Living memorials are just what they sound like: a memorial that is also a living thing, like a tree or a plant. They are all about shifting the focus away from death and loss and onto celebrating a life well lived and how the memory of that life will go in in the lives of friends and family. A living memorial might be one of the best ways to honor a lost loved one after their service at a funeral home in Oakland, CA by celebrating their life.

There are several types of living memorials to help inspire your celebration of your loved one’s life, like keepsake seeds. If you’re hosting a memorial or a funeral for your lost loved one, you can send attendees home with keepsake seed packets and instructions to plant the seeds in memory of the deceased. This way, your loved one’s memory will live on in many plants spread out with those that loved him or her most. You can give seeds of your loved one’s favorite flower or choose a simple plant that’s easy to care for.

What about bird feeder memorials? While bird feeders themselves aren’t living, they do bring around lots of lovely, living birds to honor your lost loved one. A beautiful bird feeder feeds and nourishes local birds with a food source and brings you a sense of joy and comfort every time you look out your window and remember your lost loved one. There are also memorial trees from cremains or memorial trees. If you choose to cremate your lost loved one, you can plant a memorial tree from their ashes. This incorporates their cremains into the tree growing process so, in a way, your loved one will live on in the tree. You can purchase a memorial tree planting kit that has all the tools and instructions you need to plant a tree from your loved one’s ashes.

Planting a tree in honor of a lost loved one is a wonderful way to celebrate their life and give back the community and the planet. If your loved one is buried far away or if you scattered their remains, a memorial tree is also a great place for you to visit, grieve, and remember. When choosing the type of tree and the location, be sure to do research into local weather and regulations regarding planting. There are also lots of organizations that will plant a memorial tree for you. Many will also send you a certificate showing where the tree was planted. Living wreaths are another option. Living wreaths are just like standard wreaths except that they are made from living plants and will therefore last longer than dried wreaths. Wreaths like these can be displayed by hanging or in a saucer or plate on a table or counter for a long-lasting living memorial wreath.

Do you you want to learn more about living memorials or Oakland, CA funeral homes? Call or visit us more information about what we can do for you in your time of loss or preplanning.

How long is the time between death and a funeral home service in Oakland, CA? What about between death and a cremation service? Many people have lots of “how long” or timeline questions when it comes to death, cremation services, and funerals. Luckily, we have the answers.

Whether you’re preplanning for your own passing or dealing with the recent loss of a loved one, this information about timeline from time of death to the service and internment is here to help:

1. How long after death does the funeral home pick up the body? The exact time it takes for a funeral home or cremation provider to pick up a body depends on a few factors. For example, you must have a doctor or nurse pronounce the body dead and, after the body is released, provide paperwork. Also, some funeral homes are flexible and will allow you more time to say goodbye if you prefer.
2. How long does cremation take? The cremation takes around three hours, but the processing of the remains can also take two to three more hours. If the cremation takes place early enough in the day, you can get the cremated remains back the same day. But, generally, you will get cremains back one to three days after the cremation is complete. As each provider’s schedule is different, be sure to talk to your cremation provider for a specific timeline.
3. How long after a funeral is the body cremated? – A cremation can happen immediately after a funeral or up to two weeks later, depending on the funeral home or cremation provider’s availability and if the body is embalmed.
4. How long is the time between death and cremation? – There are many factors that determine the amount of time between death and cremation. In general, most states have a waiting period before a cremation can occur. If you’re using a national cremation provider, it could take anywhere from 10 to 15 days. If you work with a local facility, it could take between two and three days. The biggest determining factor is how quickly you get a death certificate signed by a doctor, as you can’t get a cremation until you have a signed death certificate.
5. How long can a dead body be kept at home? It is illegal to keep a dead body at home in almost every state, though the exact amount of time varies from state to state. Be sure to check your local laws to ensure you’re not breaking them. However, most states will allow you to keep a body a home until the cremation.
6. How long is the time between death and a funeral service? The time between death and a funeral service depends on religion, preference, and embalming. Some religions dictate that a funeral must take place as soon as a day or two after the death, but in other cases the bereaved might have to wait a week or longer for family to come in from out of town. If the body is embalmed, the funeral can be up to two weeks after the death.

We are here to help if you want to learn more about Oakland, CA funeral homes and the different timelines surrounding a death.

Do you want to learn every more about embalming and what it has to do with services at funeral home in Oakland, CA? We are here to help!

