How Can You Thank Your Cremation Provider? Posted on March 27, 2023 by ilesfuneralhomes Cremation providers do what they do as a service to the community. They don’t expect anyone to thank them for providing cremation services in Urbandale, IA. They know that their services are necessary and that everyone receiving them is grateful for those services and the care their loved one receives. However, if you got a cremation provider that went above and beyond for you, there’s nothing wrong with reaching out to them later and thanking them for their part in caring for their loved one. Here are a few things you might want to do. A Nice Card/Letter You may be sending cards and letters to a lot of different people who have helped you with your loved one’s final services. You can send a card to the cremation provider at the same time, if you see it fit to do so. They will appreciate the gesture and be touched that you thought highly enough of their services to reach out to them after the fact. Recommendations To Others One of the biggest ways you can thank a cremation provider is be recommending their services to other people. When someone in your life has to plan final services for a loved one, recommend the provider you used and let your friend know what they did for you and how much you appreciated their services. If you hear that someone you know wants to pre-plan their services, you can also tell them about your experiences with a certain provider. Word of mouth is the best advertising and the best way to say thank you to a provider. Reviews Online It will only take a few minutes, but leaving a review online can be a huge way to let someone know you appreciate their services. When you chose a cremation provider, you might read the reviews to see if that provider is a good fit for you. Leaving your own review about your experiences will help that provider to garner more business in the future and that’s a huge way to thank them for how they treated your loved one. Prompt Payment Cremation providers give you a service and that service has a cost to it. Paying them promptly and on the agreed upon schedule is a great way to show them you appreciate their services. They can spend more time caring for other people and less time chasing down debts. An In-Person Thank You If you really want to let the cremation provider know how much you appreciate the services they gave to your loved one and the way they treated the rest of your family, you might stop by their facilities and tell them thank you in person. You can take a card signed by your family or just stop by and let them know what you liked about their services. When you have cremation services in Urbandale, IA, the provider is not expecting anything from you by way of a thank you. But if you want to thank them, there are lots of ways you can do just that.
Being A Companion To The Bereaved Posted on March 20, 2023 by ilesfuneralhomes There are lots of things you can do for someone that has lost a loved one. When they have cremation services in Des Moines, IA for that person, for example, you can be there for them in many different ways. Your time and presence can be of utmost importance to someone who is going through the worst of times. Here are a few things you can do to be a companion to that person who is grieving. Be Their Shoulder To Cry On You want your friend to know they can come to you at any time and vent to you. Be their shoulder to cry on and it can mean the most to them. They know you are there with a hug and a kind word at any time. Your shoulder is open for business with no judgement and you can offer it to them and it means a lot. Accompany Them To The Funeral Home For Support When your friend is planning funeral home services, it’s important that they have someone along with them any time they visit that location. They might often have family to go with them, and that’s great. But if there are times when they need to stop by and do something with the professionals, and they don’t already have family going with them, make sure they know you are there to accompany them. You can be a second set of eyes and ears, or you can just be there to support them if they break down with emotions. Aid In Errands/Arrangements There are lots of things your friend might have to do around the services they are having for their loved one. They are also grieving and going through a hard time. They might have a lot on their plate and you can help to fill things in by offering to run errands for them, take care of small parts of the arrangements, or fill in other ways that are necessary. It can be a real relief to them to have a go-to person to take care of some of these things. Feed Them At Home When your friend is grieving, and trying to plan things out, you are going to want to make sure they care for themselves as well. Make sure they have nutritious food and that they are eating on a regular basis. That can help them to have the energy they need to get through this hard time. Attend The Services They Arrange Once the final services are arranged, you should attend those services to support your friend. Whether you knew their loved one or not, being there for the services to back them up can mean a lot. Show Up After The Services For Further Support After services are complete, your friend will still be grieving through the cremation services in Des Moines, IA. Be there for them through those hard days when others may have moved past the immediacy of the services. Emotions are still going to be high.
