Affordable Memorials After Cremation Services Posted on December 12, 2022 by ilesfuneralhomes Once a loved one goes through cremation services in Des Moines, IA, you might have a memorial service for them and you may even gather with family to lay them to rest in a nice location through scattering, burial, or another avenue. But there are things you can do yourself to memorialize your loved one in an affordable manner. Here are some of the things you can consider doing. A Music Playlist If your loved one may have had certain musical tastes and you want to remember their eclectic style. Make a playlist you know they would be proud of and when you want to think of them, play that in the background of your day. You can play it when you look at pictures of them, when you are reading, or any other time you feel the need to do so. Planting A Garden Or Tree If your loved one had a green thumb, it can make sense to plan things for them and think of them while they grow and you care for those items. Planting a tree in your yard can be especially moving as that is something that will get huge and be around for a long time. You can also plant a garden with flowers, vegetables they enjoyed or liked to grow themselves, and other such things. It doesn’t have to cost much to have your own memorial right there in your yard. A Scrapbook You likely have a lot of pictures of your loved one and you might want to organize them in a manner that gives you something to look over when you want to think about your loved one. You can put them into a scrapbook, for example, and decorate around them. You can add movie stubs, quotes, or anything else around the pictures and make it something that is special and just for you. Repurposes Belongings You may have ended up with some of your loved one’s belongings, and they are going to be very special to you. But are you really going to wear their old concert t-shirts? Probably not. Have a quilt made out of them instead so you can have them out, enjoy them, and even use the blanket as something to keep yourself warm. It can feel like a hug from your loved one when you use it. There are lots of other things you can use in different ways as memorials for your loved one. Cremation Jewelry Something special you might appreciate is a piece of cremation jewelry. You can place a little bit of your loved one’s ashes inside this piece and wear your loved one close to your heart. You can also store it in your house, perhaps on display in a place of honor, when you aren’t wearing it. If you are trying to figure out how to memorialize your loved one after their cremation services in Des Moines, IA, there are plenty of affordable things you can do. Talk to the cremation providers and get more details.
Is A Memorial Service Important For Cremation? Posted on October 17, 2022 by ilesfuneralhomes When you decide on cremation services in Des Moines, IA on behalf of a loved one who passed on, that’s the only decision you have to make right away. The professionals needs to know what you want done to care for your loved one’s needs. You will choose a cremation package and that will have everything your loved one needs at this time. However, you can always add things to that package, and many people do. You might, for example, want to have a memorial service for your loved one. That service can even feel highly important to you. Here are a few reasons memorial services can be an important part of the grieving process. Give Closure Chances When someone close to you passes on, you are going to need to find closure in that death. Closure comes when you recognize the person is gone and they are not coming back. That closure can come in a number of ways, but many family members and friends may get it through a memorial service of some kind. These symbolic services mark the end of a life and the beginning of a new normal. That can help people to get the closure they have to have so they can move forward with their life. Say Goodbye Saying goodbye can be an important thing to family members and friends who may not have gotten that opportunity before the person passed on. Those final words can be very meaningful, even though the person is already gone. They can say them out loud to family, to the person’s urn, or even just in their hearts. A whispered word or two can go a long way in healing. Family Is Together Family doesn’t often get together and if yours wants to honor someone special, a memorial service is a good excuse to gather and mourn as a group. You can be together, get the support you need, and give it to your family as well. When the group is together, you remember what you have in your life and how you can move forward together as a group. Honor That Special Person Your loved one was unique and special and they held a certain spot in your life. Now that they are gone, you might feel like honoring them is a nice way to go. Having a memorial service to honor them is a very nice thing to do, even if you don’t feel like you have to say goodbye or get closure. Still, honoring that person can still feel like the right thing to do. The package you get for cremation services in Des Moines, IA will care for your loved one’s needs, but there are other things you can do in addition to that package, like having a memorial service. You can do whatever you want on any timeline and that service can be very important to the overall services you decide to have. Talk to the professionals about the options and move forward from there.