As a recap, embalming is preserving human remains to slow decomposition, generally performed to make the body presentable for a funeral or service. Embalming is also often used to keep bodies preserved for medical purposes in anatomical laboratories or schools.

Here are the answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about embalming. To begin, do bodies have to be embalmed? Though it’s quite common, embalming is rarely necessary. It is not required when the body is cremated, though most funeral homes do require embalming for viewings or open casket funeral services. Do you have to embalm the body for an open casket funeral? Most states do not have laws that require embalming before a public viewing or an open casket funeral, though most funeral homes will not allow a viewing if the body is not embalmed. What happens if a body is not embalmed? Bodies that are not embalmed will decompose at their normal rate, depending on the cause of death, weight of deceased, temperature, moisture levels, and other factors. If the body is not embalmed, you will need to hold the service, burial, or cremation as soon as possible after the death.

How long does embalming take? The entire embalming process takes an average of two hours, but it can take longer if the deceased was in an accident or had an autopsy, as this requires additional steps to make the body presentable for a service. What are your options for internment of an embalmed body? Once a body is embalmed, you can bury it or cremate it as you prefer. You cannot, however, bury it with a natural burial because the embalming chemicals could leak into the ground and harm the environment.

What about how long an embalmed body lasts? Embalming does not stop decomposition; it just slows it down. Though the rate of decomposition varies depending on temperature, moisture levels, and other variables, an embalmed body will last inside a casket for many years. However, the goal of embalming is to make the body look as good as possible for the funeral, usually about a week after the process. If you plan on having an open-casket funeral, you should not leave the embalmed body out for more than a week.

Are organs removed during embalming? The organs are left inside the body cavity during the embalming process. However, the embalmer does drain all of the blood from the body and replaces with embalming fluid. They then flush the blood and other waste down a drain and into the sewage system, at which point it goes through the local wastewater treatment process. Finally, can you cremate an embalmed body? Yes! Embalming does not impact the cremation process.

Do you have more questions about embalming or Oakland, CA funeral homes? We are here to help in any way we can during your time of loss. Call or visit us today for more information on our services.

What do you do when one of your coworkers loses a loved one and has to plan a service at a funeral home in Oakland, CA? Workplace relationships are already tricky, but they can get even trickier when one of your coworkers loses a loved one. Situations like these can be very difficult to navigate as it’s hard to know what to say or what to do to be helpful and comforting but still professional.

How do you properly express sympathy in the workplace? There are a few ways to go about it. For example, if you’re speaking to a bereaved coworker from just yourself, you can say things like: “My heart goes out to you during this difficult time.”, “Please let me know if I can help in any way.”, “My warm thoughts and sincere prayers are with you and your loved ones.”, or “Please know I’m here for you in this season of mourning.” If you’re speaking on behalf of a team or the entire company, try something like: “We are fully behind you and however much time you need! You have the sincere condolences of the entire team in this challenging time.”, or “On behalf of the company, we are here to help you through this.”

But where and when do you convey these sentiments? Oftentimes the easiest and best way to convey condolences in a professional setting is via email. Here are some tips for writing a professional condolences email, like don’t make it about you. Phrases like “I know how you feel” aren’t helpful and may make the recipient feel as if you’re not seeing them in their specific pain. Instead, share a memory of their lost loved one. Be professional in tone and style and use a simple subject line. Its best to avoid unprofessional or flippant writing. Therefore, don’t use things like slang, cliches, or emojis. Be sure to make your subject line clear and simple so they know the message isn’t about work but is instead about their loss. Try something like: “My Condolences” or “With Deepest Sympathy.” Also, not everyone shares the same religious beliefs. Don’t assume they believe in the afterlife by using generic expressions like “they’re in a better place.” You can, however, say you will pray for them if that is in line with your beliefs or religion.

You should also offer specific help. Don’t offer advice. Instead, offer to help in specific ways. For example, you could offer to deliver a home cooked meal, send a gift card for a grocery delivery service, or send a bouquet of their favorite flowers. No matter how you offer to help, don’t be too pushy or insistent. Finally, sign off professionally and proofread. Though this email is personal in nature, you should still sign off in a professional manner. Avoid signing off with sentiments like, “All of my love,” as it can be too informal. Instead use “All my best” or “With sympathy” before signing.

We are here to help if you want more tips on dealing with workplace loss or planning Oakland, CA funeral homes. Call or visit us today to learn more about what we can do for you in our time of loss or preplanning.

