• 303-502-9179

Blog

  1. Homepage
  2. Blog
cemetery in Wheat Ridge, CO
Coping With Grief by Helping Others

Experiencing grief is hard, Plain, and simple. When we lose a loved one, the emotions we feel can be overwhelming. While time does help, this brings little comfort at the moment. One thing that can help us get through this grief is by helping others. The act of giving helps us redirect our focus to something good and positive. While we may not feel instantly happy, these feelings can provide a balance for our well-being. After your loved one’s services in the cemetery in Wheat Ridge, CO., here are some things you can do to help others.

Donate to a Charity

If your loved one had a favorite charity or cause they stood behind and supported, a wonderful act of kindness you can do is make a donation to this organization. This donation could be a one-time thing or you could set up a reoccurring donation to be made monthly or so. You could also make a donation in your loved one’s name as an extra way to pay tribute to and honor them.

Donate Old Items

Although cleaning out your loved one’s old items can be difficult, knowing they might help someone else can make the process a little easier. There are many places that will take these old items and put them to very good use. Some places include:

  • Organizations such as Goodwill and the Salvation Army can use any household items
  • Police stations will often take old toys and stuffed animals (these items are often given to any children who are in their care due to emergencies or family issues)
  • Homeless shelters can use old clothes, pillows, blankets
  • Women and children’s shelters always need clothes, blankets, et
  • Schools and libraries will often take old books and videos

Volunteering Your Timecemetery in Wheat Ridge, CO

Finding a place to volunteer your time is a beautiful way to help others. You could offer your time to an organization that your loved one supported such as the local humane society. You could also offer your time to places that might have helped your loved one when they were alive such as the hospital or retirement home. If your loved one adored the outdoors, you could contact a local park and offer to help be on the clean-up or maintenance crew. The possibilities are endless.

Giving Food to a Food Bank

If your loved one had a kitchen full of food when they passed, take what you can to a local food bank. There are so many people that depend on these food banks for their family’s food. Knowing your loved one’s food can help these families stay nourished and can fill you with feelings of comfort.

Final Thoughts

While no one act will simply take away all of the sorry or grief you are feeling after your loved one’s passing, helping others and showing kindness can help. By performing these acts, our brain produces more of the “feel good” hormones. Although these hormones won’t be enough to completely take over, they are enough to at least help balance us out in this difficult time. That’s why after your loved one’s service in the cemetery in Wheat Ridge, CO., finding ways to help others is important.

cremation services in Thornton, CO
Top Reasons People Put Off Preplanning Cremation Services

Preplanning your final arrangements is something that most all people admit is very important. However, many of these same people will never actually make their arrangements. This could be for a myriad of reasons. Today we are going to look at some of the top reasons providers of cremation services in Thornton, CO. hear why people put off this important planning.

I’m Too Busy

Look, we get it. In this day and age, we are all running around multitasking from one project and chore to the next. Between work, school, kids, bills, and more it is easy to put things off. The thing is though, we seem to have time for things we put a value on. For example, even though you may be busy when your child has an activity such as a recital, you make the time to attend. The same s true with your preplanning needs. You need to realize the value and then you will be much easier to find the time.

I’m Too Young

Many people think that preplanning final arrangements are something you do later in life when you are older. However, nothing in this world is guaranteed and even if you are young and healthy, nobody can ever guarantee how much time you have in this world. Even if you don’t make the actual final arrangements, you can still begin thinking and planning for them by starting a savings account or at least making your last wishes known in writing.

I Don’t Want to Think About My Death

This is probably the most common reason people put off preplanning their final arrangements. Thinking about one’s own mortality and facing death can be a very uncomfortable issue for many people. However, once they begin preplanning, many realize that the comfort it brings to them knowing their last wishes are taken care of and the stress will be off of their family, outweighs this uncomfortable feeling.

Why You Should Preplancremation services in Thornton, CO

Even though these are all valid reasons, they are not reason enough to ignore preplanning your arrangements. Not only does preplanning ensure your last wishes are made known and followed, but it eases the stress and burden off of your family at the time of your passing.

