Trinity Memorial Gardens

When it comes to our afterlife, there is no easy answer. While you may have indicated your wishes before your death, the ultimate decision comes down to your family. The decision is also affected by your budget, religious and personal beliefs, and other intangible factors.  The decision to cremate is on the rise. According to the Cremation Association of North America (CANA) , the rate has grown from 48.6 in 2015, expecting to rise to 54.3 by 2021. A recent study by Harris Poll, commissioned by the Funeral and Memorial Information Council (FAMIC,) reported that 65% of Americans were definitely or likely to choose to be cremated. The rise in popularity is often thought of because cremation cost is considered less expensive. While this is most likely the case, other “ala carte” options often increase the price, where it’s higher than a traditional burial cost. Both cremation and burial have pros and cons. We’ve narrowed down the pros and cons for you to make an informed decision:...

There are few things in life worse than the unexpected death of a loved one. How do you decide on something as important as final resting plans if you never had a conversation with your loved one about it? At such an emotionally devastating time, choosing caskets and filling out paperwork can seem utterly overwhelming. In the unfortunate event of an unexpected death of a loved one, here are the steps you should take to begin the funeral planning process: Call the Funeral Home One of the initial calls you’ll need to make after a death is to a funeral home. In the funeral industry, this is often referred to as the “first call.” During the call, the funeral director can offer guidance on the next steps you should take. According to Funeral Wise , you should be prepared to provide the following information to your funeral director: The deceased person’s name, Social Security number, address and phone number Time of death The current location of the body— full address and phone number Atte...

Funerals are a tricky business for everyone involved, especially if you’ve never been to a funeral or experienced a loss before. Many people deal with loss differently and expressing your feelings about death may be something you’ve never had to deal with before. Similarly, you may not know the right things to say or do when attending a funeral.  Though the guidelines for etiquette at a funeral are different in every culture and country, there are some general rules you should follow when attending a funeral in the U.S. Before you do anything you may regret, here are some of the biggest etiquette rules to follow when attending a funeral:  Do: Dress modestly. When attending a funeral, try to dress as conservatively as possible. A funeral isn’t the place to make a fashion statement, and you shouldn’t be trying to attract any attention to yourself. The dress code for funerals is typically business casual, so dress nicely and respectably, without going over the top. No sweats or f...

Losing a loved one is always hard, and the unexpected grief and loss can be extremely difficult to cope with. On top of that, the mounting costs of a funeral can also be surprising, and unfortunately, sometimes with hardship. The average cost of a funeral in the U.S. adds up to a whopping $9,000, with American funeral costs coming to a total of $1.6 billion in 2017 alone. So how do you plan for unexpected funeral costs? Even if you’re not planning on losing a loved one, there are ways to make the costs of a funeral less of a burden. Here are some tips and tricks to consider when planning a funeral to help you keep funeral expenses down:  Insurance. Look into insurance options to help you pay for the final cost of the funeral. If the deceased has purchased life insurance with a death benefit, you’ll have a significant amount of money to help you pay for funeral costs. You can also invest in burial insurance, which is designed to help you pay for funeral expenses, however, different...

One of the most important parts of a funeral that can help tie everything together is the eulogy. A eulogy helps us remember the times we shared with our loved one, starts conversations, and helps capture our loved one’s life story.  Don’t know where to start when it comes to writing a eulogy? That’s OK. At Trinity Memorial Gardens , we’re here to help you. Below are 7 steps that you can take to help write your loved one’s eulogy.  Interview family and friends You don’t have to feel like the complete weight of remembering your loved one is on your shoulders. Ask family members or friends to share their stories of your loved one. This process itself can be very cathartic, as the act of remembering and sharing can help in the healing process itself. Tell a Story (or stories) Everyone at the service will appreciate your personal memories of your loved one. Don’t worry about remembering each detail, perfectly; just share the details that matter to you. To think about a good story,...

  A funeral is a ceremony for celebrating, honoring, and remembering the life of a person who has passed away. While specific customs, traditions, and practices differ across different cultures and religions, all funerals serve the key purpose of giving the bereaved a special time and place to say goodbye and find comfort and healing in one another. It’s natural to have a lot of questions about funerals. Here are answers to some of the more common questions relating to funerals, funeral services, and funeral homes: What Does a Funeral Director Do? A funeral director is trained to anticipate your needs and help you decide on the details of your service. Directors can be caregivers, planners, organizers, and advisors all at once. They are trained to answer questions about grief, recognize when a person’s having difficulty coping, and recommend sources of professional help. Funeral directors can also link survivors with support groups at the funeral home or in the community.  C...

  If you have ever experienced the loss of a family member or loved one, then you are probably well aware of the emotional toll grief can do to you. But believe it or not, grief can also have several physical effects on your body that you may not recognize. Experiencing physical symptoms is common, and can have an enormous impact on your health if not recognized. Fortunately, just as quickly as physical problems caused by grief can come, they can also be treated and cured.  What are the Physical Symptoms of Grief? Though grief can impact your body in many ways, some of the most common physical symptoms of grief are:  Heart Problems. The heartbreak of grief can cause a literal heart problem known as “takotsubo cardiomyopathy,” or broken heart syndrome. This condition causes a disruption of blood pumped to a section of the heart, resulting in symptoms such as chest pain and shortness of breath, and mimicking the action of a heart attack. This can also increase your chances ...