer that likes to actually see and handle the things you’re interested in buying, then it makes sense to buy from a funeral home.

Do you need to find a reputable Clarksburg, MD funeral home that you can trust? We’re here to help you in any way you require. We have a track record of success in helping people to plan final services and to purchase the products they need. 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. We’re here to help you with whatever you need, so get in touch with your questions or requests.

How to Find Affordable Cremation Services

What’s the best way to plan a cremation service in Silver Spring, MD when you’re on a tight budget? The good news is that by choosing cremation, you’ll already save a lot of money since cremations are less expensive than funerals are.

But if you’d like to save even more money, here are some tips to help you do so without compromising the value of the final service for your loved one.

Consider the Service Provider

The first thing you’ll want to do is to conduct some research so that you find a funeral home that offers competitively priced cremation services options. Again, cremations are the most cost-effective body disposition options. But that’s not the same thing as saying that all funeral homes charge the same prices for cremations or for funerals. That’s why it will be well worth your while to research your options. And avoid the tendency to focus too much on cost and too little on other important criteria. Otherwise, you might end up choosing something that you later regret.

Consider Your Budget

It’s also important to consider how much you’re able to spend on the final service. This means sitting down with family so that you can all discuss how to proceed. You and your loved ones will want to consider how much each can afford to contribute, whether the deceased had preplanned and prepaid, if the deceased had set aside money to be used for their body disposition, what final service package to choose, and things of this nature. Assuming your deceased loved one had not preplanned and prepaid, you and yours will need to agree on a budget and then head into the body disposition planning process with a plan.

Look at General Price List

You can get a general price list from any funeral home you go to. This list is critical if you want to preplan on a budget because. It shows what the funeral home offers and what the costs are. When you see the various cremation services packages and options available, you’ll be able to figure out which one is the most suitable for your family. You can also ask the funeral director what you can do to lower costs even more. They will do their very best to accommodate you.

When you need a reputable funeral home offering cremation services for Silver Spring, MD families, we’re here to help. Allow us to assist you with planning a deceased relative’s funeral service or cremation service. And if you’d like to preplan your own body disposition so that your loved ones don’t have to shoulder that responsibility, we can help you with that too. 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.

Why Should You Consider Getting a Burial Vault?

Burial vaults are basically containers that are manufactured to encase the burial casket. They are usually made from concrete. Even so, they can be made from other materials as well such as plastic or metal. If you’re planning a burial with a funeral home in Silver Spring, MD, the funeral director may recommend that you also buy a burial vault for the casket.

Here’s a look at some of the reasons why a burial vault is a good idea if you’re planning a burial.

Cemeteries Might Require it

The majority of cemeteries require an outer container for casket buried on their properties. If a burial vault is not used prior to burying the casket, there could be problems on the cemetery grounds. Specifically, ongoing maintenance performed by heavy equipment could lead to unlevel terrain as the earth above the casket shifts. This can make the terrain dangerous. But this problem is eliminated if the casket is first placed into a burial vault. What this all means is that you may not have a say as to whether or not you buy a burial vault. If you’re not interested in a burial vault, you are going to have to locate a cemetery that gives you a choice. Be forewarned, however, that most funeral homes do require a burial vault prior to burial.

Protects Casket

A burial vault will also protect the casket. If a casket is buried without a burial vault, it will cave in at some point. That’s definitely not something that families want to think about. The good news is that a burial vault will preserve the casket’s structural integrity.

Peace of Mind

It can be a sobering thought to imagine a casket being damaged underground. If your family wants to do everything possible to prevent anything bad from happening, then it might be worthwhile to simply purchase a burial vault. The casket will be protected from the weight of the earth, from insects, and from water. This can really give your grieving family the peace they need.

They’re Competitively Priced

Yet another reason to consider getting a burial vault is that they’re competitively priced. They will only cost a small fraction of what the casket cost. So you won’t have to spend a lot to get a lot of benefit. The funeral director who helps you plan the final disposition will be able to advise you.

If you have more questions about burial vaults, funeral services, cremations services, or anything else, let us know because we have the answers you need. We’re a dependable family owned and operated funeral home serving Silver Spring, MD families. Let us help you with planning a final service for a deceased relative or with preplanning a body disposition for yourself. For the help you need, get in touch by phone. You may also visit our office to speak to someone in person. We’ll be there for you in your hour of need. Let us know how we can help.