When you pass, your loved ones will be experiencing feelings of pain, loss, sorry, and grief. They will have a lot to handle such as bank accounts, loans, credit cards, and more. Help ease their burden by taking away the stress of making your final arrangements.

Final Thoughts

There are a ton of reasons people may put off making their final arrangements for cremation services in Thornton, CO. However, we hope in this article we have been able to break through some of these most common reasons to help give you motivation and inspiration to put them aside and final start the pre-planning process. When you are ready, please know that we are here and happy to help guide you to ensure everything gets addressed and nothing gets overlooked.

funeral homes in Thornton, CO
Remembering Your Loved One: 8 DIY Upcycling Ideas

Feeling close to a loved one after they pass is a wonderful way to find comfort. This can be done in many ways but one way that is growing in popularity is upcycling an old item of your loved one. If you are not familiar with the term “upcycling”, it simply means taking an old, unused item, and transforming it into a new one that is used in a different way. Keep reading as directors of funeral homes in Thornton, CO. share eight DIY upcycling ideas.

1. Tea Cup Candles

Did your loved one have a teacup they loved or a collection? If so, taking these tea cups and making candles out of them is a wonderful way to upcycle this item. You can then use the candle as part of a memorial or simply pretty décor for your home or office.

2. Vinyl Record Clock

If your loved one was a music fan, why not take one of their old vinyl records and turn it into a clock? There are several DIY videos on YouTube as well as other online tutorials on how to complete this project.

3. Bicycle Planter

Add a touch of your loved one to your garden by making a planter out of their old bicycle. This is not a difficult project and will add a wonderful personal touch to your garden.

4. Make a Quilt

By using some of your loved one’s old clothes, you can make a beautiful memorial quilt. There are tutorials on how to do this or you could take the pieces of clothing to a professional and have them create the quilt.

5. Spoon Windchimes

Taking some of your loved one’s old silverware and creating a windchime is an easy afternoon DIY project. You could use only one type of silverware such as all spoons, or all forks, or get creative and mix it up.

6. Create a Pillowfuneral homes in Thornton, CO

A very easy and wonderful way to feel close to your loved one is to create a pillow out of one of their old t-shirts. There are instructions online on how to do this with or without sewing. Having this pillow to snuggle with can be a great way to feel comforted by your loved one.

7. Transform Furniture

If your loved one had an old dresser, there are ways to take the drawers and create a brand new side table. You can use this side table next to your bed, in your living room beside your couch, or any other place where you want to be reminded of your loved one. Finding these instructions online is easily done by performing a Google search.

8. Transform a Piece of Jewelry

A piece of jewelry can be transformed into several different new items. From using pieces to turn into hair clips to keychains, there are a ton of DIY videos to help guide you through whichever project you choose.

After your loved one’s services from funeral homes in Thornton, CO. finding ways to feel connected to them can go a long way in helping you to heal. Creating something new from something old also reminds us that even though they may be gone from this world, their spirit lives on in the next.

cremation services in Aurora, CO
Easy DIY Home Memorial Projects

Creating a memorial in your home for your loved one is a touching way to remember them as well as honor their life. The beautiful thing about these memorials is that they do not have to be big or overly grand to be meaningful. In fact, memorials can be anything (and any size) you wish. Today we are going to talk about some of the favorite home memorial ideas from providers of cremation services in Aurora, CO.

Planting a Tree

This is one of the most common ways that people may honor their loved ones. Planting a tree in the yard serves as a beautiful, living tribute that you can watch grow year after year. Not only that, but the act of planting it can actually be a very healing and therapeutic activity, especially when you invite other family members to join in.

Create a Garden

Instead of planting a tree, if you have the space, why not create an entire garden? You could have it be a vegetable garden that contains your loved one’s favorite veggies, or a flower garden with all the flowers they adored. To make this an extra special space you could add things like a bird feeder, wind chimes, a plaque with your loved one’s name, or even a bench or other sitting areas to rest and reflect.

