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Importance of a Memorial Signature Book When a Loved One Passes

August 7, 2010 in Funeral | No comments

memorial-signature-bookWhen a loved one passes from this life, a memorial signature book is for many a keepsake that may be looked back upon decades or even longer into the future by family members.  It is also important that you honor your loved one, and that those attending can leave their names as a tribute to the departed.  A funeral guest book is a normal and important part of any funeral or memorial service.

The actual funeral or memorial service is not the only way that a memorial signature book is used.  Frequently, when a loved one passes away family and friends gather at the home of the family, bringing food and other gifts in order to help support the family.  Frequently, it is at these times that friends and loved ones share their sorrow or even stories or memories from the past.  Many people like to have a memorial signature book at their home, so that those who come by to offer their sympathy can leave their signature along with notes about any food or other gifts they brought along.

funeral-signature-bookMany family members and surviving loved ones find it a comfort months or even years after the service to review the memorial signature book in order to remind them of who attended the service.  Additionally, if a service is extremely large and there are hundreds of people in attendance, families can browse the book to see who may have been there that they missed following the service.  A memorial signature book is something that family members may look at years from now, and will help to preserve special memories from the past.

It’s also very helpful when it comes time to send out special thanks to those who brought food to the home or provided their support in some other way.  As you look through the memorial signature book used at the family home, it is easy to know exactly who brought certain foods or other gifts to the house so that thank-you cards can easily be sent.  Many families choose to have a memorial signature book both at the funeral or memorial service, and at their own home when friends, relatives and other guests stop by to offer their condolences.

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Burial versus Cremation: Knowing Your Choices

September 9, 2009 in Burial Vs Cremation | No comments

Burial serves a specific purpose in this world.  Together with people’s increasing awareness on environmental concerns, this funeral technique made its own leap from the famous traditional burials to green burial (scattering or urns for ashes) options these days.  Of course, inside this technique are different ceremonies to give due respect to your beloved.  With the popularity of burials, there is another funeral rite considered nowadays – cremation.

Burial and cremation are two different techniques.  Burial requires investing on caskets and paying for the rest of the funeral expenses that go with the ceremonies pertinent to the event.  Cremation may only require spending a night with your loved one after he passes away.  You may rent caskets too if you wish to spend some more nights with your dearly beloved.  However, instead of burying them in cemeteries or memorial parks, you will have their remains as ashes.

More on burial and cremation

Apart from the aforementioned facts on these two funeral techniques, there are other distinctions and similarities to take note of in burial and cremation.  You may consider the following information of great help knowing that you need to decide on such matters in the future.

1.    The process.  Burial requires some processing and documentation before the ceremonies may be conducted.  You need to inform your church about the actual funeral day as well as give notice to the cemetery where you want the grave set.  For cremation, you also need to inform a crematorium about your intent to have your loved ones cremated.

2.    Services.  As mentioned a while back, both burial and cremation require funeral services to give you the time to grieve for the loss in your family.  Eulogies and necrological services may also be conducted depending on your loved one’s request before he departed.

3.    Reception.  Knowing where you will place your loved one’s remains for the last few nights is a decision you and your family should discuss about.  Whether you will eventually choose a burial or a cremation, you should choose the right place to spend the last nights with your beloved.  Your options include your home, a chapel, a church or any other private place where solemnity is assured.

4.    After funeral services.  In burial methods, you conduct the ceremonies before your loved one is buried to the ground.  In cremation, there are other rites done after the funeral.  Scattering ashes to the sea or land is an option to consider.  Placing the remaining ashes inside an urn and spending a vigil the night after the ceremonies is also part of the choice for cremation.

Visitation arrangements are also similar in both burial and cremation.  It is up to you and your family to determine who should pay the last respects to your loved one.  The costs in these techniques may vary.  Some says that cremation is cheaper plus you also have the chance to place the urn inside your home.  But, burial remains to be a popular option for a lot of families.  In the end, you still decide about the whole thing.

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