A Few Questions To Ask Cremation Providers Posted on October 3, 2022 by ilesfuneralhomes No one every signs up to use services from a final service provider hoping to get something subpar, right? In fact, when you have to use cremation providers in West Des Moines, IA for a loved one who has passed on, you want nothing but the best for them and for the rest of your family. That means you need to check the cremation providers out before you sign up for their services. Here are just a few of the questions you should ask them before you move forward with their services. Please know that you can ask as many questions as you want—and you should—to ensure you are comfortable before you go ahead. How Long Have You Been In Business? There might be absolutely nothing wrong with a new cremation provider, but do you really want to take that risk with your loved one? They are important to you and you want their final services to go off without a hitch. Instead, make sure the provider has been in business for a long time so you can trust that they know what they are doing. When you see that they have decades of experience, that can help you to feel confident about placing your loved one in their hands. What Service Choices Are Available? There are tons of different cremation options and when you decide on that type of service, you can choose whatever fits your loved one the best and go from there. You are going to want to make sure that the cremation provider has lots of different options so you can get what you want and need for your loved one. Of course they will have cremation, but do they have other options around it that you might want? If you know what you want, you just have to find a provider that has it. IF you aren’t sure, look at providers with long service lists so you can be sure that they will have what you want when you are able to decide. How Did The Costs Come About? When you are working on cremation in in West Des Moines, IA, you want nothing but the best for your loved one. Asking questions will help you to determine which company is right for you and which provider will help your loved one with their needs. You want a good fit to move forward with confidence in the right direction. You should be able to get price lists from any cremation provider with ease, but once you have those lists, don’t stop there. You should look into the averages in the area and even compare the costs to other providers. That way, you can tell who is fair and who is overinflated or under charging, even. You might also want to ask the providers how they came to the costs they charge and they can explain that process to you. It can help to hear from them where they costs came from.
Tips For Visitation Services Posted on September 26, 2022 by ilesfuneralhomes Since more people are having cremation services in Urbandale, IA, there aren’t as many visitation services to attend. Families can combine visitations and cremation with more of a full cremation service instead of direct cremation. Visitation can be done before the cremation process is completed. However, it’s more common to combine visitation with funeral services. Either way, if you are invited to attend a visitation, here are some tips to consider so you feel more comfortable with the proceedings. Come And Go As You Please You are going to see a range of times listed for a visitation service, unlike memorial and funeral services. That is because they are more of an open house situation. You can come and go as you please during that time frame. Most people stay between 20 and 30 minutes during that time. In fact, you don’t want to overstay of that can put pressure on the family as well. Come whenever you can during that time frame and stay long enough to say goodbye, talk to the family, and visit with a few others that might be there. Casual, Respectful Attire Is Okay Funerals are formal affairs and a certain level of clothing is expected. But when you attend a visitation, you can wear something casual, as long as it’s respectful. Many people stop in on their way to or from work or during a break, for example, and that works just fine. You don’t have to wear something formal or dark in color, but you still want the clothing to be conservative to remain respectful. There Are No Casket-Approaching Requirements Most of the time at a visitation, there will be an open casket. That’s not always the case, but the main purpose of a visitation is for people to see the person who died, get closure, and say goodbye. If you knew the person and you want to approach the casket, so be it. If you are coming to the visitation more to support the family, there are no requirements about approaching the casket. You can stay back, visit the family, and pass on your condolences. Even if you did know the person who died, if you are uncomfortable going up to the casket, you don’t have to. Talk To The Family Present One of the nice things about a visitation is that the immediate family is often there for the entire open house event. It gives them a chance to talk to people, gather support, and see more people than they might at the actual funeral. It’s customary to share your condolences at the visitation and to let the family know you are there. Gifts Are Acceptable You don’t have to bring a gift to the visitation, but the cremation provider in Urbandale, IA says that it’s never required. You can take something to the funeral instead, send something directly to the family’s home, or just allow your presence and support to be enough. If you do want to take something to the visitation, you certainly can.
