Sympathy Gift Alternatives Posted on August 22, 2022 by ilesfuneralhomes Your heart goes out to friends who have lost a loved one. You want them to know you are thinking of them and that you are sorry for their loss. The professionals at funeral homes in Urbandale, IA have plenty of suggestions for gifts you can send that will tell your friend just that. If you have any questions or need more ideas, feel free to call the experts for specific ideas or other options at any time. In the meantime, here are popular options to consider. Flowers Flowers are the most common sympathy gift and they are always a nice gesture. They can be used to decorate the background of the service and they are also something family can take home with them to remember the services, and you. There are a variety of types and colors that mean different things so you can send just the right message. Gift Cards You want your friend to have what they need to get through this hard time and sending them a gift card to a grocery store or restaurant can help them to get out and meet their needs when the time comes. You could also send a card to a massage parlor or somewhere else that can give them a treat and help them to relax. A Meal Many people like to take a meal to the bereaved, and that’s a nice gesture as well. They might not be feeding themselves very well and they may not feel up to cooking. Plus, they may have other family members around and that means more meals are needed. Try to make something that they can freeze in meal-sized packages. Place them in containers that they don’t have to return to make it easier on them as well. Groceries Your friend might not feel like getting out all that often, but they still need certain staples within their home. Deliver groceries to them like milk, eggs, bread, lunch meats, and so on. You can also call them and ask what they need before you go to the store for yourself so you can pick up specifics they might have in mind. Memorial Donation You could also make a donation to a charity, locally or nationally, to honor the person who passed on. Ask the family where they want money sent, check the obituary for details, or call the funeral home for suggestions. You can also just send money to the family in a sympathy card and they can choose where to donate the funds. When you hear that someone you know has lost a loved one, you likely want to support them with your sympathies. There are many different things you can do to let the family know they are thinking of them. Funeral homes in Urbandale, IA have plenty of options and ideas available. Call them for specific suggestions or even more popular items that people send to those who are going through a hard time after this kind of loss.
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.
Reasons For Cemetery Burials, Even After Cremation Posted on August 8, 2022 by ilesfuneralhomes If you decide to have traditional services with funeral homes in West Des Moines, IA, your loved one is going to be buried in a cemetery and that’s the only resting place option. With cremation, there are many other options to consider, but cremated remains can still be buried in the cemetery. Here are a few reasons you might decide that is the way to go for your situation. To Keep Your Loved One Safe When you bury your loved one in the cemetery, you know just where their remains are and you also know they are safe. Nothing is going to happen to their remains and you understand they are secure where they are resting. When you scatter ashes, you don’t know where they end up. If you bury them in your garden, you might be worried about something digging them up or other things that can happen. The cemetery will keep your loved one safe and secure long-term. To Give Family A Visiting Place It can be hard for some families to scatter a loved one and then feel as if they don’t have anywhere to visit them at that person is not really in that location any longer. When you place them in a cemetery instead, your loved ones have somewhere to go when they want to think about that person and visit with them again. It’s a nice location to honor them whenever the mood hits. To Have A Permanent Memorial You can erect a permanent memorial for your cremated loved one anywhere you want after their services and once they are in their resting place, wherever that may be. It’s not required to have a permanent memorial, however, and many families don’t go through with that idea. When you have a cemetery burial, they are going to have a permanent memorial in that location, whether you do something else for them in another spot or not. They will have a headstone that marks their grave and acts as a permanent memorial. To Allow Future Generations That History In the future, you might have other family members who want to visit your loved one and know where they are resting. Burying them in the cemetery is a permanent option and their headstone and grave will always be there. You can visit it when you want to and future generations can visit it as well and that history will be there for them to see. If you want to have a loved one cremated with funeral homes in West Des Moines, IA, that’s an honorable, respectful way to go. Once the cremation is complete, you have no timeline on any other decisions. You can move forward with a memorial and resting place right away, or sometime in the future. Burial within a cemetery is still a valid option, and one you will want to consider with great care. Go over the other choices and see what fits your loved one and your family the best.
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.
Common Reasons To Pre-Plan With Funeral Homes Posted on July 18, 2022 by ilesfuneralhomes More people are planning their final services ahead of time today than ever before. Funeral homes in Des Moines, IA are there to give you the information you want in order to think things through and decide what you might want to line up for your own future. There’s no right or wrong reason to move ahead with final service plans. You just have to go ahead when you feel ready. But these are some of the common reasons that people state. Express Your Wishes Many people want to plan their final services ahead of time so they can express their final wishes and let their families know what they want. If you know what you want, that’s all the more reason to make those plans ahead of time. Even if you aren’t sure what you want, you have time on your hands and you might want to think about what you would appreciate so you can make those wishes known to your family. Save Money This is something that not a lot of people know, but you can actually save quite a bit of money by planning your services ahead of time. When you plan the services now, you have the option of paying for those services ahead, too. While that’s not required, a lot of people like to go in that direction. Not only do they know their family doesn’t have to worry about the costs, but they also recognize that they are paying today’s prices, which are lower than whatever the prices are going to be in the future. Reduce Burdens On Family It’s always hard to lose someone you love and when you lose a family member, you know planning their services while grieving can be really hard to do. You can save your family from that extra burden by making the plans ahead yourself. Your family only has to call the funeral home you have used to make the plans and your plans take action. They don’t have to make plans and guess what you would have wanted. Give A Final Gift When you leave your family, you might like the idea of leaving them with one final gift. That gift can be as simple as having your final service plans laid out for them. It truly can feel like a gift. All they want to do is whatever you would have wanted. When you have the services planned, they know what you wanted and they don’t even have to plan anything for you. Things are ready to go and much easier on them overall. When you are thinking of planning your own final services ahead with funeral homes in Des Moines, IA, it can be hard to make decisions, but there are many reasons why it can feel right to move forward. Contact the professionals when you need more information and see what details sound right to you. Since you have time on your hand, there’s no pressure to move forward until you are completely ready.
