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funeral homes in Aurora, CO
What is the Role of a Pallbearer?

If you have been asked to be a pallbearer for a loved one’s funeral you may be a little nervous as you are unsure of what all that entails. However, as this is a huge honor you want to be there and do what you can for the grieving family. As directors of funeral homes in Aurora, CO. We understand this task can be a little dusting, and that’s why today we are going to cover what a pallbearer is as well as their roles and responsibilities.

What is a Pallbearer?

Most people have heard of pallbearers but are not sure exactly what their role is. A pallbearer’s main role is to assist with the carrying and placement of the casket during the funeral services as well as the gravesite.

How Many Pallbearers Are There?

There are typically six to eight pallbearers depending on the size of the casket. There may also be “honorable” pallbearers that do not actually help carry the casket but walk alongside it. The exact number of pallbearers is entirely up to the family.

Carrying the Casket

Each pallbearer will take their place next to the casket and assist in lifting and carrying it to its destination. While it is more normal to see men act as pallbearers, it is not uncommon for women to also take part. There are also sometimes honorable pallbearers who walk alongside the casket as they may be too weak due to age or illness to take part in the carrying.

What Are the Additional Duties of a Pallbearer?

As stated, the pallbearer’s main role is to carry the casket. This means that the pallbearers will gather at the funeral home and wait for the family to say their last goodbyes. The pallbearers will then carry the casket and place it in the hearse to be taken to the funeral location. There, the pallbearers will assist the funeral home directors in taking the casket out of the hearse.

When the funeral begins the pallbearers will carry the casket into the location and place it in the front of the room.funeral homes in Aurora, CO When the service is over they will then place the casket back into the hearse to be transported to the gravesite. Typically the pallbearers will be in a vehicle behind the hearse and follow it to the cemetery. There they will remove the casket from the hearse and place it at the graveside for the service.

Proper Attire for Pallbearers

A pallbearer should look respectful and dress appropriately. For men, this would typically mean a dark suit or black or another dark color. Shoes should also be nice and dressy. However, while style should be a big consideration when it comes to shoes, so should comfortability as they may have to walk for a long distance.

Final Thoughts

Being asked to be a pallbearer is a very big honor yet can be intimidating and leave you feeling anxious if you have not been one before. As directors of funeral homes in Aurora, CO. we want you to know that this is entirely common. We hope that today’s article gave you a little insight into this position and the role they play in the funeral. If you have any further questions, please feel free to reach out to us anytime.

cremation services in Wheat Ridge, CO
Personal Mementos That Can Be Cremated With Your Loved One

We all have those special items. Those possessions just mean the world to us. Those items that we would want to be buried with. But what if we wish to be cremated instead of buried? Can they be included in the cremation? While not all items are allowed, the good news is that there are several items that are. To learn more, keep reading as providers of cremation services in Wheat Ridge, CO. share what is, and what isn’t allowed with cremation.

Items That Are Permitted to be Included with Cremation

There are several items that are allowed to be part of the cremation. This can range from personal items to a special toy or even handwritten notes from loved ones. Other items include:

  • Favorite photographs
  • Flowers
  • Pieces of clothing or a special blanket
  • Books and Magazines
  • Small wooden items (an example would be rosary beads)
  • Special notes or letters
  • Stuffed toys such as a stuffed animals might be allowed
  • Certain jewelry might be permitted
  • Items Not Permitted to be Included in Cremation

While there are several items that are allowed with cremation, there are some that are not. This is mostly due to safety or environmental concerns as they may become dangerous. These items that are not allowed include:

  • Lighters
  • Anything with a battery in it
  • Any glass items
  • Bottles of alcohol
  • Anything made from materials including rubber, latex, leather, or vinyl
  • Pacemakers
  • Any containers made from glass or plastic

While these items are not allowed, this may not be a complete list as it may differ in your location. Your cremation provider will be able to inform you of the specific items not permitted in your state or area.

What Type of Clothes are Allowed in Cremation?

