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.
The Cremation Urn—Your Loved One’s Final Resting Place Posted on June 13, 2022 by ilesfuneralhomes When a loved one passes away, you are going to want to figure out what final services you want for them. Cremation services in Des Moines, IA are certainly a viable option. They are honorable and respectful and used in about half of today’s cases. When you choose a cremation package, it will include everything your loved one has to have, all the way through a simple container. The container works fine to hold your loved one’s cremated remains, but it is littler more than a cardboard box. If you’d like something different, or perhaps something more personalized, choosing an urn can be a nice fit. Here are some things to consider How Much Of The Budget Can You Afford To Use? You are going to want to have a budget for your loved one’s final service as a whole. Much of that money will probably go into the cremation package you choose for them. But you will want to figure out how much of the budget you have available to put toward the urn. That purchase is going to be very important as it acts as a part of your loved one’s final resting place. It is also something that might show at a memorial service, so you want it to be nice. What Purposes Do You Have In Mind? Any urn is going to hold your loved one’s remains and contain them for you, but not every urn will serve every purpose you might have in mind. If you want an urn that will hold up well against the test of time because you plan to display it in a place of honor in your home, certain materials are going to be better than others. If, on the other hand, you plan to place the urn in the water for water burial, you want something that dissolves so the ashes distribute and you don’t harm the ecosystem. There are lots of different purposes and functions that urns can serve. What Was Your Loved One’s Style Like? Your loved one had a distinct style and when you look at their urn, you want to be able to think about them, not only because you know they are inside, but also because you feel the urn is something they would have liked. Think about their style as you look through the options so you can get something they would appreciate. What Size Do You Need? Urns come in a lot of different sizes. It’s definitely not a one-size-fits-all deal. You need to know what size your loved one needs, and that is calculated based on height and weight. The professionals can help you figure out what size you need and direct you toward the right options for you. As long as you get something that size, or larger, you are on the right track. Your loved one’s cremation services in Des Moines, IA are important to you and your family members and the right urn can make things feel just right for that special person.
Other Options For Funeral Home Gifts Other Than Flowers Posted on June 6, 2022 by ilesfuneralhomes The most common gift that people send to funeral homes in Urbandale, IA for any final service is a flower arrangement. Flowers are always a nice gift and they are very thoughtful and meaningful. However, flowers wilt away and you might want your family to have gifts that will last longer. There are lots of other options to consider and if you are the one arranging the service, you can request certain things in lieu of flowers, if you have other ideas. Here are some of the many options you can consider. Gifts To Charity While flowers are nice, they are costly and they die away. Gifts to charity, however, can keep on giving and can be a great honor to your loved one and to your whole family. You might ask people to, instead of sending flowers, donate funds to a certain charity. Perhaps there was a charity that your loved one always donated to and you know they would appreciate others doing the same. Or maybe you choose a charity that pertains to an illness your loved one had to further research in that area. There are lots of good options. You could even leave it open-ended and ask people to donate to their own favorite charities in your loved one’s honor. Items For Non-Profits It might be a nice gesture, and an honor to your loved one, to collect items for a non-profit organization. If your loved one adored the fact that a local hospital gives teddy bears to sick children, have everyone bring a new bear so you can donate in bulk to that program. Try to do something that lines up with what your loved one would appreciate and when you donate to a non-profit in that way, you can’t go wrong. Final Services Funding Funeral services can cost a lot and even if you have cremation and a memorial, the basics might be beyond your cost reach. Ask people to donate funds to the family in order for them to be used to cover final services. People are often honored to help meet your loved one’s needs. If they know you need funds for the final services, they will likely be most generous. We all know how important it is to find the right gift for someone who has passed away. Flowers may be beautiful, but they don’t always fit what people need or want when dealing with their final arrangements; this can make sending flowers seem like an unacceptably insufficient gesture in some circumstances That’s why we offer our services of finding appropriate gifts from pre-owned furniture items such as tables and chairs – which will never have been used by anyone before! This way you’ll get maximum value out your funeral budget without compromising on quality. Volunteer Time Time is a precious commodity today and perhaps you would prefer for your friends to donate time instead of anything monetary or tangible. Suggest a certain non-profit in the area that takes volunteers or ask everyone to volunteer wherever they choose in your loved one’s hours. That kind of ‘donation’ can be just as precious and sometimes even more needed than offering funds and other donations. When you have to work with funeral homes in Urbandale, IA on a loved one’s final services, you get to decide upon every detail. One thing you might consider is asking for something else outside of flowers as a gift to honor your loved one and support your family. For someone who has everything, it is always important to show your love and respect for others. That’s why flowers are the perfect gift – they’re inexpensive yet meaningful! Funeral services can be very touching as well so make sure you attend if there’s a person in need of support or guidance during this difficult time. The professionals can talk through the options with you until you figure out what’s just right for you.