Reasons To Send Flowers To The Funeral Home Posted on March 13, 2023 by ilesfuneralhomes When someone you know has lost a loved one, your heart goes out to them and you want to let them know you are sorry for their loss and are thinking of them during this hard time. That show of support is important to those who are grieving. The professionals at funeral homes in Des Moines, IA might tell you that there are many different things you can send to someone who is grieving. Here are a few reasons why you might want to make that gift flowers. You Want To Show Your Sympathies Flowers are a great way to reach out and let someone know that you are thinking of them and that you want to show your condolences and sympathies to them. You can write something simple on a card to go with the flowers to let them know you are sorry for their loss. Flowers are lovely and they can have a lot of meanings behind them that will show your care, friendship, love, support, and condolences. You Knew And Loved The Person Who Died If you knew the person who passed on, you might want to do something for their family, but also for them in order to pay your respects. Sending flowers can be for the family, in condolence, and for your friend who passed on, to honor them. It’s a nice way to give them a gift that does both things at the same time. You Want To Honor Your Family Member If you are the one planning the final service and hosting the event, you might still send flowers to the funeral home to honor your loved one. You know you will likely get arrangements from other people, and that’s always very nice. But you might want something special that denotes your relationship to the person and stands out as something special among the other arrangements. You can honor your loved one with something unique. You Want To Decorate The Service There are many different ways to honor a final service, and flowers are one of the most common ways to do just that. If you get flowers, you can keep those arrangements in the background of the service as decoration. They are bright, cheerful, show the love others have brought to the service, and denote hope for the future, too. You Want To Support A Friend You don’t have to know the person who died in order to send flowers to the funeral home. You can send them in order to support a friend you know is going through a hard time. If you aren’t close by and can’t attend the final services, you can send flowers to let your friend know you are thinking of them. There are lots of good reasons to send flowers to funeral homes in Des Moines, IA. If you aren’t sure what florist to call, or what to send, call the professionals for ideas and options to consider to show your support.
Pieces Of Yourself To Leave Behind Posted on March 6, 2023 by ilesfuneralhomes When you think ahead to the end of your life, you know that funeral homes in Urbandale, IA are going to care for your needs and take good care of your family supporting them with compassion. You might want to think ahead to that time and leave little pieces of yourself behind for the people who mean the most in your life. Here are a few things you might do: Write Letters To Loved Ones One thing you can do is write a letter to your special loved ones. You can tell them how much you love them, special things about them that you appreciate, and what you might want for your final services, among other things. Having that letter in your own handwriting is going to mean a lot to them. You might write a letter to your loved ones once, or you might write something every year or two in order to keep things updated. Buy Jewelry Pieces For Each Special Person You might have a jewelry collection already, but if you want your family to have something special from you, perhaps you buy a jewelry piece for each person so you can leave something behind that is just for them. You might even keep those purchases a secret so your family members have something special as a reminder of you in the future. Write Out Your Life Story You can get a journal and write out as much of your life story as you can remember, or at least highlight the important parts. Tell a few funny stories from high school. Let your family know how you met your spouse. Talk about getting your first job, having your kids, and so on. These stories are going to be something your family cherishes in the future and they can make copies and pass it down over time. Take Videos To Leave Everyone has access to a video camera these days and you might want to create video letters to certain loved ones, or to your family as a whole. You can, in your own words and in your own voice, let your family know you love them and appreciate the time you got to spend with them. You can talk to specific people, share stories, tell a few jokes, or whatever else you want. You might even let family know what that secret ingredient is in the recipe you always make. Leave that for your family to appreciate later on. Plan Your Own Funeral Home Services Another gift you can give to your family in the future is pre-planning your final services ahead of time. Work with a funeral home and decide what you want for your future plans. You can look over the options and make choices that will help to guide your family in the future. They won’t have those planning burdens in the future and you have peace of mind that what you want is what you will get. Funeral homes in Urbandale, IA are there to help.