Funeral And Cremation Facts You May Not Know Posted on September 12, 2022 by ilesfuneralhomes You have probably attended funeral home or cremation services in Des Moines, IA in the past and perhaps you have even had to plan such services for a family member or two. But there are things that the experts know that you may not have recognized as of yet. When you are faced with more planning, or you want to plan your own services ahead of time, it’s nice to know some of the things that not everyone realizes so you can make the right decisions. Embalming Is Not Required You might think that embalming is something automatic that takes place after someone dies, but it’s actually a completely optional service. Most people use it if they are going to have a visitation for their loved one, and that makes sense. The purpose of embalming is to preserve the body for such things. But if you are having a closed casket, are skipping the visitation service entirely, or are going with direct cremation, there’s really no need to have embalming done. It can help you to avoid costs if you skip that service. Cremation And Funerals Can Co-Exist You might assume that if you have a cremation done, for yourself or a loved one, that you can’t have a funeral. The two are an either/or situation. But that’s not the case at all. Full cremation services allow you to have a visitation and funeral first, then followed by cremation. Or, if you go with direct cremation, which means no services beforehand, you can have a memorial service after that feels more like a funeral. Memorials Can Be Held Anywhere With funerals, people are often restricted to churches or funeral homes and those are always good locations for such events. But with memorial services, while you can still have them in those convenient locations, you can also hold them anywhere else you might like. Some families have started having them at home, in parks, and in any other location them appreciate. It’s nice to have those options to personalize the services. Eco-Friendly Options Are On The Rise Everyone is concerned about the environment today and you can take those concerns all the way to the end of life and do things in an eco-friendly manner where final services are concerned. You can, for example, get a biodegradable casket or urn that will dissolve or break down naturally in the earth. You can skip embalming to avoid putting harmful chemicals in the ground. There are lots of options and the funeral homes can go over them with you. Make sure you tell them that you want to stay as eco-friendly as possible and they will help to steer you in those directions. When you are working on final services for a loved one, or trying to plan your own cremation services in Des Moines, IA, it’s nice to know all of the details, including things you didn’t know before and not everyone else recognizes. It can help with decisions and confidence in making them.
Unique Containers For Cremation Services Posted on August 15, 2022 by ilesfuneralhomes While cremation services in Urbandale, IA occur the same way every time, they are unique each time as well. They happen with different individuals and that is enough to make them special each time they occur. Even the most basic cremation package will come with a simple container for your loved one’s remains, but many families like to get an urn for their loved one to make the process more special or so that urn can function in different ways. While urns suffice and work well, there are also unique things you can put your loved one’s remains in to make things feel even more special. Here are a few options to consider. Container for Cremation Ashes Ideas There are many different types of containers that can be used for cremation ashes. Here are some ideas to get you started: UrnScattering tubeBiodegradable urnKeepsake jewelryCremation beadCremation necklaceCremation pendantCremation ringCremation braceletCremation keychain Wind Chimes If your loved one adored being outside, putting their remains in a wind chime that hands on your deck can be a nice way to go. You think of them every time the breeze blows across the deck and the wind chimes hit one another and play their melodic sound. A Plant Pot If your loved one adored flowers, plants, and other greenery, putting their ashes in the base of a pot and then planting something above it can be a nice memorial to them. You will think of them as you enjoy the new life that grows from the pot. Cremation Jewelry You might want to keep your loved one as close as possible in any way you can, and that could mean cremation jewelry is a good fit for you. You can place a small bit of your loved one’s remains inside the cremation jewelry piece and wear them close to your heart. Ornaments Ornaments often have a space inside them and you could place remains in those as well. You can give one to each family member to hang on their tree, or you can find a special place in your home to display the ornament year round. Stuffed Animals There are special stuffed animals that have urns in them or, you can place a small urn in any animal you choose. It can be a sweet way to keep your loved one close and it can give you something to hug when you miss them. Cookie Jar Some people are good at baking and if that sounds like your loved one, placing them in a cookie jar can feel like a good way to go. They can be situated on the top of your cabinets in the kitchen where they oversee anything you create in there yourself. A Musical Instrument Some musical instruments have natural places where you can place remains, like a guitar. If your loved one loved music, and perhaps a certain instrument, one like it can hold their remains and sit on display in memory of them within your home. If you are having cremation services in Urbandale, IA for a loved one, you can choose a variety of places to store their remains. There are unique options as well as regular urns to consider as you move forward into the future. Containers for cremation ashes FAQs What do you call the container for ashes? There are a variety of containers that can be used for cremation ashes. Urn is the most common term used to describe the container, however container, casket and coffin are also used. The container chosen is usually based on personal preference, although some states have regulations regarding the type of container that can be used. What size container do you need for human ashes? There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, as the container you’ll need for human ashes will depend on a number of factors. The first thing to consider is how many ashes you’ll be dealing with – if you’re cremating a whole body, you’ll need a much larger container than if you’re just dealing with the ashes of a loved one. What is the right thing to do with cremation ashes? The most common thing to do is put them in an urn. The type of container you use may depend on your personal preferences or the wishes of the deceased. There are many different types of urns and containers available, so you should be able to find something that suits your needs.
