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What About Natural Burials?

Natural burials after funeral home services in Oakland, CA are becoming common as people want to do their part for the planet. But what is a natural burial? What do they have to do with funeral homes?

Natural burials are burials that do not use chemicals to preserve the body, reduce the use of unnecessary products, and lay the body to rest in a way that does not damage or negatively impact the environment. The term “natural burial” also refers to the actual process of burying a body, including opening and closing the plot and how the plot is memorialized. Generally speaking, a natural burial means the body is not embalmed and is buried in a simple, biodegradable casket or shroud in a hold dug by hand and finished with a natural marker or no marker at all.

Can you choose a natural burial after cremation services? The point of natural burial is to avoid putting unnatural materials or substances into the earth. In that context, scattering or trenching cremated remains can be considered a natural burial.

What about costs and laws? Since natural burials do not include accessories like embalming, heavy caskets, and headstones, they tend to be more affordable than traditional burial. The natural burial feel generally includes the burial plot, interment fees, and a shroud or environmentally safe casket. Natural burials are legal in all 50 states. Some states, however, have restrictions. For example, in Indiana, you must perform a natural burial in an established ceremony or apply for a home burial permit. Contact your local burial providers to learn more about options in your area. If you’re considering a natural burial at home, be sure to check that local zoning laws allow for home burials.

Natural burials have a few key differences from traditional burials. Unlike natural burial, traditional burial allows for embalming, caskets made from metal or wood, headstones, burial vaults, and grave liners. They also have differences from green burials. Though natural burial and green burial are similar, they are not the same thing. A green burial refers to both the burial process and where the body is laid to rest, meaning it must take place at a green cemetery that does not use pesticides or bury embalmed bodies. A natural burial, on the other hand, can happen at a traditional cemetery. People can choose a natural burial for themselves or their loved ones because its environmentally friendly, often less expensive than traditional internment, and they find comfort in returning the body to nature.

Its also important to note that stone is not used in natural burials. Though stone is a natural material, the processes used to mine, create, and transport vaults, liners, headstones, and other stone burial accessories are not natural. Therefore, stone, marble, concrete, and other similar materials are not used in natural burials.

We are here to help if you have more questions about natural burials or Oakland, CA funeral homes. We are happy to do whatever we can during your time of loss or preplanning. Call or visit us today to learn more.

How Does Grief Progress Over Time?

How long will you be grieving after a cremation service in Oakland, CA? Unfortunately, there is no set time frame for when you will feel better, move through a stage, or come to accept the loss of your loved one as each person, each relationship, and even each death is different. However, knowing what others have gone through and understanding that their experiences are similar to your own can help you feel normal, which is soothing.

Being aware of grief models can help you understand the emotions you may be feeling. To provide comfort, here is a general grief timeline. For some, grief begins before the death. Anticipatory grief is a feeling of loss you may experience before your loved one dies. For example, you might begin to think about their loss and feel the pain of that loss when you find out a loved one has a terminal illness. After the death, many people experience shock immediately that lasts for hours or even days.

Everyone experiences shock differently. Some people may cry or laugh while others might feel completely numb. Every reaction is normal. A funeral or memorial service is often when you say goodbye in a formal, final manner. This can be a very important part of the healing process, and reactions can vary from one extreme to the other. You might cry throughout the service or sit stoically.

Some people say that grief is often harder after the service. This makes sense. Once the service is over, friends go home and return to their lives, leaving you alone with your feelings and your new reality. This is the time to self-reflect and allow yourself to feel your emotions. You can work on your to-do list, but be gentle with yourself. What about months or years down the line? Your grief will lessen over time. The exact amount of time depends on the person, as no two people will grieve the same. But you will start to feel better. Months after the loss, many people begin to question the death as they’ve processed it more. This is common. You will never be “finished” grieving the loss of a loved one. Even years down the line, there will still be moments when the pang of loss hits you like it did in the early days. However, these moments will become few and far between as the years pass.

Your grief might be like a shadow, always there but not fully visible or tangible. Despite the popular saying, time doesn’t “heal” the wound. But it does soften the blow. As the years go by, the sharpness of your grief will ease, and you’ll be able to think back to happy memories with a bittersweet smile.

Being familiar with a common grief timeline can help comfort you in your time of loss. We are happy to do whatever we can for you in your time of loss if you want to learn more about grief after Oakland, CA cremation services. Call or visit us today.

The Physical Manifestation of Grief

Grief is to be expected, but oftentimes people do not expect the physical effects of grief after the death of a loved one and their service at a funeral home in Oakland, CA. What happens in your body when you’re grieving? How does grief manifest physically? Here is information about the most common physical manifestations of grief.