Who Should You Contact First After a Loved One Has Passed Away?

If you’re present when a family member passes away, what should you do and who should you call? Knowing who to contact in such a situation makes sense. One of the calls you’ll definitely want to make is to a provider of funeral services and cremation services in Columbia, MD.

Here’s a look at some of the organizations and people who you need to reach out to immediately.

Law Enforcement Organizations

Among the very first things you’ll have to do when a relative has died is to contact the appropriate authorities, like your area police officials. This is especially the case if the person died in your presence with no other people in attendance. Police officials are taught to help in these kinds of situations and can offer guidance as to who to reach out to next.

Doctor

Depending on the circumstances surrounding the death, you will want to contact a physician, a coroner, or a medical examiner. Usually, police officials who arrive on the scene will be the ones who end up calling a medical examiner or a coroner. These officials have the authority to pronounce the time of death. If your loved one passes away in a nursing home or in an assisting living center, the staff working there will handle these matters.

Family

It’s also important that you call close family members. You should also, of course, notify the estate executor since they will have the legal authority to make certain decisions. When contacting close family members, you can delegate to some of them the task of contacting even more people so that news of the passing is disseminated.

Funeral Home

You’ll also want to get started on preparing a funeral service or a cremation service. And doing this means reaching out to the funeral director at a funeral home. When you call a reputable funeral home, you’ll get all the help you need. The funeral director will provide you with all the information you require to make informed choices. Ultimately, you’ll be able to plan a final send-off that honors their memory. It will also provide comfort to you and the rest of your family. One of the things the funeral director will do is arrange to pick up the body and to transport it to the funeral home. They will do everything in their power to make the process as straightforward as possible.

When you need a reputable funeral home offering cremation services for Columbia, MD families, get in touch. We’re here to help you with planning for a deceased relative or with preplanning for yourself. As well, we’re a family owned and operated funeral home that has been serving the community since the early 1900s. So you can count on our long track record of helping people who need the help of a professional death care services provider. You can reach us by phone or visit our office to speak to someone in person.

Why Planning a Funeral Service Online is a Good Idea

If you need to arrange a funeral service or cremation service at a funeral home in Columbia, MD, you will first want to find a reputable service provider to patronize. When you find a suitable company, you can make an appointment to meet with the funeral director at the funeral home. But there’s another option. You can, depending on the funeral home you choose, make arrangements online. And when you stop to think about the uncertain times we’re living in, there are specific benefits to planning online. Here’s a closer look at a few of those benefits.

Practice Social Distancing

When you fill out a planning form on a funeral home’s website, you’ll be able to get what you need without having to leave your home. The coronavirus pandemic is far from over. You can, by planning online, practice social distancing. So if you’re worried about the spread of COVID-19 and are wary about how often you leave home or where you go, then online planning will be a godsend. It’s important to note that funeral homes are implementing strict protocols and processes to keep their customers, staff, and suppliers safe and sound. So you’ll be safe if you do wish to plan at a funeral home. But online planning is a great option too.

Plan from Anywhere

Another reason you should consider planning a funeral service or cremation service online is that you can do so from anywhere you are. If you learn of a loved one’s death, you can make final service arrangements even if you’re in another state or country. As long as you can access the Internet, you’ll be able to get down to the business of filling out the online form.

Get it Done Morning, Noon, or Night

Another benefit of planning online is that you’ll be able to fill out the online form during the morning, noon, or night. Put another way, you’ll be able to complete the planning whenever you want. If you’re going to go to the funeral home to plan, you can be sure it won’t be at 4 am. But if you’re an early riser, then you can plan that early…or earlier…or later. It’s completely up to you.

Plan in a Relaxed State of Mind

Chances are that you’ll be more comfortable planning at your own home than at a funeral home. That’s not to say that the funeral director won’t be personable, that the other staff won’t be professional and approachable, and that the premises won’t be clean and inviting. But people will usually be more at ease in their own home than at a place of business.

Do you want to contact a reputable funeral home serving Columbia, MD families? We’re here to help you with planning for a deceased relative or with preplanning for yourself if you’d like. As well, we’re a family owned and operated funeral home that has been serving the community since the early 1900s. For the assistance you require, give us a call or pay us a visit.

