Blog | Panebaker Funeral Home

What No One Tells You About Grieving

The grief that comes after the loss of a loved one is something that you may not know how to deal with, especially if it is your first experience with it. It can be important to know a bit about what you can expect and that is something you want to take some time with. There are a number of things that people do not mention about grief, however. Here are some of the things that directors of funeral homes in Parkville, PA want you to know about grief.

One of the things you may not know about grief is that it can last different lengths of time for different people. Many times, people see their loved ones getting past the grief and they think there may be something wrong with what they are going through, but that is not the case. That is why it can be vital not to compare your grieving process with that of anyone else.

Another thing that most people do not realize about grief is that it is different for everyone. Many times, people have an idea that the grieving process will be similar for their loved ones, and that is not the case. You may see family members who grieve for shorter or longer periods of time and who experience it a bit differently than you do. That may be confusing and can let some people think that the way they are grieving is not right. By knowing that everyone grieves differently, you can allow yourself the time you need.

You may also think that there are very clearly delineated stages of grief you will go through. There are definitely stages of grief, but they are not necessarily going to be as orderly as you expect. You may even go through some stages more than once. Keep that in mind so that you do not get worried as you grieve.

It is also crucial that you know that asking for professional help does not mean there is anything wrong in how you are processing the loss. Many times, people think it can be a sign of weakness but that is not the case. Asking for help can ensure that you can get the guidance you need to start healing from the loss.

These are some things you may not have known about the process of grieving. It is important to remember not to compare your grieving process with that of other people and to allow yourself to feel what you need to feel so that you can get closure and start healing. If you would like to know more about the process of grieving and what you can expect, you can reach out to an Parkville, PA funeral home like us. We are here to answer any questions you may have about laying a loved one to rest, so do not hesitate to reach out to us. You can give us a call right now or you can visit us at our location today to speak with one of our experts.

Giving a Unique Eulogy

Giving a eulogy at the service of a loved one is something that can be cathartic and that can let you show what the person meant to you. If that is something you would like to do but you have never prepared a eulogy before, it can be important to know how to begin. There are some tips that providers of cremation services in Hanover, PA want you to remember as you start.

As upsetting as it may seem, one of the most important things that you can do when getting ready to plan and deliver a eulogy is to watch or listen to some examples. You need to get a sense of the kind of tone and speed you want to have as you deliver it and you can learn this by reaching out and looking for examples. There are resources online you can turn to and you can always ask the provider of the funerary services that you are working with for some help.

You need to think about what the person meant to you. Many times, people give an overview of the person’s life instead of showing what the person meant to them. You want to speak of how your loved one impacted your life and what you want others to know about them. To see examples of how to do this, you can always watch or read eulogies. You can get a good sense of the structure and what people tend to include.

You want to think about starting with an anecdote. You want to get the attention of everyone at the service and this is the best way to do it. Do not be afraid of using humor. Many times, people are not sure about whether or not to include a funny anecdote and it can be a very good idea to do so. You will be giving the people listening to you a chance to get some relief from the grief and it can really showcase your loved one’s personality.

Another thing to remember is that you need to keep the eulogy between five and ten minutes long. It is usually best to keep it around five minutes since people tend to get distracted if the eulogy is too long. Be sure to consider also how long the service will be and how many people want to speak, if this information is available to you.

All of these tips can make it easier for you to write and give the exact kind of eulogy you want for a loved one. Take the time to read examples so that you can get a good sense of what they can include, and consider how long you want the eulogy to be. If you have questions or want to know more about all of this, you can reach out to a Hanover, PA cremation service provider like us. We are here to answer any questions you may have about all of this, so do not hesitate to contact us. Give us a call to learn more about eulogies.

Honoring a Loved One

When you lose a loved one, something that can help with the healing process is to honor the person in some way. It can be a small tribute or memorial, or something that is a bit bigger and that can involve others. If you want to be able to memorialize your loved one and offer them the kind of tribute they deserve, there are some options that directors of funeral homes in Hanover, PA want you to keep in mind.

If your loved one enjoyed being outside and working with plants, you can prepare a memorial garden in tribute. You can make it any size that you prefer, and you can include any flowers or plants that your loved one would have wanted. If they loved things like wind chimes, for example, you can also add those to the memorial garden. Keep all of these things in mind as you choose.

If you want to choose an option that is handmade and that can involve the whole family, you want to consider putting together a memory book. These kinds of books can include lots of different things, like pictures, recipes, song lyrics, and much more. You can even add ticket stubs to events that you attended with the deceased. A memory book can be something that people pass down from generation to generation, and it can be a touching way of honoring your loved one.

