A Short Guide to Mausoleums

AdminOctober 24, 2022

If you want to place your loved one’s remains in a cemetery after their cremation services in Aurora, CO., one option you have is to have them placed in a mausoleum. While mausoleums can be found in many cemeteries all over the world, many people are still unfamiliar with them or the benefits they can provide. Today we are going to talk about mausoleums and what you need to know about them to help you decide if it’s the best option for you and your family.

What is a Mausoleum?

For those who are not familiar, a mausoleum is a free-standing structure that is built to house the remains of the deceased. An urn would consist of an enclosing for interment and with a burial, this space would be a burial chamber.

Types of Mausoleums

There are several types of mausoleums families can choose from. The most common include:

Garden (or Outside) Mausoleums – These structures are typically a shared space where the crypts and enclosures are located outdoors
Indoor Mausoleums – This is a shared space where the crypts and enclosures are located indoors
Private Mausoleums – These are private spaces typically for a family. These can be indoor or outdoor spaces.

Why Families May Choose a Mausoleum Over Ground Burial

There are several reasons why families may choose to place their loved one’s cremated remains in a mausoleum rather than bury them. Some of the most common reasons we see include:

Mausoleums can offer a quiet place to visit and honor their loved one
These structures can provide a very distinct and elaborate memorial
Mausoleums offer an alternative to using cemetery grounds which are becoming more scarce
With indoor mausoleums, family and friends can visit their loved ones and be protected from the elements while doing so

How Does a Mausoleum Burial Work?

A mausoleum burial or interment works much like a traditional ground burial. Family and friends gather at the cemetery after the funeral service for a committal ceremony. After this ceremony, the urn with the deceased’s ashes is then interred in the mausoleum. Depending on the mausoleum, it may or may not be accessible after it is closed at the end of the internment.

How Much Do Mausoleums Cost?

Knowing how much a mausoleum or an urn enclosure inside one will cost is difficult as there are so many variables that can affect the price. For a private, custom-built mausoleum, they can range from a single-person one at about $35,000 to those that can house an entire family for around $300,000 all the way to $600,000 or even more. Of course, this price would be much less for an enclosure space in a public mausoleum.

Final Thoughts

Mausoleums can make a wonderful choice for those who may wish to choose cremation as their form of disposition yet still be laid to rest in a cemetery. With several types and prices to choose from, families have several options.

If you would like more information about mausoleums or spaces inside after your loved one’s cremation services in Aurora, CO, give us a call today. We are happy to answer all of your questions.

Why Movement Is Important When Grieving

AdminOctober 17, 2022

Dealing with grief is challenging. If not handled and worked through in a healthy way, it can lead to isolation and deeper depression. Even though it may be difficult to think about your own mental wellness at this time, it is crucial to ensure you process everything in the most healthy way possible. One way to help with your grief is by being physically active. Directors of funeral homes in Aurora, CO. explain how movement can help you while grieving.

Movement Can Help Your Mind

Dealing with grief can be draining on your mind. Constantly experiencing all of the intense feelings of sadness can be emotionally draining. Movement can be a much-welcomed and needed distraction. The good news is that this movement doesn’t have to be anything over the top to gain these mental benefits. Anything from taking a walk around your neighborhood to going to a yoga class can give your mind a much-needed break. Participating in these activities and being mindful while doing so can act as a wonderful distraction.

Movement Allows an Outlet for Emotions

The emotions you will experience while grieving will be intense and range from sadness to anger or even fear. Movement is a wonderful way to get these emotions out. For example, if you are angry, join a kickboxing class or boxing. Use that anger and let it all out on the heavy bag. If you feel jittery or anxious, go for a run and burn off that nervous energy. Although we are often taught not to give in to feelings of anger and other emotions, as long as we can express them in a healthy way like this, it can be beneficial to face them head-on.

Movement Elevates Your Mood

The movement had been proven to help release chemicals in your brain which help elevate your overall mood. Now, you still may feel sadness, but by moving your body you can help your mood be a little more balanced. Once more, elevating your mood can help you better handle any stresses that come along your way.

Movement Helps You Sleep Better

We all know how important it is to get a good night’s rest but many people still don’t. This can be especially true when we are experiencing grief as our routine may be off and our lack of motivation for self-care can come into play. Adding movement into your day can help you relax and feel more tired so you are able to get those much-needed hours of sleep.

Movement Feels Good

Last, but certainly not least, moving your body just feels good. We were meant to move. That is how our bodies are designed. When we lay down or sit for too long at a time we get stiff and uncomfortable. It can also spiral out of control with the longer we sit, the longer want to sit. Get up and move your body. Even if it is just to clean your kitchen, do laundry, or rake the yard.

We hope these reasons have inspired you to add movement to your day. As directors of funeral homes in Aurora, CO. we know it can be tough to find the motivation so if you need additional help, consider asking a friend or family member to be an accountability partner.