When to Plan a Funeral Service Rather than a Cremation Service

Are you in the process of planning a funeral service or cremation service in Silver Spring, MD? Both final service options will afford you the opportunity to give your deceased loved one a fitting final send-off after a life well-lived. But while both body disposition types are honorable, there are times when it will be obvious that a funeral is preferable to a cremation.

Here are some examples of how you can tell that you need to arrange a funeral service.

The Deceased Had Wanted to be Buried

If your deceased loved one had desired to be buried, then the decision is rather simple. You will want to honor your family in all thing and this includes even the final service they get. Whatever their reasoning for having wanted to be buried rather than cremated, you and your other loved ones should honor their wishes as far as possible. If they had not stated their preference, then you and your family will be able to come together and come to an agreement.

Your Family Has Never Planned a Cremation Before

If your family has never arranged a cremation before, you might not want to break with tradition. Cremation is now the most common body disposition option. Families tend to plan them because they’re cost-effective, easier to arrange than are funerals, and much more. But if your family’s tradition is to hold a ceremony in a church and then to bury the casket in a cemetery, you simply might wish to continue on with this important tradition.

Your Family Needs to Stay Together

Do you have burial plots in a cemetery? Do you simply want your family to rest in peace at the same cemetery? There’s nothing wrong with wanting to bury your parents in adjoining burial plots. If your family has purchased a number of burial plots for specific people, you will want to plan funerals rather than cremations when loved ones die.

Your Religion isn’t Big on Cremation

Are you a member of a religious body connected to Orthodox Judaism, Islam, or even Russian Orthodox? If so, then cremation as a body disposition option is off the table. These religious bodies prohibit adherents from getting cremated, so you’ll want to plan a funeral service. Most religions around the world approve of both cremations and funerals. If you’re unsure about whether or not your church accepts or rejects cremation, ask a funeral home.

When you need a reputable funeral home offering cremation services for Silver Spring, MD families, get in touch. We’re here to help you with planning for a deceased relative or with preplanning for yourself. As well, we’re a family owned and operated funeral home that has been serving the community since the early 1900s. So you can count on our long track record of helping people who need the help of a professional death care services provider. You can reach us by phone or visit our office to speak to someone in person.

Things About Funeral Services a Funeral Director Won’t Ever Say

Planning a funeral service with the aid of a funeral director at a funeral home in Clarksburg, MD will be a lot less stressful than you might think. These licensed industry professionals have plenty of experience helping people from all walks of life with their final services planning. In fact, they’ve seen people at their best and at their worst, and they handle situations with compassion, understanding, and professionalism. While consulting with a funeral director, they will dispense helpful information. So, quite naturally, there are some things they won’t ever say.

Here’s a look at some statements that won’t ever come out of the mouth of a funeral director.

They’ll Never Say: “There Really is No Need for a Funeral Service”

You, your loved ones, and friends of the deceased will get a lot of benefit out of a funeral service. You’ll all get to honor the memory of a special person, facilitate the grieving process, provide support to other people at the event, receive support from people who attend the event, get the closure you need to move forward, and leave the event prepared to live life to the fullest. In other words, a funeral service ahead of the graveside service and casket burial is something that should be considered indispensable. So no funeral director will ever seek to minimize the importance of a ceremony that provides your deceased loved one with a fitting final send-off.

They’ll Never Say: “A Funeral Service is Better Than a Cremation Service”

The simple truth is that funerals and cremations are great options. A funeral is not better than a cremation, and a cremation is not better than a funeral. Yes, more people get cremated than buried these days. But both body disposition options are respectable. It really comes down to what you and your family want. Do you have a preference? Did the deceased make their will known prior to their passing? You’ll want to consider these sorts of questions before choosing.

They’ll Never Say: “Funeral Services Are Way Too Expensive”

Funerals are generally more expensive than cremations. That much is certain. But that doesn’t mean that funerals are overpriced. The truth is that you will have a lot of control over how much the final service costs. The funeral director will hand you a general price list, and you will get the chance to look at the final services packages and what they cost. So you’ll be able to arrange funeral service that is within your budget.

When you need a reputable funeral home serving Clarksburg, MD families, get in touch. We’re here to help you with planning for a deceased relative or with preplanning for yourself. As well, we’re a family owned and operated funeral home that has been serving the community since the early 1900s. So you can count on our long track record of assisting people who need the help of a professional death care services provider. You can reach us by phone or visit our office to speak to someone in person.

