The Importance Of A Will With Cremation Services Posted on May 2, 2022 by ilesfuneralhomes Paperwork is a part of life that not many people enjoy, but there are certain items that are highly important, like a last will and testament. Not everyone has a will in place, but once you reach adulthood, get married, have a family, and start a life, it’s important to get something written up. Eventually, you will pass on, have a funeral, or go through cremation services in Urbandale, IA, and having that will in place will help your family to navigate what comes next. Here are a few reasons that document is so important. Allow Your Wishes For Your Assets To Be Met Everyone has things they will leave behind, whether it’s a house, a bank account, certain possessions, or other such things. When you think about it, you want certain people to get those things. You may want your home to go to a certain family member while others get the money in your bank account and so on. Some possessions will be left up to them to divide and decide, but especially important things, like perhaps your wedding ring or another precious item, you want someone specific to have. When you have a will in place, you can get your wishes met once you are gone. Protect Kids You spent your life from the moment you had kids protecting them in every way possible. When you pass on, you are no longer present to protect them. However, when you leave a will behind, you can still do your best to protect them. You can designate who will care for them when you are gone and you can leave a trust and funds behind for their care. You can do your best to protect them in every way possible. Avoid Court Costs If you don’t take the time to write up a will, your estate will be in question and it could end up in the courts. Money from your estate will be used to figure out who gets what and that can be very trying for your family. Plus, there’s less left behind for them, too. When you have a will, what you want happens and you don’t have to worry about things getting stuck in the court systems. Appoint Someone To Take On Distribution You likely have someone in your life that you trust to handle thing. You can appoint them to be in charge of your estate when the time comes. They will distribute the things you wanted each person to have and make sure your wishes are followed. Plan Final Services In addition to a will, you might want to have a final service plan for yourself. You can plan your cremation services in Urbandale, IA in the future and when you pass on, all your family has to do is call the funeral home that holds the plans and whatever you wanted will take action. It’s another way to protect your family and set them free from burdens in the future upont your death.
Preparing Expectations For Funeral Home Services Posted on April 25, 2022 by ilesfuneralhomes There are some things in your life that you just can’t know. They say knowledge is power, but there are some things that we cannot have power over. For example, you can’t have power over death. You don’t know when it’s going to happen, either to you or to family members. When you lose a family member, however, you can prepare for their services with funeral homes in Des Moines, IA. You can have that knowledge and go into the process with a sense of understanding that you know what is going to happen. Here are some of the things to expect so you can prepare for the upcoming services. Figure Out What You Want From The Visitation The visitation service is an open house that you can attend any time within the open hours. You don’t have to go for the whole time, but rather can stop in between the hours listed for the service. You can expect to see your loved one in their casket at the front of the room. Their closest family members will also likely be present. You don’t have to feel obligated to approach the casket. Rather, if you want to get closure and see the person up close, you can. But you can also stay back, talk to the family, and give them the support you want them to have. Decide what you want for the visitation or do what feels right when the time comes. Know that whatever you decide is perfectly acceptable. The Formal Funeral The funeral will occur at a certain time and you will want to arrive on time. Turn your phone off and dress in a conservative manner so you will fit in. At the funeral, you can expect people to be emotional and perhaps even to be crying. You will likely hear readings, songs, and a eulogy, among other things. The service will likely take an hour or so and after it is over, the family will be invited to process to the burial service. The Burial At The Cemetery Once you arrive at the cemetery, along with everyone else in a line that follows one after the other, you will watch the casket be carried to the burial plot and placed at the cemetery. You will likely hear someone speak for a few moments before the service closes. Some family may stay behind to say a final goodbye, otherwise, you can move on to the reception. The Reception Meal At the funeral, the person presiding over the service will likely inform the guests of the reception and invite those in attendance to join in on that as well. Once the burial is over, you can go to the reception, spend more time with the family, and have a meal in their honor. It may have been a while since you have services with funeral homes in Des Moines, IA and you might want to prepare for what is to come. Going into the services with the right expectations can help you to face things.
