Monthly Archives: May 2023

cremation services in Lakewood, WA

Talking and Listening to a Grieving Person

While you should never force someone to open up, it is important to let your bereaved friend or loved one know that you are available to listen if they wish to discuss their loss. Discuss the deceased person candidly, and don’t avoid the subject if the deceased’s name comes up; and, when it seems appropriate, ask sensitive questions that invite the grieving person to openly express their feelings without being nosy. Simply asking if they want to talk lets your loved one know that you’re willing to listen. Look into the cremation services in Lakewood, WA for more information.

You can also help the bereaved by doing the following.

Show Your Concern

You may say that you are sorry to hear that this happened.

Recognize the Situation

You could, for example, say something as simple as you heard that the father of the bereaved died. By saying those words, you will demonstrate that you are more willing to discuss how the grieving person truly feels.

Communicate With Sincerity

Don’t try to minimize their loss by offering simplistic solutions or unsolicited advice. It is far better to simply listen to your loved one or to humbly express that you are not sure what to say, but you want the bereaved to know that you care.

Inquire About Your Loved One’s Feelings

Because grief emotions can change quickly, don’t assume you know how the bereaved person feels at any given time. If you’ve experienced a similar loss, please share your story if you think it will help others; but keep in mind that grief is a highly personal experience. Because no two people have the same experience, don’t claim to know what the person is feeling or compare your grief to theirs. Put the emphasis back on listening, and ask your loved one how they’re feeling.

Accept Your Loved One’s Emotions

Allow the person who is bereaved to cry, become angry, or break down in front of you. Don’t argue with them about how they should or should not feel. Grief is an intensely emotional experience, so the bereaved must feel free to express their emotions, no matter how irrational, without fear of being judged, argued against, or criticized.

Allow the Bereaved to Discuss How Their Loved One Died

Grieving people may need to tell their story over and over again, sometimes in minute detail. Please be patient. Retelling the story is a way of dealing with and accepting death. The pain lessens with each retelling. You are assisting your loved one in healing by listening patiently and compassionately.

Be Prepared to Sit in Silence

If the person in mourning does not want to talk, do not press. Often, simply being in your company brings them comfort. If you can’t think of anything to say, simply make eye contact,cremation services in Lakewood, WA squeeze their hand, or give them a reassuring hug.

Offer your assistance. Inquire about what you can do to assist the bereaved person. Offer to assist with a specific task, such as funeral arrangements, or simply be available to hang out with or as a shoulder to cry on. The cremation services in Lakewood, WA are available to provide you with additional information. We understand how difficult it is to be in this situation. Please do not hesitate to contact us or visit our office.

funeral homes in Lakewood, WA

Staying Next to Each Other Eternally

A recent burial trend has given new meaning to the traditional marriage vow of till death do us part. It’s known as a double-depth burial. When two people, usually a husband and wife, die, their caskets are placed on top of one another in the cemetery. The couple then has a single marker with both names. If you and your loved ones are interested, look into the funeral homes in Lakewood, WA for more information.

There are also options for couples who have different final wishes but want to be buried together in the same cemetery space. In the same plot, cemeteries can accommodate a single in-ground burial of a cremation urn and a casket. In this case, the casket would be buried deeper and the urn would be buried above it.

There are mausoleum options for couples who prefer an above-ground final resting place. The caskets would be placed side by side in a companion crypt. A tandem crypt placement, in which the caskets are arranged lengthwise, is also an option.

Aside from the sentimentality of spending eternity together on earth, there are some potential cost-saving benefits to double-depth burials, such as the costs associated with cemetery spaces and monuments, which can be cut in half by two people sharing one plot.

The Story Behind Commingled Burials

Commingled graves refer to the burial of multiple people in a single location. These could be primary or secondary burials, meaning the body is buried after some decomposition at another location. It is important to note that not all mass graves are linked to violence. During outbreaks of disease or natural disasters, mass graves may be used to bury the dead. For example, during the 14th-century Black Death or bubonic plague pandemic, mass graves were common due to a large number of additional deaths. A recent paper highlighted this with the discovery of a rare rural Black Death mass grave in England. This event is thought to have killed roughly one-third of Europe’s population.

The presence of a large number of bodies buried together frequently suggests a tragic and disturbing event, especially in a forensic context, such as violence or natural disaster. The special issue of Forensic Anthropology focusing on commingled remains is freely accessible to us. It contains articles on methods for dealing with such situations as well as case studies. These sections and journal articles may be upsetting to some of you.

Although cemetery staff will work with couples to ensure their final wishes are met, double-depth burials necessitate extensive discussion and planning. What are your final thoughts? Arefuneral homes in Lakewood, WA these also what your loved ones want? Do you want to capitalize on this new burial trend? Take some time to consider how and with whom you want to be buried, and then locate a cemetery and begin planning. The funeral homes in Lakewood, WA can assist you with all of the planning and arrangements. If you require assistance, please do not hesitate to contact our team. You can also come to our office and negotiate with one of our licensed professionals.

cremation services in Roy, WA

Being a Pallbearer

Being asked to be a pallbearer at the funeral of a loved one can be a great honor, so it’s important to understand what’s involved and the responsibilities that come with the role. If you are planning a funeral, you may want to select family members or close friends to serve as pallbearers, though you may prefer to request that your funeral director provide their own if they can do so. To learn more, look into the cremation services in Roy, WA.

