All Blogs
The thing about “Closure”
The longer I am a funeral director the greater disdain I have for the word “closure” as it is used in the context of one’s grief. Many well-meaning individuals, and even professionals, often offer ...
Thursday, November 3, 2022
What is embalming?
Modern day embalming is the process of introducing an organic aldehyde solution into the deceased body, mainly through the circulatory system. The embalmer enters the arterial system and injec...
Wednesday, October 26, 2022
What does direct cremation mean?
The term “direct cremation” doesn’t mean what you think it means. Some have mistakenly understood that direct cremation has everything to do with time and restrictions. Neither is true.&n...
Thursday, October 13, 2022
Is embalming required by law?
Embalming is only required by Pennsylvania law under certain circumstances. If it is the desire of the family to have a public viewing of the deceased, the law requires that the body be embal...
Thursday, September 29, 2022
The Queen's Funeral
Great Britain has demonstrated to the world in a royal manner the importance and power that ceremony and ritual provide to family and community when someone they love dies. Across time and cu...
Wednesday, September 21, 2022
The Queen's Funeral
Great Britain has demonstrated to the world in a royal manner the importance and power that ceremony and ritual provide to family and community when someone they love dies. Across time and cu...
Wednesday, September 21, 2022
How do I choose an urn?
The primary purpose of an urn is to contain cremated remains. Beyond that, consideration must be given to functionality, material, personal preference, durability, size, and cost. Perhaps the first...
Friday, September 16, 2022
Previous Posts
What happens to money I pre-pay if you are no longer in business or you sell your business?
Nearly every person who pre-funds their funeral will ask this question, and rightfully so. It’s wise to know how your money will be invested and what safeguards are in place to protect it for its i...
Children and Grief
Grief is a human reaction to loss. Grief can be experienced as the result of the loss of a job, a home, a marriage, a pet, a lost opportunity, a relationship, and the list is endless. I...
What is the coroner and what do they do?
The coroner is a county government official who is elected by county residents by typical voting procedure. Although the office is usually held by physicians or, sometimes funeral directors, all ci...
Are vaults required in Pennsylvania?
Vaults or other types of outer burial containers are not required by federal or Pennsylvania state law to be placed in the ground prior to a casket being buried. However, most cemeteries in Lancast...
What is “preplanning” and how does it benefit me?
Preplanning is simply a matter of taking care of your funeral service details before the need arises. Today, more and more people are making the thoughtful decision to discuss their final arrangeme...
GoFundMe for Funeral Expenses
An unexpected loss can be devastating—not only emotionally, but also financially. Many people turn to GoFundMe and other platforms to raise money for funeral costs because they feel stuck. But usin...
“Grief is just love with no place to go.”
Although I have been a licensed funeral director for 27 years, families are still teaching me new things about love, death, and grieving. I was recently presented with a thoughtful quote that I had...
Have a Question?