Memorials And Cremation Go Hand In Hand With Grief Posted on April 18, 2022 by ilesfuneralhomes When you think of cremation services in Des Moines, IA, you might think of something direct that happens soon after death. The person going through cremation doesn’t have any services before the cremation occurs. However, that doesn’t mean that you can’t have something after the cremation for a loved one who is going through the process. In fact, memorial services more often than not follow a cremation service at some point. There’s no timeline on the process, but it can help to have a memorial process in order to move forward with grief. Here are a few reasons why. Get And Give Closure You and the rest of your family members are going to need closure in order to move forward with the grieving process. You might get that closure, and allow your family members to get it as well, through the memorial service process. You can recognize that your loved one is gone and is not coming back. That can be huge in moving your grief forward. Saying Goodbye Many people feel the need to say goodbye in order to move on with their life and to get past the initial grieving process. Saying those words out loud might help. Other people can say them in their heart as a part of the memorial service process. That service can allow you and your family to get that final goodbye in as you move into a new normal for your life. Access Family Support Your family might not come together very often, but when someone passes on, they will gather together in order to honor that person if you have a memorial service. You get the support you need from your family and from other friends. They also get what they need from you. Gathering your family together can mean a lot to you during this hard time. Your loved one is missing, but you still have a lot of people there who care about you. Send Your Loved One Off With Honor One reason some families go through the memorial service process is simply to give their loved one a nice send-off. You might feel like you want your loved one to get a certain level of honor at the end of their life, and that’s a nice reason to go forward with a memorial service. You can even have a life celebration, which can help you to go over the good times and celebrate a life well-lived. The memorial service can be all about your loved one and giving them the respect they deserve during this final time of their life. When you have cremation services in Des Moines, IA for a loved one who passed on, a memorial service may follow shortly after or sometime in the future. While you don’t have to have a memorial in order to have a cremation, those two things often go hand in hand to help your family grieve in the proper manner and to honor your loved one.
Putting A Cremation Service Care Package Together Posted on April 11, 2022 by ilesfuneralhomes If you have lost a loved one, you know how hard the process is to go through. While you also know that there’s nothing you can say or do to take away a grieving friend’s pain, you still want to support them however you can around their loved one’s cremation services in West Des Moines, IA. You can attend the services, send flowers, put some money in a card, or even put together a cremation service care package. If you want to put together a package, here are some options to consider. Snack Items You want your friend to nourish themselves during this hard time and they might not be getting the meals they need at the right times. Include some snacks you know they enjoy that are healthy and filling. Perhaps some protein bars or trail mixes that they can easily grab and snack on between things. You can also put a few sweets in there to give them a treat that can help you to remind them that you know them well and know what they like. Relaxing Options Your friend might be stressed out during this hard time. Their plans can be overwhelming and they need to take time out to relax when they are able. Put in some bubble bath, lotion, a good book, a candle, and some other things that might help them to relax. Those items can help them to remember that self-care is important during this hard time. Favorite Colors If your friend has a favorite color, you might want to incorporate items in that color to show them that you care and are thinking of them. You know them well and it’s time for that knowledge to show off a bit. Put in a baby blue blanket, a card with blue colorings, or other items that feature their favorite colors. It will remind them that they have people out there who care enough about them to pay attention to even the little things. Gifts For Later While your friend is likely trying to concentrate on their family and the person who needs the cremation services right now, you might want to include things like gift cards for places they enjoy that they can use later. You know they like a certain restaurant or coffee shop and gift cards to those locations can give them something to look forward to as they heal and move forward with their life in their own way. Memories To Make Them Smile Did you see a certain movie together for the first time? Include a DVD of that film to make them smile. Place a picture of you with your friend in the basket, too, to remind them how many people they have standing behind them and supporting them through this hard time. Those memories can help them to smile and to move forward. Cremation services in West Des Moines, IA are hard to get through, but your friend has your support and the cremation care package will remind them of that.