Avoid These Mistakes In Finding A Cremation Provider Posted on August 1, 2022 by ilesfuneralhomes You make mistakes on a daily basis, but you don’t want to make them when you are planning cremation services in West Des Moines, IA for a loved one. There are plenty of mistakes you could make, and you want to start off on the right foot by finding a good cremation provider who will meet your loved one’s needs and give them the honor they deserve. Here are a few common mistakes you could make and how to avoid them when you are trying to find a good provider. Choosing A Crematory Without Looking Into Funeral Homes There are many places that can help you to get your loved one the cremation services they need, including both crematories and funeral homes. It’s a mistake to choose a crematory automatically without looking into funeral home options. While crematories can give your loved one the cremation they need, cremation is all they do. If you decide you want further services, you have to go somewhere else to get them. When you work with a funeral home, you have all of the service options you could want in one place. You can still keep things simple, but you don’t have to. You have choices and the funeral home professionals can make happen whatever you want for your loved one. Picking A Provider Without Experience As you look at different funeral home options, you are going to want to choose a provider that has experience with cremation. New providers might do a fine job, but you don’t have any guarantees. When you are working on something this important, you want a provider that is tried and true and will do a good job because they have done the job so many times before. Making A Choice Without Examining Services When you choose a funeral home for cremation services, you definitely want to examine the services they offer so you can get a feel for the options. If you don’t look over the services, they may not have what you want and that could make things hard and more complicated later on. You want to know what services are available so you are able to ensure they have a wide variety and will have what you want, once you decide what that is. Not Comparing The Costs Involved If you don’t look at the costs of the provider, and compare those prices to others, it can be a huge mistake. You want to know what their prices are and whether or not they are fair and affordable. If they are, you can move forward. If not, it’s good to know that upfront so you can look at other providers to get the quality you want at a price you can afford. When you look into cremation services in West Des Moines, IA, there are plenty of providers who can help you with the process, but you want nothing but the best for your loved one and the rest of your family. Avoid mistakes so you don’t have regrets later.
Pros And Cons Of Full Cremation Services Posted on July 25, 2022 by ilesfuneralhomes The cremation process is the same every time, but the timing of it can be different. You might want to have direct cremation services in Des Moines, IA, for example, and that happens soon after a person dies without any services beforehand. On the other hand, full cremation allows you to have a visitation and funeral service before the cremation takes place. Both will meet needs and both are honorable options. Here are some pros and cons of the full cremation process. Pro: Gives Traditional Aspects Full cremation allows you to go through with the cremation process, but it also gives your family some traditional aspects, which they might appreciate. You can have a visitation service first and get the closure you need before moving ahead with the funeral. Funerals have a lot of ceremonies involved and they can be very cathartic. You get the traditions you might want or your family might expect and then, you can go through with the cremation process. In a way, you get the best of both worlds. Con: More Expensive Option Cremation costs less than funerals and burial services, but the full cremation process is going to cost more than direct cremation. There are more services involved, like the visitation and funeral, and those are going to have costs attached to them. If you have a budget for it, it’s a great way to honor someone. Pro: Costs Less Than Funeral/Burial While full cremation costs more than a direct cremation, it costs much less than a full funeral and burial service. You do get some of the same services, but you need less than you would for a complete burial service, which will help you to keep the budget on track, perhaps. Con: Services Have To Be Fast Some people like direct cremation because it lets you put things off where the memorial services are concerned. That’s not the case with a full cremation. With full cremation, you have to have the visitation and funeral soon after the loved one’s death so the cremation can proceed within a few days. There’s a timeline on the cremation, which puts a little pressure on the rest of the services. If you are considering either full or direct cremation services in Des Moines, IA, it’s a good idea to take into account the pros and cons of each. Take a look at your budget and try and decide what you might like to do for your loved one. What does your family want? What do you feel you need to get closure and move forward? The professionals can walk you through the options and answer any questions you have. There are packages for each kind of cremation and you can consider which you can afford, which you like the look and feel of, and what you want to do in order to move forward. One of the best things about the options is that there’s no wrong answer. Both are honorable and respectful of your deceased loved one.