Healing after your loss might happen in its own time, but it will happen. You will get through the grief no matter how it manifests in your body and mind.

Grief can lead to a wide range of physical health problems, such as indigestion and gastrointestinal issues, cardiovascular problems and chest pain, sleeplessness, headaches, inflammation and joint pain, and more. Your body is under a lot of stress when you’re grieving, which is why people often suffer from these symptoms.

For example, grief can be held in the body, or impact the brain. Some people believe grief is held in certain places in the body, such as the lungs and large intestines. Others feel grief is held in the heart, hence the phrase “heartache.” Grief can affect the brain, often causing a condition colloquially referred to as “grief brain.” This condition impacts memory, comprehension, and concentration. Grief has such a big impact on the brain because your brain becomes overloaded with stress and sadness after a loss, which then triggers stress responses that manifest as mental symptoms after a prolonged period of time. “Grief brain” will affect you physically, emotionally, and mentally. It may last a few days, weeks, or even months. But eventually, it will fade.

Grief can impact decision making. Because of the extended stress your body is exposed to after a loss, grief can impact your decision-making skills, making you less efficient or even more likely to make choices you wouldn’t otherwise. That is why experts advise the bereaved avoid big choices or life-altering decisions during grief, like changing jobs, moving far away, or something similar. Wait at least six months after a loss to make big decisions. Grief can also make you tired. From sleepless nights, nightmares, and fatigue to a hard time falling asleep or staying asleep, grief has a big impact on sleep. To curb some of these symptoms, avoid napping during the day, limit your screen time before bed, cut back on caffeine, and create a bedtime ritual to help your body wind down. You can also talk to your doctor about sleep aids. Grief-stricken people are exhausted people. You may have never felt this tired before and might even consider that you are coming down with the flu. This is normal. Be sure to take care of yourself and put your needs first. You can’t recover without self-care.

Do you want more information about getting through grief and an Oakland, CA funeral home service? We are honored to help you however we can in your time of loss or preplanning. Give us a call or pay us a visit today.

The Different Timelines of Different Losses

How long does grief last after the loss of specific relationships, such as the death of a spouse, child, or parent and their cremation service in Oakland, CA?

Grief varies greatly depending on the type of loss you suffer. Think about it, the grief you may feel after losing a spouse can be very different from the grief you feel after losing a coworker. Or, for example, grief after a miscarriage is different than grief after the loss of a parent.

Everyone’s grief timeline is different, but hopefully this information can help you feel normal and accepted as you process your loss. Many people suffer from feelings of grief after a miscarriage, even though many people don’t talk about it. If you’ve suffered a miscarriage, you’re not alone. Your body and heart will heal over time, so be patient with yourself and don’t be ashamed of your feelings of loss.

What about the loss of a spouse? While grief varies from person to person, some experts say that mourning the loss of a spouse can last three years or longer. No matter where in you are in your grief journey after losing your spouse, be compassionate and patient with yourself. Anyone who’s lost a child will most likely say that the pain will never fully go away. Losing a child is considered the single worst stressor a person can experience, which is why experts agree that grief after the death of a child is often the longest and most severe grief.

Losing a parent will have an impact on you and your life, no matter how old you are. Parents always have a formative effect on their children, and the loss will be acutely felt. Some people say their grief after the loss of a parent lasted between six months and a year, but there is no right or wrong timeline. We can’t forget about pets. A pet can be a very important part of your family. The feelings of loss and grief you may experience after the death of a pet are valid and nothing to be ashamed of. Grieving a pet takes time, often several months, but it is your right to feel your grief and to work through it.

The best way to work through grief after any kind of loss is to accept your new normal. One way to help ease the transition is by starting new routines that put you and your health first. Life is always changing, but growth can be healthy. You can try starting a new exercise routine, whether that means joining a gym or going on regular walks. This extra exercise will not only keep you physically heathy, but will also help you reduce stress and ward off depression. You can also try regular self-care such as massages, manicures, or doing activities that make you happy. Don’t be afraid to try new things, too. Test out different hobbies or take a class to learn a new skill. You might even make new friends or form new relationships that can help fill the hole in your heart.

Do need more information on grief or Oakland, CA cremation services? We are here to help however we can.

