When you lose a loved one, it can take a heavy emotional toll on the entire family. The costs of a funeral should not add to the emotional burden. But the expenses of a traditional funeral — a burial plot, a headstone, a memorial service — can sometimes create a family financial crisis. Fortunately, cremation services are an affordable alternative. If your family has never chosen cremation for a deceased…

When a friend or family member passes away, you are immediately faced with the task of grieving. Everyone grieves in their own personal way — there is no one-size-fits-all approach, and that’s why it’s important to separate fact from fiction when it comes to certain beliefs and misconceptions. The sooner you can understand more about grief, the more prepared you can be to handle your own grief, and to support…

There are several tasks involved in making cremation arrangements for a loved one. Writing the obituary is one of them. We at Heartland Cremation & Burial Society recognize that this can be a difficult task. In an effort to ease the process, we’d like to offer the following suggestions for writing obituaries: On our website you will find an obituary worksheet that may be printed and shared with other family…

People who are environmentally conscious in life are often equally concerned about the environmental impact of their remains after they die. Eco-friendly cremation provides an opportunity to dispose of remains in an manner that will cause as little impact on the ecosystem as possible. One eco-friendly means of cremation is called resomation. This is a process which basically accelerates the decomposition process of the body. The remains are subject to…

When planning a cremation memorial service, one of the biggest concerns many people have is how the deceased will be displayed. Since viewing the body provides closure for friends and family members, a common fear is that cremation will not provide this opportunity. However, when you are planning a cremation, you have a number of options to consider that can help accommodate the wishes of friends and family members. A…

While many people are familiar with traditional funeral planning, they may be unaware as to what constitutes good cremation planning. With the number of families choosing cremation on the rise, it makes sense to know what to expect when you are considering this option for yourself or for a loved one. When, where and how to scatter ashes should figure into cremation planning. There are no right or wrong choices…

Families of veterans are often aware of some of the funeral benefits that are available to veterans, including an American flag, burial funds, and military graveside rites. Those who choose to be cremated may not know that their ashes can be scattered at sea free of charge by the United States Navy. In order to qualify for this service, veterans should be currently serving in a branch of the armed…

For many people, the scattering of ashes is a solemn event that provides closure just as a traditional burial does. Many people do not realize that there are several different cremation ash-scattering methods available that allow them to easily personalize this experience in order to commemorate their loved one in a unique and special way. Casting is one of the most common methods used to scatter ashes and involves simply…

The family of a deceased loved one is left with many decisions to make. Many people are making the choice to have their loved ones cremated. Cremation offers several advantages over traditional burial, one of which is a lower cost. Many different factors help contribute to the low cost of cremation services. Transportation The transportation of the body and/or urn depends on the location at the time of the loved…

The National Cemetery Administration is overseen by the Department of Veteran’s Affairs. This agency is responsible for maintaining more than 130 national gravesites in 39 different states as well as the territory of Puerto Rico. While these gravesites have typically received only intact remains, many of them are now expanding to include cremated ashes. In addition, several national cemeteries around the country have decided to accept only ashes. Three Tennessee…

Families that experience the loss of philanthropically minded loved ones may want to consider using whole-body donation and cremation services. These services offer an opportunity to honor the person’s memory, help others and reduce end-of-life associated costs. For those not familiar with it, whole-body donation is a program that is designed to assist medical professionals and students with their research. There are programs devoted to the donation process located all…

When you lose a loved one, there are many decisions to be made quickly and definitively. Understanding your options for choosing cremation urns may help make the process a little easier. The first consideration is whether the urn will be displayed, buried, or used temporarily to transport the cremains for scattering. If you wish to display the urn, choose something with a design and style that will help memorialize the…