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.
Celebrating Life With Funeral Homes Posted on July 4, 2022 by ilesfuneralhomes When you decide that you want to have an event with funeral homes in Urbandale, IA to celebrate a loved one’s life instead of mourning their death, there are lots of different things you can do. There are a variety of things you can incorporate with a life celebration. You will want it to feel like something unique that your loved one would appreciate. Here are a few things to consider to make it everything you want it to be. Utilize Favorite Hobbies One thing you might consider doing is using your loved one’s hobby as a potential starter for event planning. If they loved to bowl, for example, having an event at the bowling alley might be a nice way to honor them. Everyone can bowl a game and remember all the strikes they got and all the times you bowled together. If they enjoyed reading, a life celebration at the library where you collect books for schools can be a nice idea. There are lots of options that might revolve around a hobby your loved one appreciated. Donate To A Chosen Charity In Their Name If your loved one was connected to a certain charity, you might want to donate to that charity in their name to celebrate their life. Have a life celebration event and collect funds for that charity. You could also collect items, like food for a food pantry, diapers for a baby charity, and other such things. It can be a nice way to honor them and do some good in their name. Celebrate In A Certain Destination If our loved one always wanted to visit a certain state, you might go to that state in their honor. Or, if they had a favorite vacation destination, have a life celebration in that location and pair a family vacation with it. You will be able to feel them with you the whole time, smiling at all of the fun things you are doing as a group to remember them. Create A Memorial Garden Some people love to garden and a memorial garden can be a nice thing to do for someone you will miss. Have family plant the garden together and gather to weed and harvest things as well. You might even put some stakes in with new names for certain plants that carry your loved one’s name or things they said about those plants or enjoyed them. It can be a fun project and a great way to celebrate a gardener’s life well lived. Have A Musical Event Everyone enjoys music and you might want to have an event that features a lot of music for someone who adored it. Play songs they appreciated and consider having live music. People can dance, look at pictures of their loved ones, and do whatever else you set up among the songs you are playing for them. Planning a funeral is an important decision that should not be made lightly. It’s natural to want your loved one celebrated in life and farewelled with dignity, so it only makes sense for your plan how they would like their final arrangements as well! If you need more ideas on how to find the right fit for a life celebration, funeral homes in Urbandale, IA is here to help.
Attending A Visitation At A Funeral Home In Urbandale, IA Posted on June 27, 2022 by ilesfuneralhomes When you lose a family member or friend, you need to come to terms with their death and that means visiting funeral homes in Urbandale, IA for the services. There are a variety of different services that the professionals offer and one common traditional service is visitation. This service takes place before a funeral, or before cremation in some cases. If you have never been to visitation, or if it has been a long time, you might want to know some of the details so you can feel more comfortable with the process as a whole. Here are a few such details. The Event Is An Open House With A Range Of Times When you hear about the visitation, you will hear that it is happening from 1-3 or another range of hours. You don’t have to arrive right at the start or stay until the finish. Instead, you can visit any time you want to within that time range. The open house feel means you can come and go as you please. Most people come sometime in that time frame and they stay for 20-30 minutes. Some immediate family members might stay the whole time, but no one else needs to. In fact, it can be a burden on the family if you overstay. Attire Is On The Casual Side While you won’t want to show up in shorts and tank tops, you also don’t need to wear a suit or dress. You also don’t have to stick to dark colors. Visitation services are much more casual in nature. You will want to remain respectful, but you don’t have to dress in quite the same manner as you would for a traditional funeral. Gifts Are Appreciated It is not required, but you can bring a gift to the funeral home for the visitation service if you want. You can bring flowers for the funeral, a card with money in it, a peace lily plant, or any variety of other things. Gifts are a tangible way of showing your sympathies to the family and they will appreciate your support. They also aren’t something you have to do as the family will feel your support simply in your presence. Take the time to visit a funeral home and order flowers for your loved one as gift. The visitation is an important part of fulfilling their last wish, so think about what they would want most in this difficult moment before you send them off with something beautiful as homage from one person who understands how much pain there must be going on inside our hearts when we lose someone close like that – don’t just plant some daisies or roses. It’s Optional To Approach The Casket There really are no things you have to do when you attend a visitation. It’s always nice to talk to the family and let them know you are sorry for their loss. But you certainly don’t have to approach their loved one’s casket unless you feel the need to do so. If you are going to support the family, or feel uncomfortable in any way, it’s okay to stay back and not go up to the casket during this event. Visitation services happen on a regular basis and funeral homes in Urbandale, IA is here to help you through such events if you are going to attend one. Give them a call for any information you need beforehand.
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.