Typically, most clothing items are acceptable and permitted in cremation. The exceptions would be if the material or any added design elements would be not permitted. For example, clothes made from synthetic materials may be hazardous to burn and therefore not allowed in the cremation chamber.

If you have any questions or concerns about your loved one’s attire for the cremation process, talk with your cremation director and they can help you select the most appropriate outfit.

A Note About Including Items with Direct Cremationcremation services in Wheat Ridge, CO

If families wish to have what is called a “direct cremation”, there may not be time to have personal items included. This is because direct cremation is a very fast and streamlined process that does not allow for the time prior to the cremation for services such as funerals, visitations, etc.

If you wish to have items included in the cremation, but want a direct cremation, it is imperative that you discuss this with your cremation provider before any services have been decided to ensure they can accommodate this request.

Final Thoughts

Having items included in the passing of a loved one has been taking place for thousands of years. This can be seen with the pharaohs in Egypt with their burial chambers full of items to be used for the afterlife. Today, there are still many people who wish to have a special memento buried or cremated with them. To learn more about what items can be included with cremation services in Wheat Ridge, CO. feel free to reach out to us anytime.

cremation services in Lakewood, CO
How Best Prepare for a Loved One’s Death

Dealing with the loss of a loved one is never easy. Even if you are aware that it will be happening due to illness or aging, it can still leave you feeling lost and overwhelmed. While it’s never easy, if you prepare ahead of time as much as you can, it will help ensure everything is handled correctly when the time comes. As providers of cremation services in Lakewood, CO., we have these ways you can help you and your family prepare.

Call a Family Meeting

Call on your family members and get together for a family meeting. This could be just your immediate family, or if you wish, you can have your extended family involved as well. The choice is yours on who you would like to have been involved with.

During this meeting, you will need to discuss key issues such as:

  • Who will be responsible for making the funeral arrangements?
  • Who will be the main caregiver?
  • Who will help to handle their affairs and make sure they are all in order?
  • How will their memory be honored?
  • Are there any special final wishes the loved one has and who will ensure those happen?

Make sure to note everything that is said and assigned so there are no questions or confusion once the time comes.

Gather All Important Documentscremation services in Lakewood, CO

Making sure you have all the documents you need to complete and organized can go a long way in helping everything run smoothly later. Some of the documents you should have are:

  • A Power of Attorney (POA) – This document allows you the right and legal authority to make decisions on behalf of your loved one. These decisions can be financial and/or medical should they become incapable of doing do.
  • A Will – This document is important as it outlines any final wishes your loved one has as well as how they want their estate to be handled and divided.
  • An Advance-Directive – This document will outline any wishes your loved one has when it comes to their end-of-life care. This also includes things like DNR (Do Not Resuscitate).
  • List of Passwords – Having a list of your loved one’s passwords will help immensely when trying to handle their accounts
  • Any paperwork from cemeteries or funeral homes – If your loved one preplanned any arrangements, make sure to have any and all paperwork and contracts

Spend Time With Them

Making sure you have all of the important documents and tasks delegated is great, but make sure you spend as much time as you can with your loved ones before they are gone. You can use this time to talk to them about their life. Ask them questions like what was their proudest moment, or what are they most happy about. Learn about their childhood by asking about their school and friends. Learn all you can about who they were and what their life was truly like.

By taking the time now to plan for what comes later, after their cremation services in Lakewood, CO. you and your family will be able to focus on honoring your loved one rather than having the stress and anxiety of trying to organize everything then.

funeral homes in Lakewood, CO
3 Popular Funeral Reception Serving Styles

If you are hosting a funeral reception, there will be many things to consider. Some of these are the location of the event, how many guests will be attending, and making sure there are enough items for everyone such as chairs. Another big decision is choosing what type of food to serve and the style it will be served in. Directors of funeral homes in Lakewood, CO. look at some of the most popular styles to help you better decide.