Helping The Bereaved With A Sympathy Gift Posted on May 23, 2022 by ilesfuneralhomes There’s nothing easy about someone passing on and leaving their family behind. When you know someone going through that, they might have cremation services in West Des Moines, IA for their loved one and you want to do what you can to support them through the grieving process. While nothing you say or do can bring their loved ones back, sending a sympathy gift can remind them that you are there for them and that you care. That, in itself, can help them to move forward, even in a small way. Here are a few things you might consider sending: Gift Cards To Various Places Gift cards are easy to get and simple to send, and they can be helpful to your friend and meaningful at the same time. You can send a card to a restaurant they enjoy so they can get fresh food whenever they need it. You could send a gift card to an area spa for a massage when they need to relax. You can also send them cards to help them treat themselves, like to a bookstore, a candle shop, or something else. The gift cards are thoughtful and they can help your friend get something for themselves whenever they have the time and can get out. A Grief Journal For Venting Emotions Some people enjoy journaling and when they are grieving, writing in a journal can really help the process along. They can write down what they are feeling, write memories of their loved one, or even write a letter of goodbye to that special person. They can look back on their entries later and perhaps see their progress in the grieving process. A Weighted Blanket For Easy Hugs Sleeping is sometimes a challenge when you are grieving and it can be hard to rest the mind. You might consider sending your friend a weighted blanket so they can cozy under it and perhaps feel like they are getting a hug, either from you or the loved one they lost. Weighted blankets can help them sleep better and get a little comfort at the same time. Sentimental Jewelry Jewelry can be a very meaningful gift and there are plenty of things you might send to your friend to memorialize their loved one and remind them of your friendship. You could send a locket, for example, so they can put a picture of their loved one inside it. An angel charm with their loved one’s birthstone on it that they can hang on a bracelet is also a nice idea. You know what your friend would like and the funeral home professionals can offer you ideas at the same time. When you hear that a friend is going through a hard time around cremation services in West Des Moines, IA they are having for a loved one who died, the professionals will care for their needs, but you will want to support them as much as you can as well. Sending a sympathy gift is a nice thing to do.
