The Black Bow offers Memorial Jewelry
By · CommentsThe Black Bow is a website featuring diverse memorial merchandise focused on people looking for unique ways to remember their loved ones. Daily reminders are often key to the healing process as one walks the path of mourning. The Black Bow offers a great range of memorial jewelry and memento keepsakes, ideal to find that unique item that speaks to your individual grief experience.
A testimonial from Janet;
“When we lost my brother it created such a void in my life….he was my best friend and we talked everyday. When our mom gave us each a necklace from Black Bow I thought it was a nice idea, but I didn’t realize the peace it would bring. Now part of Thom is with me everyday and I even talk to him… I recommend memorial necklaces to my friends as a way to remember those we have lost.”
The Black Bow knows how to tie the meaning with a bow. Every purchase is wrapped with the signature black bow, Free. No Hassle 30 day guarantee policy, if you are not happy return it for a full refund. Giving is easy, over 3000 meaningful and unique gifts to choose from.
Black Bow is the number one resource for sympathy gifts and memorial jewelry for those grieving and healing from the loss of a loved one.
Motorcycle Necklace For Ashes
By · Comments
This cremation jewelry motorcycle necklace has a compartment for ash, hair or other remembrances. The keepsake jewelry for ashes is appropriate for all who had a passion for the open road. Keep your biker with you always motorcycle charm, honor friends or family in a way unique to them.
Available in sterling silver with a 24″ black satin cord. The ash jewelry motorcycle pendant measures 3/4 by 1 1/4th inch and also has space for personalization. Engraving is available for $25, please specify when ordering. Remember your loved one with a symbol of something they loved. Comes with black presentation box and pendant filing and sealing kit. Ideal for a sympathy gift or as funeral favors. $99.00
To purchase via pay pal or credit card click here
The Fundertaker responds
By · CommentsDear Fundertaker,
My 28 year old niece, Kim, may need some surgery in the near future.
Although it would not be major surgery there is obviously still concern and
she has decided to make her final wishes known for the family just in case
something happens. She sent me a draft of her pre-arrangement forms and she
has done a great job of detailing what she would like for her final
services. If surgery is needed and the unfortunate should happen Kim’s
mother and I would be in charge of her burial arrangements.
Kim wishes to be laid out for her viewing in a full couch casket and her
preference would be to have a full viewing of her remains without being
covered form the waist with a blanket or inner panel that comes with the
casket. I know that this is not common but I understand is possible if there
is no major trauma to the body. She would like to be viewed and buried
wearing her black top, blue denim short skirt and black tights. She sent me
a picture of her in the outfit and I am guessing that her skirt hem is at
least 4 inches or so above her knees. I am curious to know if it is
considered inappropriate to be laid out wearing a skirt that short for
viewing in the casket. We are wondering if Kim should be laid out covered
from the waist with a blanket, chose a longer outfit, or select a half couch
casket. I could email the picture for both your professional and personal
opinion. If it considered appropriate then my sister and I have no objection
to following Kim’s wishes.
Kim is a very detailed oriented person and it shows in her pre-planning
forms. It not only indicates such requests/wishes as music and readings for
her funeral but also for her viewing how she would like her hair styled,
nail polish color and how she wishes her hands arranged as she would like to
be holding flowers.
Hopefully all this will not be needed for a long time, but I admire Kim
for having the courage to make pre-arrangements at such a young age. I am
also optimistic that all will go well.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Respectfully yours,
K.M.
Hello K-
Thank you for visiting funeralideas.com and emailing me.
I am glad to review and advise about your concerns. I understand the fear
that comes with preparing for surgery, I commend your niece on her
preplanning and hope that it won’t be needed for a long time.
But nevertheless, you concern about her short skirt… here are some of my
thoughts. I have buried people in a variety of types of clothing.. nothing
shocks me anymore. 
A few things to think about, is this a religious service? What kind of
friends and family will be there? Are you worried about objections from
others?
A full couch casket in the traditional sense is quite costly and can also be
difficult to find and purchase. Chinese Buddhists use full couches occasionally. You may want to check out eco coffins, that have a a full top that can be removed for viewing purposes.