The Benefits of Intimate Funerals

Even if a small service at an Oakland, CA funeral home is not what you had originally planned for your lost loved one, you can still have a meaningful and memorable day. Many people think large funerals with tons of guests are the best ways to honor and remember a lost loved one. But small services can be just as good, and here’s why:

The Most Important People – While you love your Great Aunt Muriel from Australia, she’s not really a big part of your life. So, does it really matter if she’s not at the memorial or funeral for your lost loved one? Having a smaller service means your time, money and attention are only going to the most important people in your life, whether that means immediate family or close friends. Plus, you won’t have to worry about meeting some guests for the first time – like your cousin’s random plus one or your boss’ wife who you’ve never met.
Less Work – If you’re feeling overwhelmed or stressed about the work that comes with planning a big service, a small one might be for you. With less people and fewer moving pieces, smaller memorials or funerals are a lot less work and take a lot less time to plan. This means you can spend more time remembering your lost loved one and processing your grief.
Budget – A smaller memorial or funeral means less guests, and less guests means a lot less money. Think about all the savings on food and alcohol, not to mention how much money you could save on getting a smaller venue. These are some of the biggest costs when it comes to a service, so it would free up a lot of money in your budget for other things, like more flowers, or simply put more money back in your pocket.
Time for Everyone – When you have a big memorial or funeral with lots of guests it’s unlikely that you’ll be able to speak with or hang out with everyone. While it’s OK for the bereaved greet guests only briefly in a large service, wouldn’t it be nice to have the time to really connect with everyone? What’s more, the less people you have to greet the more time you and your family can spend remembering and honoring your lost loved one. You won’t believe how often the bereaved don’t get to sit and eat the meal they planned because they’re too busy greeting guests. Also, another bonus, no awkward small talk!

The last few years have made people really think about what’s most important. And, for many, having a big service for a lost loved one just isn’t a priority anymore, and there’s nothing wrong with that. While it might not be exactly what you pictured, a small service can actually be incredibly beautiful and special. We are here to help if you want more tips on planning a service at funeral homes in Oakland, CA. Call or visit us today.

The Benefits of Brunch Memorials

Brunch is warm, comforting, and definitely on par with what a memorial or other service can and should be after Oakland, CA cremation services. There are lots of positive benefits that come with a brunch service, like:

Food – Tired of the standard meat, fish, or pasta funeral or memorial meals? Brunch food is the answer. The combinations are endless and endlessly comforting, from omelet stations and pancakes to sandwiches, pizza, pastries and more. Brunch services are also more flexible when it comes to buffets versus passed food, family style, or plated meals. While you can have a cake for a brunch funeral or memorial, you can also get creative with other dessert options like donuts, coffee cake, pastries, and more.
Drinks – Everyone loves mimosas and bloody Mary’s. You can also serve specialty brunch cocktails like Irish coffee, Bellini’s, or whatever else strikes your fancy.
Availability – Some funeral homes, restaurants, and other venues book up quickly, but usually only for Friday and Saturday nights. A brunch service is a great way to squeeze yourself in at a busy venue if it’s the one your lost loved one would have wanted or if it makes you feel comforted.
Discounts – Since brunch time services aren’t as busy, many venues and vendors also offer big discounts that mean lots of saving for you or more money to spend on other aspects of memorialization.
Time Off – While a nighttime Sunday service means your guests have to take the next day off, a brunch service gives them plenty of time to get home and get to bed before a workday. Plus, there’s a lot less traffic on Sundays.
Attire – Brunch services can be as fancy or as causal as you want, since brunch itself can be both dressy and laid back. There’s no pressure to have big centerpieces or tons of flowers at a brunch memorial or funeral, but there’s also nothing that says you can’t have those things.
Religious Services – Many funerals and memorials are religious events, and oftentimes, religious services take place in the morning. By having a brunch service for your lost loved one, you won’t have to reschedule your religious service for a different time of day.
Sunlight – Take advantage of the daylight with a brunch service. If you have a dinner event, you start to lose the light nearly halfway through the event. But daytime brunch events mean you get a whole day of gorgeous sunlight for scattering ashes, spending time with loved ones, and honoring the deceased.

There are no rules for when or what kind of memorial you can have after a cremation service in Oakland, CA. You can 100% do a brunch memorial! No matter what kind of service you choose, be it brunch or dinner, just remember all that matters is honoring your lost loved one and comforting yourself, your family, and your friends. Call or visit us today to learn more. We are honored to do what we can to help you in your time of loss or preplanning. Call or visit us today.

Fascinating Funeral Home Superstitions

Our funeral, cremation, and death traditions at Oakland, CA funeral homes have come a long way from where they first started thousands of years ago. Are you curious about outdated traditions and superstitions that most people don’t practice anymore? Here are some of the most interesting.

