My name is Evan, and I am a funeral director at a busy funeral home in the Midwestern United States. I have found that many loved ones want to personalize the funeral experience, but they simply don't know how. I am going to outline some ways that you can make a funeral unique to the person you are celebrating. From dramatic readings to favorite music to decorated caskets, the only limit is your imagination when it comes to planning the perfect funeral. I hope your mind will be open to the possibilities the next time you are in the unfortunate situation of having to plan a funeral.
Add Unique Touches to a Funeral
Keep These Etiquette Rules In Mind When You Visit A Columbarium After A Cremation
Christina Clarke
Although it might not seem as common as scattering cremated remains outdoors or keeping them in an urn in a family member's residence, some people wish to have their remains kept in a columbarium at the local cemetery. This structure is designed to hold urns that carry cremated remains. Just as you might visit a cemetery to stand by a headstone and pay your respects, you might also find yourself going to the columbarium after a loved one is cremated to stand in front of where the person's urn is kept. If you haven't done so in the past, there are some etiquette rules to visiting a columbarium that you should learn.
Keep Your Voice Low
While it's always important to keep your voice to a moderate level when you visit a cemetery, this rule is especially important as soon as you step into the columbarium. These structures have a tendency to echo, which means that even a conversation-level voice will reverberate throughout the structure. This is especially a concern if other people are in the columbarium to pay their respects to a deceased loved one. You shouldn't automatically assume that you're alone just because you can't see anyone—many columbariums are large enough that someone might be in a different area and out of sight from you.
Confirm What You Can Leave Behind
Just as you might wish to leave a bouquet of fresh flowers next to the headstone of a deceased loved one, you may plan to leave something in the columbarium at the end of your visit. These buildings are known for their clean and orderly appearance inside, which means that not every type of item is acceptable to be left behind. You want to contact the cemetery head office or speak to a staff member who might be on the grounds when you arrive to determine what mementos can be placed in the columbarium.
Don't Crowd Others
One thing that you'll notice when you visit a columbarium is that your loved one's urn will be kept in relatively close proximity to those of other people. This can mean that if you visit, there may be another family standing close to where you wish to go. Don't crowd the family—instead, it's polite to give the family enough time to pay its respects. You might wish to take a walk through the cemetery or simply wait in your car until you see that the family has left.
For more information about this subject, talk to companies like Danks-Hinski Funeral Home.
Share