How to Write a Meaningful Eulogy for Your Mother

AdminOctober 10, 2022

Writing a eulogy for your mother after her passing can be overwhelming. You are undoubtedly dealing with intense feelings of loss and sadness and trying to put thoughts onto paper may be the last thing you feel you can do right now. As providers of cremation services in Wheat Ridge, CO. we understand how challenging this can be.

Key Takeaways:

To write a meaningful eulogy, it is best to tell your relationship to the deceased. You can reflect on the unique traits that made them special and share fond memories. You can also think of stories or inspirational quotes that best capture their spirit. When crafting a eulogy, consider your audience’s beliefs and the type of message most fitting for the occasion.

One thing that can help is to take this big task and break it down into smaller, bite-sized tasks. Taking the eulogy and breaking it down into individual sections can give your mind a break from trying to figure it all out at once. Instead, you can simply focus and complete each section and before you know it, the entire eulogy will be complete. To help you get started, we are going to cover what each section should be as well as examples of what it can include.

1. Write an Introduction

Write An Introduction

The introduction is an important section as it will set the mood and overall tone of the eulogy. It is typical in this section to begin by introducing yourself as well as letting people know you are the deceased’s son/daughter. You will also want to take this time to thank the guests for attending. This could look something like this:

“Hello everyone, I’m (name) and I am (name) son/daughter. I want to start off by thanking you all for being here today to celebrate my mother’s wonderful life.”

2. Add Personal Details

Add Personal Details

The next section after the introduction is when you want to share more about your mother. Describe what she enjoyed, what she was like, what she was passionate about, and anything else that shows her characteristics and personality. This could be something such as:

“My mother was always joking around and had a very funny sense of humor. She grew up in a household that believed laughter was the best medicine and kept this tradition alive in our household as well.”

3. Add Anecdotes

Add Anecdotes

In this next section, think about a short anecdote you can share about your mother. This may be about one of your mother’s most memorable moments or a simple story that truly defines their personality. Some ideas to get inspiration from can be:

A favorite childhood memory
A funny moment that only you and your mother shared
A meaningful tradition you shared
Something that she did for you as a child
Something she taught you

4. Finish With a Closing

Finish With A Closing

The final section you will need to write is the closing. This is the time when you thank guests for coming. You can also choose to include a meaningful thought, poem, lyric from a song, or some other meaningful message. This section could be something like this:

“I feel so blessed to have as much time as I did with my mother. Thank you all for coming out today to celebrate her memory of her. (Poem or lyrics could be added here).”

While it can be tough writing a eulogy for your mother after her cremation services in Wheat Ridge, CO, if you break it down, and just take it section by section, it can become much more manageable.

Memorial Funds: Helping with Funeral Costs

AdminOctober 3, 2022

Funerals can be expensive. Flowers, caskets, memorial programs, funeral favors, and more can all add up quickly. If families had not made arrangements prior, it can all be overwhelming. This can be especially true if the death was sudden as many families may have a difficult time coming up with this extra money in such a short timeframe. As directors of funeral homes in Wheat Ridge, CO. we understand the burden this can sometimes cause families. That’s why today we are going to discuss memorial funds.

What is a Memorial Fund?

A memorial fund is an account where people can donate money to honor the deceased as well as help the surviving family. These accounts can be set up for many different reasons some of the most common beings:

Funeral Costs – As stated above, with funerals being able to be quite costly, many families will set up a memorial fund to help offset some of these costs.
Unexpected Expenses – Other than funeral costs, there may be additional expenses the family will need to pay such as getting the deceased’s affairs in order, securing their property and/or pets, etc.
Memorials or other Tributes – Setting up a memorial fund is a wonderful way to help pay for a memorial for your loved one. This could be anything from planting a tree to donating a bench.
Surviving Children – Memorial funds are often set up for surviving children of the deceased. This money typically goes to things like school supplies, tuition, and living expenses while they attend a school or a savings fund.

How to Set Up a Memorial Fund

Luckily, setting up a memorial fund is very easy and just about anyone who can use the internet can set one up. There are several sites that allow for free funds to be designed as well as ones that can be purchased that have additional features. No matter what site you choose for your fund, the setup is typically the same and includes these steps:

Create an account
Choose your webpage template
Edit the template to include all of your image and text content
Set up banking and personal information
Publish the webpage

Once the webpage has been published, it will be live. This means that anyone with the link may visit the page and donate. One ideal place to place this link is in a post on social media. In this post explain what the fund is for as well as why it is important. Then include the link and invite people to share. This will ensure the posts gains the most traction.

How Long Can the Memorial Fund Last?

There is no set rule on how long the memorial fund can remain active. Some families may set a monetary goal and leave the fund active until that goal is reached. Other families may opt to only have it last a certain timeframe such as six months after the funeral. It is truly up to each family how long they wish to keep it active.

If you would like more information about memorial funds and how they can help with costs from funeral homes in Wheat Ridge, CO., call us anytime and talk one-on-one with one of our knowledgeable funeral directors.

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Month: October 2022