Funeral crowning celebrates the life of the deceased at funeral home services in Oakland, CA. But what kind of crown should you use in the service?

In crowning ceremonies, a crown is presented by a family member or officiant and then placed on the deceased’s head inside the coffin. Those in attendance also sing group songs and hymns, give sympathies to the family of the deceased, and generally celebrate the deceased’s life on earth. Funeral crowning celebrates the life of the deceased. The act of a crowning ceremony, even removed from the context of homegoing, is to offer a final gift of grace to the deceased which they may not have received in life, serving as a recognition of their importance in the lives of others and a crowning of the life they lived. You can also view a crowning ceremony as a way to put a more positive spin on a traditional funeral, making it an event that allows for the wide range of emotions that come with losing a friend, family member, or loved one.

Crowns used in funeral crowning ceremonies are usually provided by the funeral home. Most providers have some in stock meant to be loaned out during ceremonies and services. However, some bereaved choose to purchase a crown specifically for their lost loved one.

Some of the most common types of funeral crowns include costume crowns. Costume crowns and tiaras, like those found in Halloween shops or accessory stores, are flashy and bright, making them ideal for use in funeral crowning ceremonies. If you choose a costume crown for a crowning, look for ones with lots of rhinestones for a lustrous, eye-catching effect. You can also use wooden crowns. Wooden funeral crowns are natural yet powerful. They can symbolize a connection to the earth as well as wisdom, strength of spirit, and other qualities of the deceased. As wooden funeral crowns are less common, it may be difficult to find one to purchase and therefore it might be best to make your own.

There are also flower crowns and DIY crowns. Flower crowns and hand-woven head wreathes are great for crowning ceremonies as they are beautiful, natural, and have a long-standing tradition in memorializing the dead. In ancient European societies, unmarried women who died were given flower crowns to symbolize and bless their new lives as brides of Christ. People who are deeply affected by the death of a loved one may find comfort in the act of making a funeral crown for the deceased. DIY crowns can also be made to perfectly suit the deceased and what made them unique, serving as a symbol of their individualism, achievements, or another aspect of their lives. If you choose to make the funeral crown, be sure you communicate it with your provider and bring it to them well in advance of the ceremony.

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

A veteran can earn a military honors service at a funeral home in Oakland, CA by serving their country in an honorable way. Every honorably discharged veteran is eligible for standard military honors, no matter which branch of the armed forces they served in, whether they died in battle, or if they lived a long life.

Military Funeral Service Etiquette

These tips will help shed light on military funeral etiquette, like where to sit. Only immediate family members of the deceased should sit in the front row, as this is a pale of honor and makes it easier to give them the folded flag. Everyone seated should stay seated throughout the entire service, unless directed to stand. Keep in mind, only current or former military members should salute, but all civilians should remove hats or headgear during the salute. Also, when dressing, remember that men should wear a darkly colored suit and a tie, while women should wear a dark suite, dress, or skirt and blouse. All military personnel should wear their dress uniforms. Similar to standard funerals, its best to dress as conservatively as possible out of respect for the deceased.

Types of Military Services

Did you know there are two kinds of military honors services: standard military honors and full military honors? In a standard military honors service, a military chaplain officiates the service and serves as a counselor for the bereaved before and after the service. A standard service also includes a United States flag that is draped over the casket for the service and given to the family afterwards as a keepsake to honor their lost loved one’s service. An honor guard to present arms and salute the deceased is another part of a standard military honors. At the appropriate time, two members of the guard will perform the flag folding ceremony. The guard will fold the flag into a tri-corner shape. The guard will present the flag to the next of kin. Finally, a standard military honors service includes the playing of Taps, a standard bugle call during which everyone should stand and face the flag. Military personnel will salute, and civilians will place their right hand over their hearts.

A full military honors service includes the same elements as standard service as well as several other honors, like a star-ranking officers are honored with a fired salute. In this tradition, the deceased will receive a specific number of gun salute depending on his or her military rank. For example, Five-Star ranking Generals, along with chiefs of staff, cabinet members, and other high-ranking US officials will receive a 19-gun salute, Three-Star ranking officers will receive a 15-gun salute, and One-Star ranking officers will receive an 11-gun salute. The full 21-gun salute is reserved for the President as Commander-in-Chief. A full military honors funeral also includes a military band and an escort platoon to accompany the deceased to burial or the service. Finally, a Colonel/Captain and above will receive standard military honors and a caparisoned, riderless horse to symbolize a fallen leader.