Responsibilities of a Pallbearer

A pallbearer is responsible for transporting the deceased’s coffin or casket from the hearse to its final resting place, depending on whether the service is cremation or burial.

At a cremation service, pallbearers transport the coffin or casket from the hearse into the crematorium, carefully placing it on a stand known as a catafalque. Typically, four pallbearers are required, though six may be necessary depending on the weight of the coffin.

A service at a crematorium chapel or other place of worship is frequently included in a burial. In this case, the coffin or casket will be carried into the chapel and placed at the front on wooden trestles. Pallbearers will carry the coffin out of the chapel and carefully place it back into the hearse before proceeding to the burial site after the service.

Pallbearers will carry the coffin to the grave, place it on wooden struts, and thread lowering straps through the coffin’s handles. When the command is given, the straps lift the coffin, allowing the wooden struts to be removed, and it is then lowered into the grave.

What to Expect if You Have Been Appointed as a Pallbearer

Accepting the role of pallbearer at someone’s funeral can be a frightening experience. No one wants to be asked to carry a loved one’s coffin or casket, but being asked to be a pallbearer can be a great honor, and it may mean a lot to the bereaved to see their loved one’s closest family members and friends carrying the coffin.

If you accept the role, you will be expected to help carry the coffin; this may only be for a short time if wheel bikers are used. You may be asked to carry the coffin, but only at the request of the family and if it is safe to do so. If any of the pallbearers are unable to carry the coffin, it will be carried at waist height or placed on wheel bikers.

If you have been asked to be a pallbearer, you should arrive at the funeral a little early. This will allow the funeral director to give you instructions on how to carry the coffin and where tocremation services in Roy, WA transport it.

Depending on your family’s preferences and whether any family members or close friends are available or willing to take on the role, you may request that your funeral director provide their pallbearers. Each of our funeral directors providing cremation services in Roy, WA will make certain that there are enough pallbearers available for your loved one’s funeral, if you require them.

funeral homes in Roy, WA

Designated Location for Interment

A cemetery is a designated location where the remains of deceased people are interred in specific, identifiable burial sites. Cemeteries are widely regarded as sacred spaces entrusted with the respectful care of the deceased as well as the preservation of shared history. Please look into funeral homes in Roy, WA to learn more.

A cemetery, in particular, is a dedicated area of land with precise plot locations and demarcated boundaries, whereas a burial ground may be less formally planned and defined. A cemetery authority establishes non-denominational, or secular cemetery grounds, which operate under an internal set of rules and regulations. Religious cemetery grounds are managed by a religious order and may be specially consecrated to allow for religious burials.

Cemeteries are primarily in charge of the upkeep and sale of physical burial rights such as plots, crypts, or niches, as well as the ongoing maintenance of the cemetery grounds and facilities. Cemeteries may also provide the labor required to perform the burial service, such as opening the burial plot or crypt, setting the vault, staffing for the burial service, closing the grave, and reconditioning the area. Full-service cemeteries may also help with the design, creation, and installation of permanent memorialization honoring the deceased through the use of a designated marker, headstone, bronze memorial, plaque, lettering, or engraving. The people who work for a cemetery are typically the ones who provide these services. Small and rural cemeteries without dedicated cemetery staff may rely on volunteer cemetery associations or the vault company to provide any or all of the above-mentioned services.

The cemetery services are distinct from those provided by funeral homes or funeral directors, who work for a funeral home. A funeral director is responsible for the deceased’s care from the time of death until the time of burial. The funeral director’s responsibilities may include dressing, casketing, and embalming, as well as providing a casket, filing all necessary permits, and coordinating with family, clergy, suppliers, and the cemetery.

Cemeteries can range in size from less than an acre to over 700 acres, with varying facilities. Many modern cemeteries have a fully staffed office that is open to visitors and mourners. Some cemeteries have interment or memorial chapels for gatherings before burial. A full-service funeral home or crematory will be located on the grounds of a combination cemetery. Cemeteries are governed at both the state and local levels. As a result, each state and municipality in the United States may impose its own set of rules governing burial practices. For example, in some states, it is illegal for the same organization to own and operate cemeteries and funeral homes.

Visitor services such as genealogy information, flower placement programs, and specialfuneral homes in Roy, WA memorial events for holidays such as Veteran’s Day, Memorial Day, Mother’s Day, and Father’s Day may be available at modern cemeteries. In some cases, using technology, the physical cemetery is linked to virtual cemeteries via GIS mapping and intricate databases, allowing loved ones to virtually visit regardless of their location. To learn more about this, reach out to the funeral homes in Roy, WA. Please contact us or visit our office.