The Importance Of Self Care Around Funerals Posted on April 4, 2022 by ilesfuneralhomes There’s nothing easy about grieving, but the professionals at funeral homes in West Des Moines, IA are going to take care of your loved one as if they were their own. You need to understand that your loved one is in good hands and their needs are being met. While you are responsible for making sure they get that care, once they are in the funeral home’s hands, you know that they are getting what they need. You will have to let them go and focus on caring for yourself and the rest of your family members. Your own self-care is going to be very important around the planning and funeral home service as a whole. Here are a few things you are going to want to do. Eat You may not feel hungry when you are going through the grieving process and it can be hard to force yourself to eat. When you feel those hunger pangs, stop what you are doing and get a healthy meal. Snack on healthy items as well because you need food to be your fuel at this time. It’s important to give your body as much energy as possible because grief can sap that energy out of you. Rest Make sleep a priority and try to keep your schedule even and regular, if you can. Go to bed at the normal time and get up when you usually do. If you are having trouble sleeping, or feel overwhelmed and tired during the day, it’s okay to take a break from family and from the plans you are making and rest. Lie down, take a nap, or just listen to some music for a while to refresh your mind and your body. Fresh Air You might feel stressed out over the plans and that’s not a feeling that is unexpected, but it’s also not something you want to stick around. When you feel that stress, try to give yourself some space from the situation. Take a walk with your dog or with a family member. You can even just step out back and breath the fresh air in deeply. Take in the birds singing and the blue sky and it can help you put things into perspective nicely. Avoid Self-Isolating You will want time to yourself during this process, and that’s okay. But you might find yourself pushing people away and trying to be alone more often than not, and that’s not a good thing for you. You need family support and you will want to let people be there for you during this hard time. It’s in your best interest to be around others who support you, not to be alone all of the time. Once you have chosen funeral homes in West Des Moines, IA to work with, place your loved one in their capable hands and know that they are going to get what they need. Then, you can focus on your own grief and on self-care to get through this situation.
Making Funeral Home Pre-Plans With A Loved One Posted on March 28, 2022 by ilesfuneralhomes If you have ever thought about making your own final service plans, you understand the mindset your loved one has when they say they want to contact funeral homes in Urbandale, IA to make their own final plans. There are things you can do to help them along the way so they get the peace of mind they deserve while taking burdens from your family when their time to die comes. Recommend Funeral Homes If you have already made your own final service plans, you might want to recommend the funeral home you used to your loved one if you appreciated the job they did with you. If you haven’t made plans, you may know someone who has and you can ask them about the professionals they used. Getting recommendations from someone you trust that you can pass along to your family member can help them to get what they need in an easier manner. You can also research funeral homes online, read reviews, and let your family member know what you learned so they can take things from there. Learn Advantages Of Various Services Even if your loved one knows they want to make plans in advance, they may not know what those plans should be just yet and that’s okay. You can do a little research on the advantages of cremation services and the benefits of funeral and burial services. Once you have that knowledge, you can pass it along to the loved one making the decisions. Something you have found out might spark something in them and help them to go one direction over another with confidence. Help Them With The Numbers It would be smart of your loved one to look at their budget when they are making these plans. If they want to pay in advance, they certainly can do so. In those cases, the budget will make a big difference in the plans they make. Even if they are leaving the costs to loved ones to cover later, they may not want to plan something that is going to cost those people a bunch of money. If you are good with numbers, help your loved one set a budget and be with them along the way to keep things in that parameter. Go Along On Funeral Home Visits If your loved one wants to visit some of the funeral home professionals to find out more about their services, you can go along with them and help them to get the answers they need. Being a second set of eyes and ears can help you to point things out to your loved one later if they don’t remember the details. One of the nicest things you can do for your loved one as they plan is simply support them along the way. When they make decisions with funeral homes in Urbandale, IA, let them know you appreciate what they are planning. Ask them what else you can do to help and work with Iles Funeral Home to give them everything they need to make these plans.