Don’t Know Much About Cremation? There Are Ways to Learn More!

How can you learn more about cremation services in Clarksburg, MD? If you need to arrange a final service but are not yet decided on which body disposition type to choose, you’ll want to research your options carefully. People generally know more about funerals than they do about cremations. With that said, here’s a look at how you can learn more about cremations.

Family and Friends

One option to find out more about cremation services is to ask people you know. Are there people in your sphere of influence who have planned cremations relatively recently? If so, call them up and ask them some questions. You can ask about the process, the costs, the service providers, and their overall satisfaction with how everything went. While you won’t get the length and the breadth of information that you would from a funeral home, you will get some feedback from people you know personally and trust implicitly. People you know will also be able to recommend funeral homes you should do business with as well as to warn you about service providers that didn’t really pan out.

Internet

Another way you can get information about cremation services is by conducting an online search. You’ll find plenty of information on the internet. For the best results, focus most of your attention on funeral home websites since they will have the most accurate information. You can look up what the cremation process entails, what types of cremation packages are available, what the body disposition costs, how cremation compares with burial, what goes into planning a cremation, what products you will need if arranging a cremation, and much more.

Funeral Home

The best place to go for information about cremations is a funeral home. The staff there know everything there is to know about cremation services and, for that matter, funeral services. They’ll be honored to answer any questions you may have and to set up a consultation. When you’re going to plan a final service to honor a loved one, you’ll want to do things properly. Working with a funeral director at a reputable death care services provider will help you plan a body disposition that honors your deceased relative. So while you can get information about cremation services from people you know and from the internet, you’ll get even better information from the professionals at a funeral home that has a good track record of success.

When you need a reputable funeral home offering cremation services for Clarksburg, MD families, get in touch. We’re here to help you with planning for a deceased relative or with preplanning for yourself. As well, we’re a family owned and operated funeral home that has been serving the community since the early 1900s. So you can count on our long track record of helping people who need the help of a professional death care services provider. You can reach us by phone or visit our office to speak to someone in person.

3 Ways You Can Personalize a Funeral Service

One way you can make the funeral service for a loved one extra special is by personalizing the event. The funeral director at a funeral home serving Silver Spring, MD families will help you arrange a final service that honors the memory of your deceased relative – and they can also recommend personalization options. At the end of the day, you’ll want to personalize the ceremony in a way that commemorates someone who had been a big part of your life.

Here are 3 ways that you can personalize a funeral service so that it honors the deceased and blesses you and your other family members.

1. Set Up Table of Memories

One way you can greatly personalize a funeral service is by setting up a table of memories. There are many different things you can do with a memory table, so you’ll have options. You can, for instance, have a single table and include a bunch of things that remind you of the deceased. Another idea is to set up several memory tables where each table represents a specific period of your deceased loved one’s life. Encourage your family to take part by bringing things – i.e. photos and mementos – that remind them of the deceased in happier times.

2. Choose Sympathy Flowers that Convey a Message

Where there’s a funeral service honoring someone’s loved one, there are flowers…lots of them. But one way you can personalize the ceremony in a meaningful way is by choosing the right ones. In case you didn’t know, different types of flowers symbolize certain things. For example, the lily is a white-colored flower that is common at funeral services. Lilies symbolize purity and sympathy. So if this is the message you want to communicate, then buying some lilies to decorate the venue where the ceremony will be held will be a good idea. You might also wish to choose a flower if you can get a type or a color that had been the deceased’s favorite.

3. Assemble Memory Capsule

Another interesting idea is to create a memory capsule. You might even put some of the photos, letters, poems, and other items from the memory table into a container. You can either put the capsule in the casket – if permitted by the funeral home – or bury it in another location such as on private property owned by someone in your family. Make sure that the container you use is airtight and durable so that it remains safe after it’s been buried.

When you need a reputable funeral home serving Silver Spring, MD families, get in touch. We’re here to help you with planning for a deceased relative or with preplanning for yourself. As well, we’re a family owned and operated funeral home that has been serving the community since the early 1900s. So you can count on our long track record of assisting people who need the help of a professional death care services provider. You can reach us by phone or visit our office to speak to someone in person.

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