For a very unique option, you can name a star after a loved one. There are companies that make this possible, allowing you to get a certificate with the star that has been named for the person. It can be lovely to hang this in your home in tribute. It can be especially great for a loved one who enjoyed learning about space.

If you have a bigger budget, you can choose to set up a scholarship in the person’s name. This can honor the person and give people the chance to follow their passions. If the person you lost had a cause they were especially concerned about, you can set up a scholarship for that. It does not have to be for a large amount of money, so do not be intimidated by that thought as you plan.

These are just some of the options that you want to consider. There are lots more options to consider when you decide to memorialize a loved one. You want to think about the budget that you have available since that will narrow choices down. If you want to know more about all of the options that you have, you can reach out to a Hanover, PA funeral home like us. Our team is here to help you with all of the arrangements that you may need for your loved one. Give us a call right now or stop by our location to speak with an expert about all of this and anything else you want to know after the death of a loved one.

Can You Take Pictures at a Service?

As you get ready to attend the service of a loved one, you want to be sure that you know what to expect and what is expected of you. There are etiquette rules that you need to keep in mind and something that not everyone thinks about is whether taking pictures is allowed. If you are not sure about this and want to avoid bothering anyone or offending anyone, there are some things that providers of cremation services in McSherrystown, PA want you to remember.

You do not want to take photos during the actual service. It can be disruptive for people who are dealing with grief and you really want to focus on the service itself. You want to be sure that you remember that people who are grieving do not want that moment captured on film, so you want to avoid pictures during the service. If there is something that you see at the service, a decoration, or a memorial display that you would like to photograph, ask the family before the service begins if you can do so. If they do not want you to take a photo, respect their wishes.

It is usually fine to take pictures at the reception. People will be mingling and more open to the idea of someone taking pictures so that is something you want to remember. Be sure to remember to ask permission from the family of the deceased before you begin taking pictures and if they do not want you to do so, you have to respect their wishes. Do not ask people to move around to pose and also do not interrupt conversations. You have to remember that people are there to get comfort from one another.

If you received permission to take pictures, this does not mean that you always received permission to post them online. This can be a knee-jerk reaction for people these days, but it is crucial that you also ask for permission for this. Some people want the service and the reception to remain private. If you want to share the images with a loved one, you can do so in a private fashion and not online.

All of these things are important to keep in mind when getting ready to attend the service of a loved one. You do not want to be disrespectful or bother anyone, so do remember that as you decide on whether to take any photos or not. The last thing you want to do is upset any other guest or the family of the deceased. To learn more about attending a service or to hear more about the process of making arrangements, you can reach out to a McSherrystown, PA cremation services provider like us. We have years of experience, and we are ready to help you with all of the decisions you need to make after death. Call us today to learn more about what we can offer our clients.

Questions to Ask a Funeral Home Director

It is important to have the right people helping you when you lay a loved one to rest. You want to be sure that the provider can offer the exact kind of services you need and that you can get quality options for the right prices. If that is something that you are not sure about and you want to have an easier time deciding on the provider, there are some questions you want to ask the director of funeral homes in McSherrystown, PA you are considering.

How Long Have You Been in Business?

You need to have a provider helping you who has years of experience. This will mean they will have a better idea of how to manage all of the arrangements that you need to make for a loved one. It is not simple to plan funerary services, so having people who are experts at it is essential. Most companies have websites where you can find this information, but if the one you are considering does not, be sure to ask them directly.

Are Your Rates Standard?

You do not want to be overcharged for the services you choose for your loved one. You want to be certain that you do a bit of research into the average costs of the options you are considering so that you will know if the provider is asking for fair prices. If you see that the costs are too high or too low, go for another provider.

What Services Do You Offer?

Not all providers can offer all types of funerary services. If you are planning an option that is popular, like a direct cremation or a traditional burial, this is less of a concern because all providers do offer these services. It is when you want to offer a loved one a service like a bio cremation, which requires special facilities, that this is important. Ask for a list of services to see what they can offer.

Is Visiting the Facilities Possible?

The facilities have to be in order and clean and you can only make sure of this if you visit in person. It is not enough to look at pictures online or to speak with the person in charge over the phone. You should visit in person. Do this before making a decision.

These are some essential things you want to keep in mind when deciding on the kind of provider of funerary services you want to hire for your loved one’s services. It is essential that you consider the best options and that you know the quality of the services you will be getting. If you are still not sure about what to choose, you can always reach out to a McSherrystown, PA funeral home like us. We have years of experience, and we can offer the quality options you want for your loved one. You can give us a call right now or you can stop by our location to get started making arrangements for your loved one.