1. Plated/Table Style

This serving style is definitely the most formal of the three and is when guests will be seated at a table at a certain time for their meal. It is a more formal, “high-class” feel as guests remain seated as the food is brought to them. This style can either have just one course or many that include things like soup, salad, or dessert. Many times guests will choose their entrée and RSVP so that they don’t actually “order” at the time of the reception. The food is catered in or made at the location and is nice and hot as it arrives at the table. This serving style can be more costly because you will need servers to transport the food, refill drinks, and attend to the additional needs of the guests as they eat.

2. Buffet Style

If you would like something that can still look elegant but be a bit more casual than a table style, consider having a buffet. These are very popular for a number of reasons. One is that it can offer a wider variety of foods. With a plated table dinner, the choices of entrees may be limited to one or two, but with a buffet, you may be able to provide many more. Another benefit to buffets is that you don’t have the extra cost of servers. Of course, if you wish, you can always have servers behind the buffet table to plate the food for the guests.

3. Food Trucksfuneral homes in Lakewood, CO

The most casual and easy option that is growing in popularity is having food trucks at the location. This can be a great choice if the event is outside at a park or other outdoor location. With almost every city having several food trucks to choose from, you can offer your guests a wide variety of foods.

Food trucks also offer a very casual, almost more “party celebration” mood than a sit-down dinner or buffet. This can be a perfect choice for those who wish to have a more light-hearted and happy rather atmosphere rather than serious and solemn.

In Conclusion

Food is a large part of most funeral receptions. This is because we often associate food with love and comfort. Also, we want to show the guests who come appreciation by providing them with a meal. With so many options of serving styles, it doesn’t matter if the reception is held at a church, outside park, or funeral home in Lakewood, CO. as there is a style for every reception.

funeral home in Denver, CO
Guide to Sending Funeral Flowers

When you hear about a friend’s passing, you may want to send funeral flowers to the funeral home in Denver, CO. as a token of your love and condolences. However, there are some things you should know about sending funeral flowers as they are different than sympathy flowers that are sent to someone’s home. Keep reading as we explain more about funeral arrangements and what you need to know about sending them.

What Are Funeral Flowers

As mentioned, funeral flowers are different than sympathy flowers. When we talk about funeral flowers, we are referring to arrangements sent to the funeral home or church that will be used in the funeral as well as any other services. These are typically larger arrangements sent by family or very close family friends.

On the other hand, sympathy flowers are those arrangements that are sent to the family’s home by friends, coworkers, etc. These arrangements are smaller in scale and are meant to offer support and condolences.

Funeral Flower Arrangements

When sending funeral flowers, you will have many options for the types of flowers as well as the types of arrangements. Some of the most popular arrangement types are:

  • Sprays – These arrangements are made from long-stemmed plants and flowers and are typically seen covering the lid of the casket. They may also be seen being displayed on a flower stand
  • Crosses, Hearts, Other Shapes – These shaped arrangements are normally placed near the casket during the service.
  • Wreaths – A wreath arrangement is often displayed near the casket on an easel or other stand. These arrangements may also be taken to the burial site after the funeral service.

What Type of Flowers are Appropriate for Funeral Flowers

Different flowers carry different meanings. This is true when it comes to the type of lower as well as the color. Since flowers hold various meanings, you want to make sure your funeral flower arrangement only contains those flowers that are most appropriate. Some of the most commonly used flowers used in funeral arrangements are:

  • Lavender – Signifies grace and purity
  • Daises – Represent peace and hope
  • Yellow lilies – Express thankfulness
  • Irises – Represent faith, courage, wisdom, and admiration
  • Orchids – Signify hope, love, and courage
  • Gladiolus – Represent strength and integrity
  • Tulips – Express love, peace, and hope
  • Snapdragons – Show grace and strength
  • Calla Lilies – Express rebirth

Sending the Funeral Flowersfuneral home in Denver, CO

While sympathy flowers are for the family and sent to their home, funeral flowers are used in the services and therefore need to be sent to the funeral home or other location where the services will be taking place.

When you send your arrangement to the location, always be sure to include the family’s name or the name of the deceased so that the location will know what service they should go to.