Details On Biodegradable Urns For Cremated Remains Posted on February 27, 2023 by ilesfuneralhomes Once you decide on cremation services in Des Moines, IA for a loved one, you will need to figure out what you will do with their remains. There’s no timeline on their final resting place, but you are going to want to decide what kind of container you will use for their remains in the meantime. You could take the simple container that the provider will give you as a part of any package, for example. Or, you can get an urn of your choosing. One of the urn options is a biodegradable urn. Here are some details on that option. What Are Biodegradable Urns? Biodegradable urns are urns that break down naturally, either in the earth, in the water, or both. You can utilize these urns if you want your loved one to have an eco-friendly service. They are gentle and friendly to the environment no matter what you do with them. They also cost less, so you can save on the budget in that area as well. When Can They Be Used? Biodegradable urns have certain functions and there are times when you might want one, and times when you might not. For example, if you are going to keep your loved one in your home, a biodegradable urn is not going to be ideal. These urns break down and they would not be a good idea for a long-term placement in your home. On the other hand, if you are going to bury your loved one, either in the cemetery or in a home garden or another location, a biodegradable urn is a great fit. It will break down under the earth in a natural way. You can also utilize one of these natural urns if you go for a water burial. You can cast the urn into the water and it will sink and break down, again, in a natural manner, dissipating your loved one’s remains into the water. Where Can You Find Them? Most cremation providers have one or more biodegradable urns on the market. You can ask them about that option and for what reasons you might use such an urn. You can also buy an urn from any other vendor, if you so choose to do so. Perhaps you want an urn that has seeds in it that you can plant in your garden. You might be able to get certain seed urns from another vendor and the funeral home and cremation provider will use it without question. They simply want you to get what you want to honor your loved one, no matter what that might end up being. When you are looking into biodegradable urns, there are plentiful options. You will want to look into the materials and consider the purposes you have for the urn. You will also want to think about what you want for your loved one, and what they would have wanted. The professionals that help you with the cremation services in Des Moines, IA can help you with the urn as well.
Important Funeral Traditions Posted on February 20, 2023 by ilesfuneralhomes When you are trying to figure out what you are going to do for a loved one who has passed on, funeral homes in Urbandale, IA are there to help with every part of the process. As you consider the options, there might be some things about funeral services that are important to you and to your family members. Those traditions can help everyone and they can honor your loved one at the same time. Here are a few reasons these traditions can be important to everyone involved. Honoring The Deceased One of the important elements of a funeral is to honor the person who died. That’s something most people want to do for their loved one as they move forward. They want to mark their life, honor them, and give them the respect and dignity they deserve with their final send off. Remembering A Life Your loved one was an important part of your life, and the lives of many other people around you. You want to remember their life and mark how important it was to all of you. That part of the funeral can be very helpful to all of you. You can remember that life and commit to one another that you will continue to remember that person as you move forward together. Providing Comfort Funerals are meant to be comforting. You are able to honor your loved one and surround yourself with people who loved them, and who still love you. The family members and friends can support one another through this hard time and get peace of mind through the funeral, too. Funerals showcase that your loved one was cared for in a nice manner, which can help you to move forward. Gaining Closure One thing everyone needs to grieve and move forward is closure. You can get closure in a number of ways, but you have to figure out that your loved one is gone and is not coming back. Many people get that idea through the funeral process. They see their loved one in the casket at the visitation, for example, or they get the feeling through the funeral rituals and are able to heal a bit from that closure process. Acknowledge The Death/The Change It can help you to move forward when you have a funeral for a loved one and acknowledge their death. Seeing that change and shift in your life and help you to grasp what the future is going to be like without that special person. Healing is a process and it’s not going to happen overnight, but the funeral can help you to recognize that things are different so you can move forward in a new manner. When you are working with funeral homes in Urbandale, IA on final services for a loved one, there are a number of things you can do. But having a traditional funeral has its merits and it’s a great way to give family something they can utilize as a part of their healing process. Talk to the professionals about the details.