Create a Memorial Wall

If you don’t have any space outside to create a memorial, no worries as you can create one inside. One way is with a memorial wall. All you need for this wall are some photographs of your loved one and picture frames.

To create this wall simply frame the chosen photographs and arrange them on the wall. It is best when hanging these to arrange them an equal distance from one another so that the overall look appears orderly and designed rather than messy and cluttered. You can also add shelves that hold items such as plants, candles, or personal mementos.

Design a Living Wallcremation services in Aurora, CO

If you would like to incorporate the outdoors in your memorial, consider creating an indoor living wall. This can be made on any wall and can be big or small. What you need for this project are some wall planters as well as plants and/or flowers.

To create your living wall, simply hang your wall planters in the arrangement you wish, Then plant them with indoor plants such as ivy, succulents, lady palm, peace lily, spider plants,s or any other plant that will do well in space conditions. You can also add any special elements that your loved one might have liked such as a special plant, or incorporate their favorite color with the planters or flowers.

You can choose to have the plants hanging from one planter to another or keep each one in its own space. This makes such a nice, vibrant, living tribute that can bring your comfort every time you tend to it.

To learn more about memorials or cremation services in Aurora, CO., feel free to reach out to us anytime as our compassionate and knowledgeable staff is always here to help.

funeral homes in Aurora, CO
Using Journal Prompts to Cope With Grief

After making arrangements with funeral homes in Aurora, CO., grieving the loss of our loved one is normal. It is normal and it is necessary. It is our human way of processing what has happened, accepting it, and learning how to go on in this new way. Although grieving is natural, sometimes, if we are not careful, it can turn into depression.

Luckily, there are things you can do to help ensure you are processing and dealing with your grief in a healthy way. One of those ways is through writing and using journal prompts to help guide you.

Why Writing is Beneficial

Studies have shown again and again that writing-especially journaling- can be extremely effective when it comes to dealing with trauma, loss, and grief. Taking pen to paper and writing allows you to let go, get in your flow state, and connect with your emotions on a much deeper level than just thinking about them.

By exploring your feelings on paper you may discover new insights into them or even how they may connect with other emotions you are experiencing.. Because the physical act of writing helps your brain make these insights and connections, it is suggested you do not journal on your laptop or smartphone, but instead use pen or pencil and paper to physically write out your thoughts.

What Are Journal Prompts?

If you aren’t familiar with journal prompts, they are simply predetermined question or thought that gives you a topic to write about. They can be general prompts or they can be focused all around one main topic. Some examples of general self-discovery prompts are as follows:

  • Think back to your favorite day. What made it so great? What can you do to recreate it?
  • What do I know to be true now that I didn’t know a year ago?
  • When do I feel most in tune with myself?
  • How would my best friend describe me?
  • What makes me feel most grounded?

You can use prompts such as these or find more grief-specific prompts, or a combination of both; the choice is yours

How Journal Prompts Can Helpfuneral homes in Aurora, CO

When you first begin to journal, it may feel very uncomfortable. This is especially true if this activity is new to you. Using journal prompts can help because they give you direction and a focus to write about. Rather than think about what you should write, you can simply look at the prompt for direction and start writing.

You can find journal prompts online by doing a Google search. You can also find journals with preprinted prompts in them. Another source is online sites like Etsy where individuals design and sell prompts in both digital and physical formats.

Final Thoughts

While grieving is a natural process, it can be an extremely challenging one. Because of this, it is crucial to make a conscious effort to engage in activities that help you process your grief in the healthiest way possible. If you need further grief support after your loved one’s services from funeral homes in Aurora, CO., please reach out to us any time. We are always here to help and have sample resources we can assist you with.

cremation services in Wheat Ridge, CO
Keep These Things in Mind When Selecting an Urn

When selecting an urn for your loved one after their cremation services in Wheat Ridge, CO. there are several things to keep in mind. Some of these things include the size of the urn, the material it is made of, as well as where it will reside. Let’s take a look at each of these factors a little more.