Final Thoughts

If you wish to send funeral flowers, there are many online as well as local florists that can help you create a beautiful arrangement. If you would like to send one that is already premade, you can often find those online and locally as well.

To learn more about funeral flowers or services provided by funeral homes in Denver, CO., feel free to reach out to us anytime as we are happy to answer any questions you may have.

cemetery in Aurora, CO
Personalizing Your Loved One’s Funeral

 

The service that is held before the burial in a cemetery in Aurora, CO. is the funeral. These services have been taking place in one form or another for over thousands of years. These rituals are important in many cultures as a way to honor the deceased as well as focus on the moving of life from this world to the spiritual one.

While these services have a typical order of service, they can be customized to make them more personal for your loved one. Let’s look at some ways this is done.

Change Up the Guestbook Into Something Different

When guests first arrive at the service, they will make their way over and sign the guestbook. This is the first opportunity to change things up a little. Rather than having guests just sign their name in the book, invite them to write a short memory or other note instead. This will make the guestbook a keepsake that you can look back on.

Personalize the Décor

Another way to customize the service is by the décor. This could be anything from using their favorite color to their favorite holiday for inspiration. For example, if they loved Christmas, you could include holiday décor and poinsettias. If they loved the color yellow, you could use yellow flowers, tablecloths, candles, or other elements. Don’t worry if it doesn’t look “traditional”. Guests won’t mind and in fact, may enjoy it as it can make them feel more connected to the deceased.

Display a Photo Collage

Creating a photo collage display provides a perfect opportunity to show off your loved one’s life and personality. You could add photos that show things like:

  • Their wedding, graduation, or other big life events
  • Childhood photos
  • Photos of their first car or other things that were important to them
  • Achievements, medals, and ribbons
  • Images of them surrounded by friends and/or family
  • Images of them enjoying their hobbies or passions

When choosing photos, you can ask other family members and even close friends for photos as they may have some great photos you have not even seen before.

Serve Their Favorite Dishcemetery in Aurora, CO

At the reception after the funeral consider serving your loved one’s favorite dish. Maybe it was something that was homemade by you or them. Perhaps it was a savory entrée from a local restaurant. Whatever it was, serving it at the reception as either the entire menu or part of it is a wonderful way to personalize this event. And don’t forget about the drink. Did they have something they always loved? Maybe sweet tea or lemonade? Perhaps a favorite beer or wine? Make sure to include this as well.

Final Thoughts

You can see that there are a variety of ways you can customize your loved one’s funeral. This can bring much comfort to families who wish for something a little more unique. If you would like more information on services at the cemetery in Aurora, CO., or more ways to customize your loved one’s tribute, contact us today as we are always here to help.

cemetery in Wheat Ridge, CO
What You Need When You Meet with the Funeral Home

When a loved one passes away, you will most likely be in a state of shock for quite some time. This will leave you feeling lost, confused, and not sure what to do or where to begin with making arrangements. Whether you are dealing with a funeral home or cemetery in Wheat Ridge, CO., there are some important items and documents you should try and have with you for the first meeting.

Of course, each individual home or cemetery may have different items they require. As a way to help you get started, we are listing general items that most funeral homes need when you meet with them.

Biographical Information

First, the funeral home will need all the biographical information for your loved one. This will include:

  • Birth certificate
  • Social security card
  • Date of birth
  • Legal address
  • Spouse’s full name and maiden name (if applicable)
  • Name of schools attended
  • Name of employer
  • Primary care physician name
  • Names of surviving relatives such as siblings, grandchildren, children, etc.
  • Marriage certificate (if applicable)

Paperwork and Documents

This list will vary depending on what your loved one had or didn’t have. A general list can include items such as:

  • Life insurance policies
  • Deeds to cemetery paperwork
  • Any preplanned funeral paperwork
  • Military papers (DD 214 Form)

Personal Items

Other than paperwork, you will need to gather some personal items for your loved one and bring these with you. These items include:

  • Clothing to be buried in including undergarments, shirt (preferably long sleeves), shoes, socks, or hosiery
  • Dentures (if applicable)
  • Any jewelry
  • A recent photograph that can be used as a reference for hair and makeup
  • A photo to be used for the obituary
  • Photos to be used in the memorial tribute video