Writing A Meaningful Funeral Home Obituary Posted on February 13, 2023 by ilesfuneralhomes There are many details that you will have to put together in order to organize your loved one’s final services from start to finish. One traditional things that funeral homes in Des Moines, IA might suggest you do is write up an obituary. This is something they can place on their website, and you can then share, and it’s also something you can put in area newspapers. The obituary will announce your loved one’s death, but it will also give you the chance to showcase who your loved one was. Here are some things you will want to do to create a meaningful piece. Read Through Examples It’s a great idea to read through examples of obituaries so you can get a feel for what people include, the tone, and the general length. The funeral homes have plenty of examples they can pass off to you, and they can also point you to their website to read as many as you want. They often also have templates you can use to fill in your loved one’s details to make sure you get the important parts. Decide What Purposes You Want It To Serve Most people use the obituary as a death announcement, but you can also use it to announce the service details, if you choose to do so. You can even add details about your loved one to show their personality and style. Decide if you want the obituary to highlight their life in a larger way, or just act as an announcement for those who already knew them. Include Pertinent Details Obituaries always have some details included. You will need to include your loved one’s name, including any nicknames or maiden names people may have known them by. You will want to say their age and when they passed on. You will also include family members names for those close to them who already passed, and those who are still living. And it’s also customary to list the funeral home caring for them so people can direct their questions there. Add Personality Items It can be nice to add a few details about the person’s life so you are able to highlight who they were and some things about their style. You might talk about their career, their hobbies, or other things that were important to them. These are things you will briefly add because the longer the obituary is, the more it will cost to place in the papers. But it can be nice to add a few lines to customize the details even further. Expand On It At Services Keep in mind that you aren’t going to be able to say everything you want to say about your loved one in the obituary—and that’s okay. You have a funeral service to look forward to and you can print a bio of them that includes anything you want. Or, you can use the service and the things said about them to expand on it with funeral homes in Des Moines, IA.
Keepsake Jewelry—What Is It? Posted on February 6, 2023 by ilesfuneralhomes When someone dies, it makes sense that people want to remember that person in certain ways. Memories are always going to be with you, but sometimes, a special item can help you to keep that memory with you and the person’s spirit alive in your life. Once you decide on cremation services in Urbandale, IA, there are a variety of ways you can honor that special person with your life. Keepsake jewelry is becoming more popular. Here are a few examples of keepsake jewelry that you could use as a memorial to your loved one. A Piece Of Jewelry From Your Loved One’s Collection If your loved one appreciated jewelry, they might have a nice collection of items. Or, perhaps they only had a few pieces. Whatever the case may be, you might use a piece of their jewelry as a keepsake of your own. Perhaps you take their tennis bracelet and every time you wear it, you think of them. You could repurpose their wedding ring into a necklace that you wear to signify their love of their spouse, and the rest of their family. Anything that was theirs could act as a piece of keepsake jewelry, whether you have one piece or several. A Piece You Buy To Remember Your Loved One Even if your loved one didn’t have much jewelry, or you want something new to remember them by, you can buy something that reminds you of them. Perhaps you get a ring with their birthstone in it, for example, or an angel pendant you place on your coat to help you remember they are always with you. Look for a piece you would enjoy wearing, but also something that reminds you of their loved one. Cremation Jewelry Pieces One of the most popular keepsake jewelry items is the cremation jewelry piece. There are a variety of options under this umbrella. Most cremation jewelry is shaped like a pendant, a cross, or a heart, but there are other options as well. These pieces have small urns in them so you can put a small bit of your loved one’s remains inside and wear that person close to your heart at all times. Even if you don’t wear jewelry, you could still get a piece and display it in your home so part of your loved one is within your house at all times. The cremation providers have options available and there are other vendors that can give you even wider selections. Another thing you can do with remains in regards to keepsake jewelry is have some of your loved one’s remains turned into a diamond. With the right compression, you can have a diamond created and then, you can set it into a ring, earrings, a necklace, or anything else you want so you can wear it with pride. If you want to know more about keepsake jewelry options, the professionals helping with cremation services in Urbandale, IA are there with details and information to help you out.