The Needs That Go Along With Cremation Services Posted on March 21, 2022 by ilesfuneralhomes One of the things that you will be concerned with the most when a loved one passes on is their needs. They can no longer care for themselves and you want to ensure that their needs are met. If you choose cremation services in Urbandale, IA, here are the things your loved one is going to need as a part of the process. Transportation To The Cremation Facility Once you learn that your loved one has died, you are going to have to contact a funeral home and ask for their help. The first thing they are going to need is transportation to the cremation facility. The professionals, once you hire them, will take care of that transport without any further involvement from you. They will contact the people holding your loved one, perhaps the hospital or nursing home, and coordinate things so you don’t have to worry about your loved one’s transport, or the care they will get in the meantime. Interim Care It can take you a little time to figure out what you want to do for your loved one. Even if you know what you want, you will have to get the paperwork in order, copies of the death certificate, and so on. While those things come together, your loved one is going to need care from professionals who know how to treat the deceased. When you hire a reputable funeral home, you know they are going to get what they need in the interim. The Cremation Process After you get the death certificate, sign the cremation consent forms, and prepare your family for what is going to happen, the cremation process can proceed. This is the biggest need your loved one has after their death—the need for a final disposition method. The process is honorable and respectful and can take place a few days after your loved one’s death. If you go with direct cremation, no services will take place before the cremation, but you can do something for them afterward if you want. An Urn Of Some Kind Once your loved one’s remains are cremated, they are going to need a container of some kind for their ashes. No matter what cremation package you choose for them, even if it’s simple and straightforward, it will come with a simple container for remains. You can also choose an urn of any kind if you so choose. The funeral home has options, but you can also look at outside vendors as options. When you consider cremation services in Urbandale, IA for a loved one who has passed on, you know they have needs and those services will meet those needs, but you might wonder what the needs are. The professionals at Iles Funeral Home are here to help you understand and meet those needs so your loved one can get what they deserve. You want to honor your loved one and we will follow whatever plans you want to put into place for them in a respectful manner.
A Pre-Planning Guide For Cremation Services Posted on March 14, 2022 by ilesfuneralhomes Planning final services for a family member who needs those things right away and planning cremation services in Des Moines, IA for yourself are two different things. While you may have planned final services in the past, or perhaps you haven’t, planning things for yourself are different. It’s nice to have a guide in place so you can make the plans you need to make and have peace of mind that things are ready. Here are some steps to take: -Choose The Cremation Provider If cremation services are what you want, you will have to choose a cremation provider to work with you on those final plans. Since you have time on your side, you can research providers and that can help you to feel like you have the right fit when you decide to move forward. Look at their websites, read reviews, and make some calls to have confidence in what you choose. -Look At Packages Cremation providers are going to have cremation packages available for you to look over, and that can really help you with the initial decisions. These packages include everything you have to have for the process. Since they are all-inclusive, you can get a package and that’s all you need. Some packages are simple and basic while others have more to them. Think about what you need, and also what you want for your loved ones when that future becomes reality. -Look Over Additional Options After you choose a cremation package, you will want to look over and consider the other things that you can add onto that package, if you choose to do so. Think about adding an urn, for example, instead of the simple container the cremation provider will give your family. You can also plan a memorial service, dictate the final resting place, and anything else you want them to do for you when that time comes. -Consider Pre-Payment Those who like to plan their own final services ahead of time often also like to pay for those services at that time, and that can be a huge thing for your family as well. When you pass on, well into the future with any luck, your loved ones don’t have to make any plans. They also know just what you want and they don’t have to guess about it. They also don’t have to worry about paying for those plans because you have already done that as well. Paying now relieves them of that burden, but it also saves you money. You get to pay today’s prices and the services will never cost more, even if prices skyrocket in the future when you actually use the plans. -Inform Your Family As you make plans for your own cremation services in Des Moines, IA, or once the plans are in place, you might want to let your family in on what you are planning. They need to know that Iles Funeral Home holds the plans. And knowing what your plans are can help them to prepare for the future as well.