Size of the Urn

Did you know that urns are available in different sizes? When selecting your loved one’s urn, it is important you purchase one that is the appropriate size. To know what size you need, you will refer to how much your loved one weighed. This is because, for every pound of body weight, one cubic inch of space is needed. This means that for example, someone who weighed 150 pounds would need an urn size of 150 cubic inches or more.

The Material of the Urn

Urns today can be found in a wide range of various materials. Some of the most common include:

  • Metal Urns – These metal urns can be made from pewter, bronze, brass, steel, copper, and bronze
  • Cultured Urns – These urns are made to mimic the look of other materials such as wood, granite, ceramic, and even marble. They are made from a synthetic material and come in a variety of shapes and colors.
  • Wood Urns – Wood urns can be made from mahogany, oak, maple, pine, walnut, cherry, and more.
  • Stone Urns – These sturdy and elegant stone urns are made from cultured and real marble, soapstone, granite, and even jade.
  • Glass and Ceramic Urns – These fragile urns are made using processes such as coloring, glazing, firing, and glass blowing. While delicate they can be quite beautiful.

Location of the Urncremation services in Wheat Ridge, CO

Another factor you want to keep in mind when selecting your loved one’s urn is where it will be placed. Most Catholic families choose to either have it interred in the consecrated grounds of a Catholic Cemetery or placed in a columbarium niche.

Which place you select will play a role in the material and design choice of the urn. For example, if you plan on placing the urn in a glass front columbarium niche, you may opt for a beautifully designed glass or ceramic display urn. Another nice option for this location would be a wood urn as it can be engraved to add details about your loved one that can be seen through the glass front of the niche.

By contrast, you may not wish to select a delicate glass urn if it is being buried. Instead, a stone urn such as granite or marble may be a more suitable choice.

Final Thoughts

You can see that there are many factors that go into selecting the right urn for your loved one. Luckily, urn makers as well as providers of cremation services in Wheat Ridge, CO. can help guide you in this process and help you select the perfect one for your needs. And, as always, we are here to help answer any questions or concerns you may have so feel free to reach out to us any time.

funeral homes in Wheat Ridge, CO
Attending a Funeral: Most Commonly Asked Questions

Funerals can be uncomfortable to attend. This is especially true if it is your first one as you may feel anxious about what to expect. You might also be nervous about what to say to the grieving family as well as if what you are wearing is appropriate. To help you feel more comfortable, directors of funeral homes in Wheat Ridge, CO. answer some of the most commonly asked questions when it comes to these services.

What Should I Wear?

This is probably the most asked question as people do not want to look out of place or dress inappropriately. Most often, the standard color for funerals is black, but other colors are also acceptable. If you do not have anything black, feel free to wear other colors as long as they are darker, more somber colors. These include dark gray, and navy, tones of deep purples such as eggplant ad even deep greens and other natural stones.

As far as the style of outfit, you want to dress nicely. Imagine you are attending a Sunday morning church service and dressing for that occasion. This means for women, dresses, skirts, and blouses, as well as pant suits, are appropriate. For men, either slacks, a dress shirt, a tie, or a suit is a good choice.

Should I Bring Children?

Bringing children to a funeral service can depend on a few things, First, consider their age and if they are mature enough to sit still for the entire service. If they are young and may endlessly fidget or make a fuss then it is best to probably leave them with a relative or a sitter.

If they are older, then you may want to consider their mental maturity level and if they are equipped to handle the situation. This will be a personal decision based on you and your child.

What Do I Say to the Family?

When offering your condolences to the family, it is best to keep it short. Things you could say include:

  • I’m sorry for your loss
  • You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers
  • He will be greatly missed
  • She was a ray of sunshine and was loved by everyone who knew her

Where Do I Sit?funeral homes in Wheat Ridge, CO

This is always a concern as people don’t want to offend anyone by sitting in the wrong space. The most important thing to know here is to not sit in any of the first few rows as these are reserved for family. Also, the funeral may have attendants to escort you to a seat. If not, typically the left side of the room is for friends and acquaintances to sit while the right is for family.