Questions About Cremation Services Posted on January 23, 2023 by ilesfuneralhomes When you have to choose a final service option for your loved one, the two main options are funerals and cremation services in Des Moines, IA. If you want to find out the details about cremation before you decide, and you should, the providers are there to help you with the answers. Don’t ever feel afraid about asking questions. You want to figure out what’s best for your family and you need information to do that. Here are a few things to ask and consider as you move forward with the decision-making process. What Are The Service Options? With cremation, you probably know that your loved one’s remains would be turned from their form into an ash-like form. But there are a lot of options for services that go around that. You might, for example, have full cremation. You can have a funeral and visitation service first, then you can have the cremation done. Or, you can go with direct cremation, which has no final services beforehand. The cremation happens first and then, you can have any kind of service you want after that. There are almost endless options available for cremation services. What Costs Are Involved? Cremation services have much lower costs involved than a funeral home service. It’s nice to know that there are far fewer products and services necessary so the overall costs are going to be lower to begin with. Once you see the package prices, you can add whatever you want to those if your budget will allow for it. What Do Packages Include? Cremation packages include everything you have to have for a final service. They are basic, but they meet all of your loved one’s needs from start to finish. When you look at the packages, they are always going to include transportation so your loved one can be moved from the place of their death to the funeral home’s facilities. They will also include interim care, the cremation process, and help with paperwork. Finally, all packages will include a simple container for your loved one’s remains. While you can add anything you want to the cremation package, it’s nice to know that when you get the package, your loved one has what they need. What Can Be Done With Remains? Once you have the cremation done, there are lots of options for what you can do with their remains. You are able to bury them, scatter them, keep them, or do any number of other things. One thing that is nice about cremation is that there’s no timeline included. You can have the cremation done and do whatever you want with the remains at any time in the future. Some families do something right away and others wait until they have time to work through the options. What Urn Options Are There? While cremation packages include simple containers, these are little more than a cardboard box. You can get an urn for your loved one instead, if you choose to do so. Cremation services in Des Moines, IA allow for a variety of options.
What To Look For In Funeral Home Tours Posted on January 16, 2023 by ilesfuneralhomes When you need to have one of the funeral homes in West Des Moines, IA care for a loved one who has passed on, you want to know that funeral home is up to the task. You will likely start out by looking at their website and perhaps look at outside reviews on them, too. You can get recommendations, make phone calls, and go the extra mile to ensure they have the experience and services you need and want. As you rule certain companies out, you will want to visit some of the last options on your list. As you go on those funeral home tours, here are a few things you are going to want to look for in the company you choose. The Location In The Area The easiest thing to take note of about the funeral home is their location. You can find out where they are located by looking at a map, but when you actually go to the facilities, you can see what’s around the funeral home. How close are they to the cemetery you might use? Are there restaurants around that can work for a reception? What hotels could accommodate family? Is the parking ample for your needs? Those things will be clear when you visit the funeral home. The Room Sizes As you tour the funeral home, you will want to take note of the rooms they have available, especially if you want to have a service at the funeral home. You will want to check the room sizes and see if they can accommodate your family members. If you want a smaller service, you’ll want something intimate that won’t be overwhelming and see empty. IF you are opening the services to the public, it’s nice to have size options in case a lot of people show up. You want there to be options for the set up as well. The Cleanliness/Organization Any area you see of the funeral home should be clean and well organized. That will show you that the funeral director pays attention to detail and is ready to move forward with the services you need for your loved one. You want there to be clean rooms that you feel are inviting for your family members. Organization is also important. There shouldn’t be a bunch of folders and papers strewn about the funeral director’s desk. You want things to be in order so you know they are ready to care for your loved one’s needs along with anything else they have going on. Staff Treatment You will meet the funeral director, but you may also run into other staff members as you tour the funeral home in West Des Moines, IA. They way the treat you will mirror how they will treat your family. You want compassionate treatment and complete support whenever you talk to them. You need to feel comfortable with the staff so you can talk to them and get what you need for the services.