Pros And Cons Of Direct Cremation Services Posted on July 11, 2022 by ilesfuneralhomes If you are thinking about using direct cremation services in West Des Moines, IA for a loved one, or even for your own pre-plans, it’s wise to learn all of the details. You might want to consider the pros and cons of the option, for example, and see which side wins. There’s no right or wrong reason to choose cremation, or even direct cremation, over other options. But here are some of the sides for and against the direct form of cremation to help you with the choice. Pro: Low-Cost Option Cremation overall is a much more cost-effective method than a funeral and burial service. Direct cremation, for example, is the most cost-effective. It’s the lowest cost option you can get when it comes to final services. If budget is of any concern, direct cremation can help you to accomplish meeting your loved one’s needs at a price you can afford. There’s nothing wrong with going for cremation just because you have a budget to stick to. It will still be an honorable choice. Con: No Chance To Say Goodbye In Person Some families might feel like with direct cremation happening soon after death, they didn’t have a chance to say goodbye to their loved one in the way they would have liked. There are no services before cremation happens since it is direct. That means no funeral and no visitation. Families might have the chance to witness the cremation, but the community as a whole won’t see your loved one to say that goodbye. Pro: Allows Tons Of Options Later Many people choose cremation in its direct form because of all of the options it brings to the table. It can free families up and allow them to have an option they might want after the cremation process is done. For example, it takes away the timeline pressures so families can have memorial services whenever they feel ready to move forward with plans. It also opens up final resting place options as people can scatter, bury, or even keep ashes. Con: Might Feel Too Fast Direct cremation does happen fast—within a few days of a person’s death. It needs to be something you are sure about before you sign on for it. Cremation of any kind is a permanent process that cannot be reversed. Your loved one has needs that have to be met and direct cremation can meet them, but it will be soon after their death. When you are thinking about different kinds of cremation services in West Des Moines, IA, there are reasons to go with full cremation and reasons to go with direct cremation. Both are honorable and respectful, you just need to figure out what works best for your family and what your loved one might have appreciated the most. Talk to the professionals, go over the packages, and see what feels like the best fit for everyone involved. They are there to answer any questions you have.
Handling Sudden Loss With Cremation Services Posted on June 20, 2022 by ilesfuneralhomes Losing a loved one is never going to be easy, but when someone passes away in a sudden manner and you are shocked by the death, it can be hard to figure out what you need to do and how you are going to move forward. One thing you might consider for your loved one is cremation services in Urbandale, IA. Those services allow you to care for your loved one while you process the death. Here are some good points about that process. Care For Your Loved One In A Quick Manner When your loved one dies, even if it was sudden and shocks you, they still need final services. You may need to process your feelings and emotions, and that’s perfectly understandable. By using cremation, you are able to care for your loved one in a streamlined, quick manner. Once their needs are met, you can slow down with other aspects of the process and take your time. Put Off Services Until You Are More Ready Cremation allows you to care for your loved one up front but also lets you put other services on your own timeline. It’s nice to know that your loved one has what they need, but once the cremation is behind you, you can have a memorial service for your loved one whenever you want. Let your feelings settle in and come to terms with things before you jump into making those plans. It can help you to plan something special and give your family a chance to come together at a certain time. Spend Time With Family Instead Of Planning It is hard to deal with sudden death, and you have to make final service plans. Cremation is simple, and all you have to do is get a package for your loved ones that will cover everything they have to have. Funerals include a lot more decisions and a lot more planning. When you choose cremation, your loved one’s needs are met, and you can spend time with family instead of working on hard plans. Take Good Care Of Yourself You might be thinking more about what your loved one needs and tending to your family at the same time instead of worrying about yourself. However, when you are grieving and hit hard with news like this, you are going to want to care for yourself as best you can. You will be of more use to your family, and the emotions will feel that much more manageable when you eat right, sleep well, and exercise as normal. Enlist Professional Support Dealing with the death of a family member at any time is going to be hard. But if the death is sudden, you might want professionals to help you weed through your emotions. The funeral home helping you with cremation services in Urbandale, IA can give you grief counselor options as well as support group information so you can get the support you need to move forward in the right direction.