Is it Okay to Be on My Phone Before the Service Begins?

No. In fact, if you can leave your phone in your car or at home that is even better. While we are used to getting our phones out and texting or scrolling Facebook while we wait someplace, this is not an appropriate time to do so. You are there to pay respects and honor the deceased. Sit quietly and respectfully while you wait for the service to start.

Although these aren’t all the questions directors of funeral homes in Wheat Ridge, CO. get, it is some of the most common. Hopefully, by answering these, you will feel more comfortable when attending your first funeral.

cremation services in Lakewood, CO
Design a Memorial Program in 3 Easy Steps

After your loved one’s cremation services in Lakewood, CO. you may wish to hold a memorial service. An important item in this service will be the memorial program. This program is a pamphlet that is given to guests to let them know the order of service. This program may also include additional information as well as serve as a keepsake of the service.

While creating this program is not difficult, it can be a little overwhelming if you haven’t made one in the past. If you find yourself needing to make one, keep reading for step-by-step instructions to guide you right along.

1. Gather the Information

Even though memorial services may be customized and unique, the programs typically follow a pretty standard format. This format is:

  • Front Cover – Includes an image of the deceased as well as birth date, date of passing, and any information about the service including date and location
  • Inside Pages – Here you will find the order of service as well as possibly the obituary
  • Back Cover – This space is used for special acknowledgments and announcements from the family

Looking at the format you can see what information you will need to gather. Things like:

  • Portrait of deceased as well as birth date and date of passing
  • The order of the service
  • Names of anyone delivering any parts of the service (such as the eulogy or music)
  • Name of the officiant
  • The official obituary
  • Name of any pallbearers (may appear on the back cover)
  • Any special thank you messages or acknowledgments from the family

2. Design the Program

Don’t worry if you are not a graphic designer by trade. Luckily today there are hundreds of online templates you can choose from. These templates come in several formats such as Word, Photoshop, Canva, and more, and can be easily customized. Simply add the information and images that you have gathered to replace the ones in the template and you are ready to go!

If you would like to have an original program designed, you could do so by reaching out to a graphic designer either locally or online as well as talking with print shops as they often have in-house designers.

3. Print the Programcremation services in Lakewood, CO

All that is left is to print the programs. If you only need a small amount, you might be tempted to print these using a home printer. While this may sound like a good idea, it is not recommended. It is true that home printers have come a long way and can print in very good quality, but they are still no match for a professional printer. With this being such an important item, you want it to look it’s very best so make sure you take it to the professionals.

Final Thoughts

After your loved one’s cremation services in Lakewood, CO., holding a memorial service is a wonderful way to honor and celebrate them. Having an informative and beautifully designed memorial program is a lovely addition to this service. It offers guests a way to know what the service will be consisting of, and who will be speaking at various times, as well as serve as a memorial keepsake.

funeral homes in Lakewood, CO
What to Say After a Death Has Occurred

If you are like most people, you have a difficult time finding the right words when it comes to expressing sympathy after a death. It may be that a friend or coworker has lost a loved one and whether you are looking for words to write in a card or say directly to them, your mind goes blank. You want to make sure what you say is appropriate and meaningful, yet you don’t want to ramble or say something inappropriate. Don’t worry as directors of funeral homes in Lakewood, CO. has some tips to help.

After a Death Has Occurred

It can always be an awkward moment when you see someone who has recently lost a loved one. After all, do you bring it up? Do you ignore the topic? If they bring it up, what should you say?

While it may feel uncomfortable to bring it up, it is polite to do so. Know that by doing so you are giving them an opportunity to talk about what they are going through. While they may or may not open up, providing them the chance to do so shows your support and will be appreciated.

Whether they open up or not, follow their lead. If they begin to talk about the passing, let them by listening patiently and offering your support. If they move on to another subject quickly after mentioning the passing, then move right along with them.