Tips For Bringing Children To Funeral Home Services Posted on March 7, 2022 by ilesfuneralhomes When you hear a certain person in your life has passed on, you might automatically want to attend the services the family is going to have at funeral homes in Des Moines, IA. However, if you have a child, or even children, things are more complicated. Actually, everything in your life is more complicated. Here are some tips to help you handle the circumstances in a way that will work for everyone. Tip 1: Take Children Who Can Stay Quiet And Still Before you get into taking your child with you to the funeral home, you will want to think about how your child will handle the situation. Funerals are generally somber and straightforward. You know your child will need to be quiet and sit still. How will they handle that? If you feel like your child is used to those situations, (perhaps you attend regular church services) then they would behave well and you are confident they could handle it. On the other hand, if your child is always on the go, you might want to avoid taking them to the service so they don’t disturb you or, worse yet, other people. Tip 2: Prepare Your Kids For The Services If you decide that your child can handle the services, you will want to prepare them for what is going to happen so they know what to expect. Many children, and even adults, have a fear of the unknown. They will likely handle the services better if they know what is going to happen. Let them know that they will see the person in their casket. That you will likely sing songs, hear readings, and hear someone speak about the person who died. That preparation can help them do well at the service itself. Tip 3: Consider Entertainment Even if your child is good at sitting still, they might eventually get bored and you don’t want them bothering you or those around you. Think about things you can bring along with you to entertain your child so they don’t start talking or fidgeting. Bring a coloring book and crayons or a picture book they can look through. You don’t, however, want to hand them your phone to play games on. That can be distracting to others and you never know when they might turn the volume on and make noise. Tip 4: Sit In The Back Even if you feel your child will do well, you can’t predict when they will have to go to the bathroom or something else might happen. It’s best to sit in the back so you can make a quick exit without disturbing others. If you want to attend services for someone you know at funeral homes in Des Moines, IA, you will have to think about taking your child, and how you will pull that off. The professionals at Iles Funeral Home are here to help you through whatever situation you are in surrounding a friend’s death. Give us a call for advice any time.
Cremation Packages Include Everything Posted on February 28, 2022 by ilesfuneralhomes Even if your loved one didn’t make their own final service plans, you might know that they wanted cremation services in West Des Moines, IA. When they pass on, you can take those final wishes and make them become reality for that special person. You will need to find a cremation provider and go through the cremation packages they offer. One of the nice things about cremation is that even if you get the most basic package, it’s going to include everything you have to have for that loved one’s final service. You can, of course, add other things to that package and customize whatever you’d like. But having the package itself is all you have to have. Here are the things that it will include: Transportation One of the immediate needs your loved one will have is for transportation from the place of their death to the cremation facilities. That takes special vehicles and professional care and the people you hire will take care of that through the cremation package you have chosen. That comes included with whatever you decide as they know it’s going to be necessary for any individual. Planning Care Even if you know what your loved one wanted, you’re going to need a little time to get those plans into place so you can ensure they are getting what they wanted. While you are making those plans, the cremation providers will care for your loved one with dignity and respect. You know they are in good hands, and you can have peace of mind over that fact. The Cremation Itself The biggest expense you will have as part of the package is for the cremation process itself. That’s the part of the process your loved one told you they wanted, and you want to ensure they get it. Once the paperwork is complete, they can proceed through the cremation process, which is covered in the package you chose. A Simple Container Option Some families like to choose an urn for their loved one and that’s perfectly acceptable, yet it’s nice to know that when you have a cremation package in place, your loved one will have a simple container that they can use for their remains after the cremation process. That simple container is no more than a cardboard box, but it will work fine as a container for remains and can allow you extra time to figure out what you want. Everything Necessary You might worry about getting your loved one’s needs met after their pass on, but when you choose a cremation package for them, you know that you are getting everything necessary for the process in one place. That makes it easy, straightforward, and simple. Once you have that cremation package, you can take all the time you need to investigate other options around cremation services in West Des Moines, IA, like a customized urn, a memorial service, or anything else you might want for that family member. The professionals at Iles Funeral Home are here to go over the packages with you and we can also go over other options with you.
