While at present, most funeral homes and cremation centres offer two burial options - cremation and burial. But for residents of Washington State, there will soon be a third option. Governor Jay Inslee just signed a new piece of legislation into law that allows for "aboveground decomposition." Making it the…
Victoria Day is a Canadian holiday celebrating Queen Victoria's birthday, which was May 24, 1819. And while the holiday celebrates the life of our second longest reigning monarch (Queen Elizabeth II surpassed her), one of the most often told stories about Queen Victoria is about how she mourned her beloved…
If you think dying gets you out of paying taxes, you are sadly mistaken. While it's technically true that YOU won't be paying your taxes after your dead, your loved ones in charge of settling your estate, however, will have to file your final tax return. Before any estate can…
Feeling joy after a death in the family or a close friend can trigger feelings of guilt and remorse in the grieving. Guilt over feeling happiness when you should be feeling nothing but sadness and despair. But is that really fair to yourself? To punish yourself for feeling anything but…
In addition to planning and organizing a funeral, family members are often responsible for cleaning out a deceased relative's house. Whether the physical house is being kept by a member of the family, or sold to settle the estate, there is still the matter of all the possessions within the…
When it comes to the difficult conversations - ones about death and dying - we can't always find the right words to describe how we're feeling. Whether you're trying to come to terms with what's happening to you or a loved one, or if you want to find a good…
When planning a service or memorial, there are many choices to make, such as funeral music, flowers and readings. Choosing music can tricky. You want to make sure it's appropriate, while staying true to the deceased. This post isn't going to be about hymns or instrumentals - that could be…
Earlier this month there was a trending story about a women's unique obituary. When first reported, it was said she wrote the incredibly humourous obituary herself, but it was later corrected that it was her children who penned it. Previously, we posted a blog about how to write a traditional…
Every day we are faced with stories about over-population, climate change, carbon footprints, pollution and the overall impact humans have on earth. It's a lot to think about. To respond, there have been some changes made by the funeral and burial industry regarding how human remains are returned to the…
While death is sad at any age. When we care about someone, the loss is felt regardless of how old they were. That said, many of us have an easier time accepting the death of an elderly family member, as these deaths are sometimes followed by feelings of relief. "I'm…
