Trinity Memorial Gardens

  Picking a headstone to memorialize one’s life is more important than you think. Whether you’re choosing one for yourself or for a loved one, picking a headstone can be a great step in the grieving process to help you honor your loved one. Though you definitely want to choose something that you/your loved one would love and reflects their personal taste, you also want a headstone that will be classic and timeless.  There are many elements of a headstone for you to choose from that you’ll want to consider before you make a final purchase. While you should always read the rules and restrictions of the cemetery you’ve chosen, as well as stay in a comfortable budget, here are some tips to help you choose the perfect headstone:  Design. There are many headstone designs that you can choose from that you may not even be aware of! These options include flat markers (traditional, in-ground, lawn level markers), bevel markers (flat markers, with the top at an angle so it’s above ...

  Whether you are making burial arrangements for yourself or a loved one, choosing a cemetery and plot can be a difficult decision. If you’re planning for yourself, you may have already considered that you’d like to be buried in your home town, in a plot with other family members, etc. But what if you’re making burial plans for a loved one who passed away without making their wishes known? How do you choose the right cemetery and plot? Here are some important things to consider: Cemetery Location If the person who died will be buried in a cemetery , the first thing to figure out is where. Many people purchase cemetery plots while they’re alive, in which case the cemetery has already been chosen. If the person who died did not purchase or choose a cemetery plot, consider where he or she would have liked to have been buried. While many people want to be buried in the place they lived, others prefer to be buried in the place they grew up, or in the place they were born. Also, cons...

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,...