To begin, we used to have extended mourning periods. When someone died in the Victorian era, families would stop all the clocks in their home, cover mirrors with fabric, and hang a wreath with black ribbon on the door. These changes would last for four days or more, which is much longer than most formal grieving periods in modern times. A widow and oftentimes the entire family would also wear only black for an entire year.

Historically, death and mourning have carried many superstitions that are no longer believed. For example, it used to be back luck to wear anything new to a funeral and many funeral attendees believed spirits would enter their mouths if they yawned during a funeral. Others thought that if rain falls during a funeral procession or if there is thunder during a burial, it’s a sign the deceased is entering heaven. Still more believed that if they heard three knocks but no one was at their door, it was actually death that was knocking.

We also had in-person death notifications. For a very long time, death notifications were delivered in person on a piece of paper with a black border that listed the service details. Someone from the bereaved family or someone hired by the bereaved would go from house to house of everyone the deceased would have wanted at the service to make the death announcement and provide service details. These days, it’s more common to receive service particulars in an email from the family, read obituaries online, or post social media remembrances.

What about more modern ones? Expedited by the COVID-19 pandemic, virtual funerals and memorials are becoming more and more common. They are often held via FaceTime, Zoom, or other platforms so people can attend in person or virtually, depending on their and needs or preferences. People are becoming more open to less traditional, more personalized funeral services. Instead of standard hymns and readings in churches, services can be almost anything the deceased and the bereaved want, from celebrations of life to gatherings with slideshows, photos, and more. Per longstanding funeral customs, a headstone would only list the deceased’s person’s name, birthdate, date of death, and perhaps a memorial message. Today, however, thanks to modern technology, headstones can include photos, personal inscriptions, and even screens that display photo montages, holograms, or life story videos.

These days, there are many different ways to plan a funeral or service that speaks to you, your lost loved one, and your family traditions at a funeral home in Oakland, CA. You don’t have to be tied to outdated traditions or superstitions anymore. At the end of the day, what you believe or do doesn’t matter as long as you feel comfort after a loss. Call or visit us today to learn more.

How to Inter Cremains

Internment is laying someone to rest permanently, whether that means burial, a cremation service in Oakland, CA, a nice, or more. In the past, internment specifically meant burial. But these days, since cremation is so popular, it has also come to refer to the final disposition of cremated remains. Inurnment, however, is when ashes or cremated remains are placed in a permanent cremation urn, while burial is only the placement of remains in the earth.

You can inter, or lay to rest, cremated remains after cremation services. There are many ways you can inter your lost loved one’s remains after a cremation. You can bury them, place them in a niche, or many other types of internment. But where can you inter your lost loved one’s cremated remains?

There are many places to choose for interment of ashes. You just need to decide how you would like to lay your loved one to rest, such as public land. If you want to inter an urn on public land, you will need a special permit as public land cannot be used to burial or scattering remains unless otherwise stated. Some spaces, like theme parks and sport stadiums, never allow any type of burial or scattering. Other spaces, like national parks, do allow it when the bereaved fill out an application and get a permit. It is always wise to ask first. You would hate to have your loved one’s cremated remains swept or vacuumed up, only to be placed in a trash can.

You can also inter ashes in a columbarium. A columbarium is a room, wall, or building created specifically to house cremated remains inside urns. They are built with niches to hold the urns and provide the bereaved final resting places at which they can visit and remember their lost loved ones. There are also cemetery options. You can inter or bury cremated remains in a cemetery. Some cemeteries allow ashes to be buried in the same kind of grave space as full caskets, while others only allow ashes to be buried in special cremated remain graves. Before making plans to inter a loved one, check with your local cemetery.

You can bury an urn with cremated remains on private property, such as your own land or the land of someone in your family or that of a friend. If you choose to bury the urn, you should consider the different types of burial urns. There are options that are designed to stand the test of time and there are others that are made to decay so the cremains can return to the earth. You should also consider if you need a burial vault to help keep the land from sinking after the burial.

Finally, urn gardens. Urn gardens are special areas in cemeteries dedicated to cremated remains. In elaborate gardens, cremated remains are incorporated into the landscape, such as in benches, in a fountain, or other pieces. Less elaborate urn gardens have urns buried in the ground like other parts of the cemetery.

Do you have more questions on internment and ashes? We are here to help if you want to learn more about interment or Oakland, CA cremation services. Call or visit us today for more information.

Break the Mold with a Traditional Funeral

These days, its more unique to have a traditional service at a funeral home in Oakland, CA than a modern service like a cremation, a celebration of life, or other casual, more “fun” services.