We are here to help if you want more information on military honors or Oakland, CA funeral homes. Please give us a call or pay us a visit us today.

How do you choose the right type of food service for your loved one’s wake after a service at a funeral home in Oakland, CA? After all, what you serve and how you serve it have a big impact on your guest’s enjoyment, making food a big pressure point in any wake after a funeral service. How do you choose the right food?

Start by deciding how you want the food to be served. The most common options are plated, buffet, food stations, cocktail, and family style. The most traditional wake food style, plated dinners are when the guests are served individual, pre-portioned plates for each course. Generally, guests select their preferred main course dish from a list of options in advance the wake. There are many good things about plated dinners, such as that they limit food waste, and they have a fancier feel. However, plated dinners can cost more than other styles as they take more staff to make and serve. They also take more planning time as you have to carefully place each guest to make sure they get the food they ordered.

Buffets are usually popular for wakes with large numbers of guests or those that want to offer lots of different food options. Buffets are great as they cater to many different tastes and are generally cost effective. However, buffet lines can get very long, slowing down the evening. There are also food stations. Similar to buffets, food stations are placed all around the reception hall with different sections at each one. You can have a pasta, raw bar, carving, or dessert stations, or any other kind you can think of. People tend to enjoy the ability to mingle and select their own food, and the number of stations keep lines short. However, stations require a large space and lots of staff.

What about family style? Family style is a sit-down dinner in which waiters bring large portions of food to the table and guests serve themselves like they would at home. This allows people to select the food they want and the quantity they want, and also makes the dinner feel more social and less formal. However, you do need large tables to accommodate big serving platters, and family style can be expensive. You could also try cocktail style. Instead of a sit-down meal, you can have small, passed hot and cold items served on platters by waiters. This lends itself to small venues and more intimate wakes, but guests might be disappointed if they were expecting a big meal. Usually served on long tables, buffets offer up many food options for guests to self-select, from meat and fish to pastas, salads, and other sides.

As an Oakland, CA funeral home, we have years of planning experience at your disposal and are honored to do whatever we can to help you. Call or visit us today to learn more about what we can do for you in your time of loss or preplanning.

Many cultures choose to view services at funeral homes in Oakland, CA as chance to celebrate the life of their lost loved one through unique traditions rather than viewing them as sad events in which they mourn the death of their loved one. One such happy, celebrating tradition is the crowning ceremony.

A crowning ceremony is a traditional part of an African American or Black Canadian homegoing ceremony in which, before the final viewing and benediction, a crown is presented by a family member or officiant and then placed on the deceased’s head inside the coffin. The crown used in a crowning ceremony is just what you’d imagine, a jeweled, bedazzled, or otherwise decorated ornament that is sometimes ordered special by the family or borrowed from the funeral home for the service.

The crown is often presented to a piece of music, sung along by the gathering or by a special choir, and is placed on the head of the deceased, proving they were a king or queen both in life and in death. Then the service continues according to the funeral program. The funeral crown holds specific significance thanks to symbolism in the Bible. Revelation 2:10 reads, “Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.” Though the “crown of life’ referenced in this passage is not a literal crown, it does represent the gift of eternal life for those who believe in God.

The crowning ceremony is derived from this passage and serves to symbolize this promise of eternal life through a physical crown. Though the crowning ceremony is a modern tradition, it does have roots in several ancient traditions from many different parts of the world. Throughout history there have been many cultural practices surrounding death that depict an idea of what happens in the afterlife, such as Egypt and Poland. Ancient Egyptians decorated their dead and the tombs with clothing, jewels, and everyday items as they believed the dead would take whatever they wore and whatever was buried with them into the afterlife. In the 1500s, Polish kings were buried with the Funeral Crown, known in Latin as Corona Funebris, until the next king died, and the crown was passed to him. The living kings wore different crowns.

The most recent iteration of the crowning ceremony popped up very recently, as demonstrated in the viral video of “coffin dancers” carrying a casket in rhythmic step to an upbeat and celebratory song. While some people thought the video was disrespectful of the dead, it is, in actuality, just a different way of honoring the deceased than many Americans are used to. It’s simply a unique form of celebration for the dead, to stay joyful and positive for who they were in life.

We are here to help if you want to celebrate your lost loved one with a crowning ceremony or a more traditional service. Call or visit us today to learn more about our Oakland, CA funeral home services.