If you are most likely not going to see them in person, then sending a handwritten card or calling them on the phone is always a nice way to express your condolences.

Examples of Things to Say

When talking with the bereaved family either at the funeral or afterward, there are some simple things you can say that is appropriate, kind, and show sympathy. Some of these include:

  • He was a wonderful man and will be missed greatly
  • You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers
  • I’m so sorry for your loss
  • She will be missed by everyone who knew herfuneral homes in Lakewood, CO

If you knew the deceased more closely you can add something more personal such as, “I’m so sorry for the loss of your sister, Amy. She was always such a bright soul at work and she will be greatly missed.”

Examples of What Not to Say

One common thing that people say if they have also suffered a past loss is, “I know what you are going through”. While this is meant as a way to connect with the grieving person, it really isn’t helpful and should be avoided. Even if you have suffered a similar loss, everyone processes and works through grief in different ways. Therefore, you cannot truly understand what they are going through.

Additionally, stay away from general statements such as “He’s in a better place”, or “At least he had a great life”. You may mean well, but these words do little to provide comfort.

Hopefully, these tips from directors of funeral homes in Lakewood, CO. have allowed you to feel more comfortable when talking with someone who has recently suffered a loss. If you need further information or help on how to help a grieving friend, please reach out to us as we have several resources we can point you to.

cremation services in Denver, CO
Placing Remains in a Columbarium Niche

While cremation services in Denver, CO. are accepted by many religions, the way the remains are handled may vary. In the Catholic faith, it is preferred that the remains stay together and not separated or scattered. Because of this, many families in this religion may choose to have their loved one’s remains interred in a columbarium niche.

What is a Columbarium?

For many, the word “columbarium” may be unfamiliar. While you may have seen one before either in person or maybe in a movie, you may be unaware of what it was at the time.

A columbarium is a structure that can be found as a wall, building, or part of another structure. What makes this structure unique is that it is made up of individual spaces called “niches”. These niches can all be the same size or vary in height and width. It is in these niches that families will have their loved one’s urns placed.

Types of Niches

With most all columbariums there are typically two types of niches, one being a metal front niche. This means that the front-facing wall of the niche is made of a type of metal. Because of this, the contents inside the niche are hidden from view. Most metal front niches will offer the families an opportunity to have a plaque or other marker engraved that will be on the outside of the niche.

The other type of common niche is the glass front niche. Because the front-facing wall of the niche is made from glass, the contents of the niche are able to be seen. Many families enjoy this type of niche because it offers them a chance to add photos or other special mementos in the niche to be seen.

Because of the glass front, some of these niches may have the ability to have an outside marker Due to this, families may have the actual urn engraved with the deceased’s name and other important information.

Considerations When Choosing a Columbarium Nichecremation services in Denver, CO

If you are considering a columbarium niche for a loved one there are some key factors you should keep in mind. These include:

  • Location – You want a location that is easily accessible for those who wish to visit. If there are many family members who live far from one another, finding a niche in a central location so that it’s easier for everyone to visit may be a good idea. Also, think about if you would like a niche in an outside or inside columbarium.
  • Size – If you are in need of an oversized urn, make sure the columbarium can accommodate one. Many niches may not fit the larger size.
  • Condition – You want to make sure the columbarium you choose is in good condition. If you see cracks in the wall, weed overgrowth, or any other signs of damage or poor upkeep, choose another one.

Final Thoughts

Columbariums can be a great option for many families in the Catholic religion as they offer a beautiful setting to place their loved one’s remains. If you need more information about columbariums, niches, or cremation services in Denver, CO. feel free to reach out to us anytime as we welcome the opportunity to help you in any way you need.

©2022 Archdiocese of Denver - All Rights Reserved | 12801 W. 44th Avenue Wheat Ridge, Colorado 80033
Immediate Need

303-425-9511

General Inquiry

303-502-9179

X

*** Updated fall and winter Cemetery visiting hours. Starting Sun. Oct. 6th, 7:00am - 6:00pm. ***

Learn More
X