Other Items to Bring

While you don’t have to bring these items right away, other items you will want to gather and have ready are things for the memorial tribute table. These can be things such as:

  • Awards
  • Framed photographs
  • Crafts
  • Ribbons
  • Other memorabilia
  • Tips to Make This Easier

This is a difficult time for you and having to deal with your grief and handle gathering all these items can be a daunting task. To help make it a little more manageable, here are some tips:cemetery in Wheat Ridge, CO

  • Enlist help – Don’t be afraid or feel bad to ask for help. Enlist another family member or a close friend to help you keep track of what you need, find papers, make copies of documents, or whatever else you need. Your family member or friend would be glad to help you.
  • Stay organized – Keeping track of so many documents and papers can be tough. Make sure to stay organized by having one binder or folder you can collect everything. With personal items such as clothing, having one box or basket for everything can help keep it all together and organized.

Final Thoughts

While this list consists of items you should take to the funeral home, meeting with a cemetery in Wheat Ridge, CO. may require you to have additional or different documents. The documents you need can also depend on if your loved one made any arrangements ahead of time concerning their funeral and/or burial.

funeral homes in Thornton, CO
Using Art to Help Cope With Grief

Throughout history, people have turned to art to help them express their feelings and emotions. This is no different when it comes to working through and processing the grief of losing a loved one. These feelings may be intense, and you may not be sure how to handle them Through mediums such as painting, sculpture, drawing, photography, and more, people have gained many benefits. As directors of funeral homes in Thornton, CO., we understand how important is to handle your grief in a healthy way.

Benefits of Using Art to Cope with Grief

Other than letting your mind focus on something else and giving it a much-needed break from focusing on your loss, art provides several other benefits. One of the benefits creating provides is a sense of control. When you lose someone close to you, your whole world can feel out-of-sorts and out of control. Having an activity that is in your control can bring a little steadiness back into your life.

Another way art can help is to help get you in your “flow state”. This is when you are so immersed in an activity that you forget out everything else and achieve a sense of calmness. It is almost as if time stands still and feels very similar to when people sit and meditate. Your heart rate and stress levels lower and you simply feel “at the moment”.

How to Get Started

The good thing about using art to help cope with grief is that you don’t have to be an expert or even have ever tried anything artistic in the past. Anybody can do this. Here are some tips to get you started:

  • Decide the medium – If you feel you want a peaceful, calm activity maybe select a mandala coloring book where you can sit quietly and color. If you are feeling more heightened emotions perhaps choose a big canvas and paint while standing or break tiles to create a mosaic.
  • Gather supplies – Get everything you need and have it ready to go. This will help you stay in the moment once you get started and not interrupt your flow to go and find something you forgot.
  • Let go of judgment – Take a deep breath and just start. Let go of any judgment or expectations and just letfuneral homes in Thornton, CO whatever comes up happen. This isn’t a piece of art you are trying to impress anyone with or win an award for, this piece is for you and you only.
  • Try different mediums – Don’t feel like you have to stick to just one medium. Give yourself permission to try several and see which one or ones you like and connect with the most.

Final Thoughts

As directors of funeral homes in Thornton, CO. we understand how important it is to handle your grief in a healthy way. While art may be a wonderful outlet for some, others may handle their grief better in other ways such as working out or journaling. If you would like more resources on grief support please reach out to us anytime as we are always here and available to help.

cremation services in Aurora, CO
Is Direct Cremation Affordable?

If you are preplanning your own cremation services in Aurora, CO., or need services for a loved one, you may be considering direct cremation. With cremation quickly rising and being chosen more and more over traditional burials, more people are choosing this option every day. However, unless you have looked into this service before, you probably have questions. One of the most important being, is direct cremation affordable?