These shifts have made the traditional funeral home service more of a novelty. In fact, if you want to break the mold, you should consider having a traditional funeral. Here’s what you should include to make your lost loved one’s funeral traditional:

Prelude Music – The service is usually opened by an instrumental song, oftentimes piano or organ.
Scripture and Sermon – The officiant will read from the Bible, generally passages about life, death, and resurrection. The officiant will also usually give a short sermon based on some fact from the deceased’s life or on hope after loss.
Eulogy and Tributes – One of the deceased’s close family or friends will give a tribute speech, called a eulogy, to honor their life, who they were, their values, and their legacy. After, the officiant will give time for other service attendees to stand up and say a few words about the deceased. Sometimes these tributes are arranged ahead of time, and other times they are spur of the moment.
Welcome, Prayer, and Singing – The officiant, usually a priest or pastor, welcomes the guests and prays over them. After, the congregation sings one or two traditional hymns.
Flowers – Flowers were originally included in funeral services to mask the smell of the body decaying. Thanks to modern preservation, that’s no longer necessary. However, decorating funerals with flowers is now considered traditional, and it’s hard to find a service that doesn’t have any. The beauty and fragility of flowers conveys something of a picture of life and death. Plus, they are a wonderful way to decorate the space as mourners prepare to honor the life of the departed.
Food – Funerals also almost always include a reception following the service with food, drinks, and companionship. This is to meet the desire to gather together over a meal to comfort one another, reminisce, and share stories of sweet memories.
Music – Almost every funeral and modern service include music. Traditional funeral services are often held at church and will typically include hymns sung by the congregation. Sometimes they also include solo singing or tribute songs to honor the deceased.
Closing and Recessional – The officiant will give a closing remark, usually a prayer, benediction, or even another song. Then, the pallbearers will carry the casket to the hearse, upon which it will be taken to the cemetery for burial or the crematorium for cremation.
Burial – Traditional funerals oftentimes have the casket with the deceased inside displayed at the altar or front of the funeral home. They will also usually be followed by an internment service in which the casket is buried.

We are here to help if you want more information about traditional funerals at Oakland, CA funeral homes. Call or visit us today to learn more about what we can do for you in your time of loss or preplanning.

Temporary Urns After Cremation Services

Temporary urns are small, unassuming containers usually made of cardboard or plastic. They’re designed to temporarily house cremated remains, generally with the remains inside the temporary urn in a plastic bag. Your lost loved one’s remains most likely won’t be returned to you in a decorative or permanent urn after their cremation service in Oakland, CA. Instead, you will pick them up or they will be delivered to you in a temporary urn. But what do you do with a temporary urn? And how do you transfer the remains into a permanent urn? Here are some tips for using a temporary urn.

You can keep your loved one’s remains however you see fit, whether in a temporary urn or some other receptible. Most standard temporary urns measure approximately 8.5″ x 6.5″ x 4.5″, though there are other some other sizes on the market. Most funeral homes and cremation providers will use temporary urns if you have not provided an alternative or if you have not purchased an urn from them because it is a bit more respectful to transport remains in a temporary urn rather than just in a plastic bag.

You can have the funeral home transfer the ashes for you. If you aren’t comfortable handling your lost loved one’s cremated remains, you can have your funeral home or cremation provider transfer the ashes into a permanent urn for you. Funeral homes are required by law to use the container of your choice, even if it is purchased from an outside source. You can have the urn delivered directly to the funeral home and skip the temporary urn completely, or drop the remains off with the permanent urn once it arrives.

If you want to keep your lost loved one’s cremated remains at home or in a columbarium, you will most likely want to transfer them into a permanent urn. You can easily transfer the remains yourself. To do so, open the temporary urn and remove the plastic bag with the cremains inside. Then, put the plastic bag into the permanent urn and close the lid or bottom panel. You do not have to take the remains out of the bag. You may use wood glue or caulk to seal the urn, but this is not required as long as the ashes remain in the plastic bag.

You can also keep the temporary urn. Your lost loved one’s cremated remains will be just fine in a temporary urn. You don’t need to buy a fancy urn if you don’t want to or if you don’t have the funds. While temporary urns aren’t ideal for displaying ashes, they are great for burying or scattering. Most cemeteries will require a burial vault, so you can just keep the remains in the temporary urn and put both inside the burial vault. If you plan to scatter your lost loved one’s cremains, you can keep them in the temporary urn until you do so. You can also place the temporary urn with the cremated remains inside a permanent urn as there are many urn options that are designed to be large enough for this purpose.

We are here to help if you want to learn more about urns or Oakland, CA cremation services. Call or visit us today.

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