I can answer any questions about alternative caskets selections.
In my professional opinion, I think perhaps the black tights will offset the
visual of an inappropriate short skirt.
A few solutions…prior to any public viewing and services, you should
request a private viewing. You and her mother can spend some time alone
with her and see if the skirt looks too short. You’ll probably be
overwhelmed with grief during this time…. but it is your responsibility to
make sure she looks presentable for her viewing. If the skirt is too short,
you can do your own blanketing ceremony. Place a special blanket, perhaps
you know someone who quilts, you can create a memory quilt and lay that with
her.
I would definitely stay with her choice of outfit, she has a detail plan and
that is the way she should be memorialized. Do keep in mind, the service
and funeral ceremony is for the survivors. The most important detail is
that the survivors are able to say good bye in a creative, flowing and
comfortable manner. If the short skirt makes grief uncomfortable, I would
have your back up plan ready.
With care,
The Fundertaker
In Memory of Decals
By · CommentsMemorial Decals can be custom designed and fully personalized with up to 5 lines of your own text. They are made from Premium Automotive grade vinyl, so they will not chip, crack, or peel. In memory of decals can be bought in bulk and handed out the funeral service to the entire family or perhaps a group or organization. In Memory of stickers can be placed on your car, auto, truck, or locker. Small, medium and large memorial decals available.
Valentine’s Day Grief Story
By · CommentsValentine’s Day Grief
This article comes to us from a guest blogger, Alicia King author of ”Sorry For Your Loss: What People Who Are Grieving Wish You Knew”
It’s a book about grief support. A collection of what to do and say when you don’t know where to start. Thank you Alicia for sharing your grief and reaching out to others.
If you would like to be a guest blogger on www.funeralideas.com please contact us.
Daddy’s Girl
I admit it. I was always a daddy’s girl. Don’t get me wrong. I was very close to my mom, too. I was lucky. I had two loving, involved parents. Still, my dad and I were tight. When my parents split, I couldn’t bear to see him alone, so I left our cushy family home and slept on the lumpy couch of his rental house. I sought his approval and was always thrilled to see him in the audience of a school play or the sidelines of a little league game.
My dad always bought sentimental Valentine’s Day cards for my mom, sister and me. The serious, mushy kind. I remember one year his girlfriend bought funny cards for them both to sign. I eventually worked up the nerve to tell him I missed the old ones. He smiled and said he liked those better too, and went back to them after that.
I could always count on my dad to be my biggest fan. He encouraged my love of cooking, eating anything I made. No matter how it turned out, he always claimed it was the best he had ever tasted. Over the years, I sang in a few bands. My dad saw me perform with all but one of them, often driving for hours to catch a show. Once I began writing music seriously, he would listen carefully to every demo. Without fail, he would predict, “Now, THAT’S a hit!”
It was a good life, knowing my dad would always support my dreams, celebrate my successes, and be my safe harbor no matter what.
You know what happens next, though. One night, a few hours after calling just to say hi, he died. No warning. No chance to say goodbye. After a full day’s work, he simply went home, got into bed and died.
That was ten years ago, almost to the day. I’m not going to tell you there’s no more sadness. There will always be tears to fight back when I see father-daughter Valentine’s Day cards. I still catch myself wondering what he would have thought of something I’m doing, but I try and honor him in ways he would have liked. I celebrate his memory with my husband and children, whom he loved deeply. I pass down the lessons he taught me.
My mother died ten years before him. After months of tearful calls from me, he told me something I’ll never forget. He said his own mother had shared these words after his beloved grandmother died. She explained he was still Grandma’s special boy, but told him, “Life is for the living.”
Life is for the living? This stopped me cold. Why, after a lifetime of constant encouragement and love, would he say something so heartless to me? I didn’t understand at the time. It was too soon, perhaps, to accept the gift. He was right, of course. What sounded void of that encouragement and love I’d come to expect was actually full of both. He was putting me back on track. Later I thanked him and we had a beautiful talk about losing our mothers. I was struck at both the depth of his years-old grief as well as his ability to live fully in spite of it.