One of the best ways to comfort and support someone going through a loss and a service at a funeral home in Oakland, CA is simply being there for them.

Here are some ways you can be there for someone suffering from a loss. For example, be as normal as possible. They might be sad, but they can still talk about the weather, share jokes, get hungry, need alone time, need to be pushed out of their shell at times, cheer on their sports team, care about politics or the environment or what’s going on in the gossip columns. Treating them normally will show them respect and love in a meaningful way.

Be available and be gentle. They might need help, a shoulder to cry on, or just someone to talk to at odd times, so make yourself available and remind them often that you are available. Loss is not a good time for tough love, so be gentle with them. However, be careful not to go overboard and turn your gentleness into condescension. They are still the same person you’ve always known, so use your best judgement on how to interact with them.

To be there for someone, you oftentimes just need to physically be there for them. Try saying, “I’m coming over Thursday, what would be a good time?” It’s easy to want to say the right thing to someone who is grieving, but usually the best thing to do is just listen. If they’re not ready to talk, support them in silence. And don’t forget to let them cry. Crying is a natural and even important part of grieving. Let them cry, or even cry with them. It’s also important to not wait to be asked. Take some initiative and don’t wait for them to ask for help or company. Use your best judgement, but offer up assistance whenever you can. For example, mow their lawn, come over and make dinner, or just call to chat. Don’t try to understand and don’t judge. Even if you’ve been through a similar situation, they are unique and have a unique experience.

Don’t feel burdened to try to make sense of everything for them, or to completely understand what they are thinking and feeling. Grief looks different for everyone, so don’t put your idea of what they should be doing or saying on them. Instead, meet them and accept them where they are, wherever that may be. Similarly, be lenient for perceived offences or slights. For example, let it go if they don’t call you back right away.

Finally, just ask them what they need. Sometimes, you just won’t know how best to support them unless you ask. They might not know themselves, or they’ll tell you exactly what they need.

We are here to help if you want to learn more about being there for someone in grief or Oakland, CA funeral homes. We have the expertise needed to help guide you through a time of loss. Call or visit us today for more information on what we can do for you in your time of loss or preplanning.

Losing a loved one leaves behind more than just memories. You’re also left with photos, clothing, trinkets, letters and more – so use these items to create a memorial space in your home! It’s important to honor your loved one in whatever way feels best to you after a service at a funeral home in Oakland, CA.

It’s important to honor your lost loved one in whatever way feels best to you. We Here are some tips for creating a lovely and respectful memorial space in your home to honor your lost loved one. To begin, choose a space. The number of keepsakes and decorations you want to use in your memorial should help determine what kind of space you need to use. If you want to use a lot of special items and decorations, consider using an entire room or some kind of walk-in closet at the memorial space, such as an unused room, grown child’s room, old office area, or an empty pantry. You can also choose a smaller area like a shelf, bookshelf, fireplace mantle, or other unobtrusive yet visible location in your home like an end table or coffee table, corner shelf, wall in a bedroom, or entire bookshelf.

What about cremation urns? If your lost loved one was cremated and you want to keep their remains in your home, you have a unique opportunity to display and honor the cremation urn. Create a special memorial space for your loved one centered around the urn containing the cremated remains. You can accomplish this by simply decorating the urn in some way, such as an engraved photo, inscription, or an urn with a photo frame. You can also use the urn as the centerpiece for the memorial and fill the space around the urn with photos, keepsakes, candles, and other items. Don’t forget that your memorial space should be beautiful. Decorate it with lovely items like candles, pictures, artwork, flowers, greenery, or other items that both add ambiance to the space and reflect your lost loved one’s personality and style.

Pictures are some of the best ways to honor and remember your lost loved one. And photos are a great place to start when creating your memorial area as a good picture can serve as the space’s central focus. Try restoring an old photograph, getting a new frame for an old picture, or using an antique frame for a new picture. You can also make a collage or use a double frame to display lots of different photos. Your lost loved one accomplished a lot in their life, so honor those accomplishments by displaying memorabilia or awards in the memorial space. Include items from military service, university degrees or doctoral certificates, awards such as plaques and trophies, and more. You can also add items that represent religious beliefs, church activity, volunteer service, club memberships, their favorite books, or other hobbies.

Do you want more tips on creating a memorial space or more information on Oakland, CA funeral homes? Call or visit us today for more information on our services.