Funeral Homes Help With The Budget Posted on May 16, 2022 by ilesfuneralhomes Working with funeral homes in Urbandale, IA means that you have seasoned professionals on your side to help you with every bit of the process of planning and implementing final services. When planning for a funeral, it’s important to consider the budget and how much time you have. They are there to make sure your loved one gets what they need, first and foremost, but they are also concerned with your well-being. They are going to help you with every aspect of the process, including figuring out the budget pertaining to the service costs. Here are a few things they might suggest to help you with the budgeting aspect. Use A More Inexpensive Venue There are many ways you can save on the budget so you can offer more in other areas. One thing the funeral home might do is suggest that you stick to a venue that doesn’t cost that much. A funeral home is always an option for a service venue. They certainly won’t pressure you into that option, but they will want you to know it’s available for you, if you so choose. They might also suggest a local church. If you or your family member was a member of that church, you might be able to get free use of their building for the services. Choose A Package First Funeral homes have put together packages based on their experience. They know what is needed for these services and they want the planning process to be as easy and streamlined as possible on you. Choosing a package will give your loved one everything they have to have in order to get through these final services. When you have a strict budget, the funeral home will likely recommend that you choose a package you can afford. You then know your loved one’s needs are met and after that, you can add other things you can afford, if there is money left over. The most important thing to remember when sending flowers as a budget-friendly and thoughtful gift for someone who has passed away is that you don’t want them getting mixed up with any other kind of plant or bouquet. Let Family Help The funeral home will tell you that you need as much support as you can get. That might include monetary support from family and time, among other things. If you have people offer to help with certain cost elements, let them. If someone wants to cover the reception for you and host it, let that happen as well. Their help can get you further down the path you want to take and it can help you feel the compassion and support you need during this hard time. The most important thing to remember when sending flowers as a budget-friendly and thoughtful gift for someone who has passed away is that you don’t want them getting mixed up with any other kind of plant or bouquet. Keep Guests To Immediate Family Another thing you can do to keep costs down is make the services small. Invite only small family members and close friends and you can keep services intimate and small as well as less costly. You could livestream the services, however, if you want more people to be able to participate from a distance. If you need help with budgeting a final service, funeral homes in Urbandale, IA are there to offer you advice and options along the way. They want you to honor your loved one in the way you see fit.
Planning Nice Funeral Home Services Posted on May 9, 2022 by ilesfuneralhomes While you might think that funeral homes in Urbandale, IA have limited options when it comes to funeral services, that’s really not the case. There are certain elements that are often involved with a funeral, but you can customize anything you want and ensure that your loved one is honored in just the right way. The funeral home offers plenty of options and all of them are respectful and will make for a nice service. Here are a few ways to plan something you feel is right for your loved one. Consider The Venue With Care While you can have a memorial service anywhere, there are limited places in which you can have a full funeral. You need professionals to help you move your loved one and not just anywhere will accept this kind of service. You can easily have the funeral at the funeral home, and many people do. It’s easy and convenient and you have the professional help you need on hand at all times. Once you tell the experts what you want, they implement those plans for you without question. Another location you could consider is your loved one’s home church. It can be comforting for people to honor them in a location they appreciated. Think Through The Music Music is often an integral part of any service, even a funeral. You can set the tone of the service through the music you play. Some people like to keep things traditional and stick with hymns and classical music. That’s a very nice way to go. But you could also have a family member or friend offer special music and a song your loved one adored. You can even play songs right from your ipod over the sound system in the venue. Listen to the lyrics to make sure they are fitting and consider the tempo as well. Do you want something more upbeat or something slower? It’s all up to you. Place Memorable Photos Your loved one will be present for the funeral in their casket, but you might also want people to be able to remember who they were during their lifetime through photos. You could put a big, blown-up photo of them at the front of the room near their casket and candids around the room on poster board. Put up family pictures, pictures of them with friends, and photos of them doing the things they loved. It can help everyone remember them for the good parts of their life, which can help the grieving process as a whole. Plan A Nice Reception When someone has passed away, it is important to plan ahead and be prepared. The best way for you or your loved ones’ finances can help with this process by creating a funeral budget that will allow the funeral expenses they may need in order following all necessary steps while still staying within what’s available without running into debt! You will want to think about what happens after the funeral service as well. You might process to the cemetery for a burial service and then, people often like to have a reception so they can spend more time with their family members and friends. Funeral Arrangements are the process of celebrating life and planning funeral for someone’s future. When someone has passed away, it is important to plan ahead and be prepared. The best way for you or your loved ones’ finances can help with this process by creating a budget that will allow the funeral expenses they may need in order following all necessary steps while still staying within what’s available without running into debt!They provide an opportunity to express grief or sadness about their passing, as well as honor them with flowers, etc. You might want a full meal for the people in attendance, or you might have snacks and drinks available so everyone can simply chat after the services at funeral homes in Urbandale, IA.