While going through his things, I found a Valentine he made for his mother when he was five. It was serious and mushy. She saved it, he saved it, and now I save it. Like the Valentine, her lessons are still in the family.
Life is for the living, I am still Daddy’s girl, and Valentines should be mushy.
-Alicia King
Alicia and her husband, Dan, live near Nashville, TN with their always-hungry teenagers. Alicia’s book on grief support, Sorry For Your Loss: What People Who Are Grieving Wish You Knew, is out now. Her irreverently serious (yes, that’s oxymoronic) blog can be found here-
http://dosanddontsofgrief.blogspot.com
http://twitter.com/thegrieflady
Laws Passed To Ban Protesting At Funerals
By · CommentsIt’s about time the government steps in and protects our funerals, the victims do not need this kind of harassment.
Read more here
New Law Banning Protestors at Arizona Victims Funeral
Personalization
By · CommentsWhenever I see something about personalization, I think about funerals. It’s the perfect way to create a truly personal funeral service or it makes an ideal sympathy gift. I found this article in Wall Street Journal, many of the items mentioned can be found here.
My favorite is the DNA portrait, that is a personal work of art, check it out!
DNA Portraits
Wall Street Journal article – The Rise Of Holiday Me-tailers
Online Funeral Planning
By · CommentsHere’s a unique online funeral planning service website brought to you from the UK
If you are planning a funeral or making your own funeral arrangements online then you should use an online funeral planning service. With their FREE TRIAL You will find advice on funeral plans, funeral directors & the costs for bereavement planning. Don’t forget to specify the type of coffin you require and to check any life insurance policy. You should also consider writing a will, arranging the funeral flowers and any speeches. Always get funeral advice and ideas for the tributes, the wake and your final wishes. The more you plan the easier your funeral will be.
Why not celebrate your life, your way? Funerals To Die For is an innovative concept in modern online funeral planning service. This is a private and secure member’s club for people who want their final farewell to be a positive and happy reflection of their life. Most of us are used to planning our own major events such as weddings, birthdays, retirement and anniversaries right? But how many consider organising their own funeral? Given a free choice, we think you would hope that your funeral would be a celebration, a fondly remembrance day and a pleasurable experience. We’d hate to think our grieving family would have to cope with the crushing burden of making the funeral arrangements without your wishes and guidance. Whilst coping with their loss, a grief-stricken wife, husband or child could really do without the stress to arrange matters in the slim hope that they fulfil your most basic wishes. As a consequence, most funerals are likely to be a tearful, sad ritual which is completely at odds with what you would have wanted. But it doesn’t have to be like that! You can now take control of one of your life’s key moments. You can plan how you want your life to be celebrated, making it a personal reflection of all the good things you enjoyed. And it’s easy, so easy with our innovative, secure and online planning service. Join and take control today!
Planning your own funeral service onlinemakes sense. Put the fun back into funerals.
Gay coffins lift lid on new market
By · CommentsFuneral directors in Germany are bidding for the pink pound – by launching coffins specially designed for gay customers.
The caskets feature homoerotic artwork on the outside and come with a series of tastefully luxurious plush designer interiors, say makers Mike Konigsfeld and Tom Brandl in Cologne, Germany.
Gay coffins lift lid on new market | Orange UK.
Memory Picture Illuminated
By · Comments“I will cherish this product forever; more so I know my son will receive comfort having his Daddy shining upon him as he sleeps every night.”
Light Affection makes unique everlasting table top lamps and personal night lights.
Based on a photograph, they carve a one-of-a-kind everlasting memory picture and assemble it into a Table top lamp or Night Light. When the light is turned on the image of your loved one magically appears in a warm glow.
After creating a lamp based on a photo of her grandfather who passed away, and experiencing the comfort it brought, Lisa Mann, owner and creator of Light Affection decided to start making the lights for others. The company has been growing quickly from word of mouth. Many of the families who order the lights share it with their close friends and relatives and come back to order again. Light Affection still maintains a very personal approach. Great service, quality and caring are in the core of the company.
The lights come in several sizes and in variety of frames. Production turn around is up to two weeks but expedited options are available. For more information and to place order you can visit www.lightaffection.com.
