Self Penned Obituary

The self-penned obituary: Is this labor of love a trend or a movement?

Among my clearest childhood memories is my Dad turning to the obituary page when the afternoon paper hit the porch each day. Some days he would make a comment about a person who had passed, other times he would just scan the page and move on to the sports section. In our small Florida town, […]


How to Write an Obituary

Obituaries help spread the word that someone has died. They commemorate the life and let others know when and where services will be held. Writing the obituary can be challenging. Few people can be objective enough to write their own. And, when writing an obituary for a deceased family member or friend, it’s difficult to be accurate and thorough — especially when grieving.  


Working with a Funeral Director: Arrangement Conferences

After a death has occurred there are many decisions to be made and details to be organized. The time set aside to accomplish these things is called the arrangement conference. Depending on the complexity or amount of details needed, this could take anywhere from 30 minutes to several hours. Being prepared and knowing what to expect can greatly reduce confusion and stress during this time.


Funeral Planning in the LGBTQ+ Community

By Guest Contributor Catherine Durkin Robinson Catherine Durkin Robinson is the owner of Anitya Doula Services. She completed the End-of-Life Doula Program at the University of Vermont and is a member of the National End of Life Doula Alliance (NEDA). Focus on LGBTQ Funeral Planning Death is known as the great equalizer, but equality isn’t always […]



Creating a Celebration of Life

When someone dies, we want the chance to say goodbye, honor their memory, and look for meaning in the death. Throughout history, we have turned to serve these purposes. And, without a doubt, holding a ceremony to memorialize someone we have lost holds an important place in the process of handling grief. While the need […]


Etiquette for the Surviving Family: Planning the Funeral

Arranging the Funeral Now that Your Loved One Has Died A funeral is a formal service of remembrance with the body present, in either a closed or open casket. Your funeral director or clergy can advise you on many aspects of etiquette relating to the actual funeral service. If your loved one hasn’t preplanned, you will need to make a number of decisions:


Funeral Topics A – Z

Topics A - D A Advance Directives African-American Funerals Alternative Funeral Providers Arranging a Funeral: What You Need to Do Ásatrú Funerals Asian Funeral Flower Customs


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