The answer to this is yes. Not only is direct cremation affordable, but it is also the most economical option you can choose. The reason for this is due to the fact that this is a very basic, very minimal service. While this is fine for some, others may prefer an option with more services included such as visitation. Let’s look a little more at what makes direct cremation affordable so that you can decide if it’s the right choice for you or not.

What is Included in Direct Cremation?

As stated above, the reason direct cremation is less expensive is that it only offers basic services. These services begin with the collection of the body. Once the body has been collected, the paperwork is then filled out and completed. Next, the cremation will take place and the remains are then returned to the family in a temporary urn.

What is Not Included in Direct Cremation?

You can see that direct cremation is a simple process moving from one step to the next. While many families appreciate this, as they feel it brings them closure faster, other families may wish for time for services such as a viewing. With direct cremation, there is simply no time for a viewing or any other type of service.

More Services Mean More Money

When you start adding more services, such as viewing, the overall cost is going to increase. For example, with viewing you will be adding on costs for things like embalming and preparing the body, purchasing or renting a casket, and a fee for the funeral home hosting the service. When you keep things simple with a direct cremation, the costs stay low.

Should I Choose Direct Cremation?

With direct cremation being the most economical choice, it still may not be right for everyone. While it has a lot of pros, there are still some cons as well. Let’s compare some of these to you can have a clearer picture is this is the right choice for you.

Pros

Budget-friendly – It is the least expensive option.

Less stress – The simple process eases some of the burden families can feel at this time.

More time to plan- With the body being cremated and not at risk for decomposition, it gives families more time to plan a service afterward if they wish

Conscremation services in Aurora, CO

Strict timeline – With the process being quick, there is typically no time for the family to say final goodbyes

No time for visitation – Families do not have time beforehand for any services such as a visitation

When you are considering cremation services in Aurora, CO., and want an affordable option, ask about direct cremation.

funeral homes in Aurora, CO
How to Personalize a Memorial Program

If you are planning a funeral service for a loved one with funeral homes in Aurora, CO. you may be looking for ways to make it more personalized. With the services being a time for friends and family to come together and pay tribute to the deceased, it is a wonderful time to add personal touches to express what your loved one was all about. One way to do this is in the designing of the funeral program.

The funeral program is a printed pamphlet that details the order and flow of the service. Each guest will be given one and they are typically a four-page program with a front cover, middle section, and back cover.

They typically include a picture of the deceased, an outline and details of services, a short obituary, a poem or passage, as well as a place that acknowledges anyone who the family would like to thank. While this is great information and you can certainly still include all of this, there are many ways to add a little extra and make it much more personal for your loved one.

Front Cover

Most programs will have one single image of the deceased on the front cover and while this can make a beautiful bold design, consider adding more images. You could make a collage and include images from your loved one’s life that were from major milestones such as their wedding or an award ceremony.

Perhaps they were an avid traveler and you could add images of them in the different cities or countries they visited. Maybe they loved music or dancing and you could show that in the images chosen. Think about what could display your loved one’s core personality and find images that express that to the guests.

Inside Pages

Inside the program is where you will find the details of the services as well as an obituary. This is most commonly designed on a two-page spread with the obituary on the left page and the order of services on the right page. If you would like to keep this length and layout of the program but want it more customized, you could consider the colors, fonts, or background image and tailor it more toward your loved one.

If you want to take it up a notch and add more personalization, you can certainly add another page or two to allow for more room to do so. With more space you could add things like:

  • Painting or drawings that your loved one made
  • Poems or song lyrics that they wrote
  • A list of their favorite charities or causes and ways people can help
  • A longer, more detailed obituary
  • Interesting facts about them. For example, if they traveled, you could create a list of all the places they visited

Back Coverfuneral homes in Aurora, CO

The back cover of the program is where you will find any acknowledgments as well as a list of any pallbearers. This is pretty standard and not much of a place to add extra information. Instead, to make it personalized, once again consider the colors, fonts, and perhaps a background image.

While planning services with funeral homes in Aurora, CO. there will be many things to think about, and designing the funeral program is one of them. Designing one that is unique and truly shows off your loved one’s personality is a wonderful way to honor them and their life.

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