Perfect Memorials Funeral and Cremation Blog » Memorials

Why Funeral and Memoral Services is Important

skgtech — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 14:00:39 +0000

A funeral and a memorial service for a loved one who has passed away is an important part of the grieving process. The services allow the surviving family and friends to come to terms with the loss. It also provides them the avenue to receive support and comfort as well to provide the same to each other.

Some people may not have had such an experience yet or they might be experiencing one now. In any of these cases, it would be good for them to know what to expect during this situation.

Funeral services differ according to race, culture and religion but every one of these services served the same purpose for the surviving families and friends. Regardless it is a burial or cremation, the funeral service is a declaration of a death. It offers family and friends to pay tribute to the dearly departed. Most of these services are held in the funeral homes, churches, synagogues, mosques and other places of worship. Some are held concurrently at home and then at the places of worship before proceeding to the burial site or columbarium.

A memorial service however is usually personalized to reflect the life of the dearly departed based on the respective religious affiliation of the surviving families. It is a service to pay tribute to the deceased. It is through the memorial services that the emotional needs of the surviving family and friends are served. The gathering of family and friends at the memorial helps to provide support and adjustments as the surviving family comes to terms with the loss.

Cremated Ashes Now Being Used to Create Beads

skgtech — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 14:00:07 +0000

Death is not a business that will ever stop being important and in demand. In South Korea, many views about death have changed. Before, traditional beliefs of honoring the dead didn’t allow for cremation, however, many are shying away from strict traditional beliefs and leaning toward more modern practices. With this has come a whole host of creative ways that the beloved deceased can be kept.

Many in Korea are taking to having the cremated ashes of their loved ones turned into glass beads. These beads are then often made into ropes of prayer beads or fashionable jewelry for the whole family. One company, Bonhyang, says that last year, they had 500 people come and have their deceased loved one cremated and turned into these fashionable Buddhist style beads. One man, whose father died 27 years ago even had his father’s body exhumed, his bones cremated and turned into beads. He says that he misses his father every day and by having prayer beads created from his ashes, he has a better means of keeping him close and honoring him in the way that he hopes someone will do for him someday.

Many say that it was the governmental push to start cremating to save space that lead to people wanting these keepsake ash holders. Others say it was something they wanted all along; however, traditional Confucius beliefs prevented it. Whatever the reason, many are turning to cremation and having their loved ones turned to beads or other stones that they can share with the whole family or make their own memorial from.

A Memorial for Yoda

skgtech — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 14:00:32 +0000

Recently, my teenage sisters-in-law lost their cat Yoda. Yoda was a spritely one year old cat that suddenly contracted Feline AIDS after a vet check-up she had a couple months before. The girls were absolutely devastated. They loved their cat, even though they had six others.

After weeks of moping around the house and crying for days at a time, I couldn’t stand it any longer. Yoda was buried on the side of the house under the rose bushes, her favorite spot to nap in the sun and eat the petals. I went to the veterinarian’s office and asked if they sold pet memorials, which they did. I found a beautiful memorial of an angel holding a kitty that I knew would make the girls happy to see each time they walked by, unlike the rock that they scratched Yoda’s name into with a car key.

I had the veterinarian’s office engrave Yoda’s name at the base of the memorial and had them call me when I could come and pick it up. When I got the call the next day, I was shocked to see that the pet memorial I had ordered looked beautiful with her name carved under the angel. I took it over to the girl’s house and we had a proper memorial service for Yoda that they weren’t able to give her before. My sisters-in-law were so grateful to be able to give their cat a proper burial and finally have some closure that each month on the anniversary of her death; we gather around and sprinkle catnip on the memorial so that all the other cats in the house will pay tribute too.

Doctor Assisted Suicide and Its Downside

skgtech — Sun, 07 Aug 2011 14:00:07 +0000

Not everyone believes in doctor assisted suicide, they see it as murder while others see it as a means to end the suffering. Many people will state in their wills that if they are ever in a position where they can no longer function without the use of machines, they wish to have their lives terminated instead of living off of a machine and costing the family a fortune in medical bills.

Some governments do not allow doctor assisted suicide. They see it as murder while other countries allow it freely so that a person doesn’t have to spend their last days in suffering. In the Netherlands, there are very strict and specific instructions that a doctor must go through to avoid prosecution for helping a patient end their life.

What many people do not realize is that doctor assisted suicide has some drawbacks. According to the bible, you cannot go to heaven if you commit suicide. Since doctor assisted suicide is still a planned death, this counts as suicide.

Suicide whether assisted or not is not legal in every country. There are only three countries that you can go to and have your life terminated with the help of a doctor. These include the Netherlands- under strict guidelines, Switzerland, and in the United States. Within the United States, only three states allow doctor assisted suicide; Oregon, Montana and Washington. Lastly, one of the things people forget is that doctor assisted suicide is expensive. A doctor will help you if it is written into the will or the family of the patient requests it, but the doctor’s liabilities must be paid, which can be expensive. Not nearly to the extent of keeping someone on life support, but it still costs a lot.

How to Live after your Spouse has Died

skgtech — Mon, 16 May 2011 05:27:52 +0000

Losing your soul mate is a devastating event that can be very difficult to navigate. Here is some advice on how to find your way back to a fulfilling life.

Choices. They’re yours. While there is certainly time to cry and mourn, there is also time to plan and look towards the future. When the tears become less and less frequent, then you’ll know that the time has come to start taking steps toward your future.

Memories. Keep the memories alive, cherish them, but don’t let them hold you back. Realize that tomorrow is going to be different than yesterday. New memories await your future. Never forget your past, but look forward to what’s in store for your future.

Thrive. Dedicate it to your spouse. Know that your spouse wants you to live a full and fulfilling life and use that as motivation to breathe at first, then take some steps and finally become a whole person again.

Reinvent. Who do you want to be? What are your dreams? What have you always wanted to do? Do it! Remember, your spouse wants you to have a joy-filled life. Have fun. Get excited. Live a little!

Serve. Sometimes helping those less fortunate than you can really make you come alive and give you a bit of perspective that you may have lost in your grief. Do something for someone else and put the focus on them and not yourself. There are hundreds of organizations looking for help. Find something that interests you and lend a hand.

Love. When the time is right and you are ready, get back out there and let love happen. It might be hard to think about right away, but the heart is resilient and love can be had again. Nobody can replace your spouse and don’t think of it that way. Love is a gift to be shared, maybe it’s time to give and receive.

www.perfectmemorials.com is a perfect place to find wonderful things to help memorialize your spouse and keep a visual reminder available as you move towards a new life.

Going Out with a Bang

Perfect Memorials — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 15:03:32 +0000

If you’ve lived your life with sparkle and flair, now you can soar into the great beyond with the same dazzling panache. Or if you’ve leaned more toward the quiet and unobtrusive, this could be your one last chance to shoot for the stars. What are we talking about? Cremation fireworks.

The rate of cremations in this country has skyrocketed, accompanied by several new ideas for dealing with cremated remains. Just when you thought you’d heard it all, along comes Angels Flight, an innovative company that provides a unique scattering service.

For fees starting at $4,000, Angels Flight will pack your ashes into custom-made fireworks shells and send you off in a blaze of glory. Choose from land, shore, or ocean scattering locations all over California, and Angels Fire will provide a package of services that includes a brilliant display of 200 fireworks shells and all required licenses, insurance, permits and fees. Professional photography, catering, limo service, sound system, and the services of a minister or captain are also available for an additional charge.