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Gardens of Memory Blog

Explore our blog for valuable content about cremation, burial, how to write an obituary, coping with grief and much more.

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  • Burial

The Complete Guide to Burials

Whether you choose a traditional ground burial or cremation, understanding the burial process is essential. From selecting the cemetery to navigating the necessary purchases like caskets and vaults, our comprehensive guide simplifies each step.
  • Cremation

The Complete Guide to Cremation

Discover the many aspects of cremation. From the necessary process to the associated costs and various options for ashes, we'll guide you through it all.
  • Memorial Service

The Complete Guide to Memorial Services

Planning a memorial service can be daunting during a time of loss, but it also allows you to honor a loved one’s life. This guide will help you through the process, from picking the right time to adding meaningful themes
  • Planning Ahead
how to talk about end-of-life planning

How to Talk to Your Parents About End-of-Life Planning (and what to do if they won’t)

How do you start the difficult conversation about end-of-life planning with your aging parents? It’s a topic many families avoid. Discover practical approaches to broach this sensitive subject, and what happens when there’s no plan in place.
  • Funeral, Funeral Planning

Guide to Planning a Funeral

Planning a funeral can feel overwhelming, especially in the days following a loved one’s passing. With so many decisions to make and emotions to navigate, here is a clear guide to help you through the process.
  • Etiquette, Grief Support, Texting
is it ok to text condolences?

Is It Okay to Text Your Condolences? Emily Post Would Say Yes.

Someone you know just lost a loved one. You start to type a message—then stop. "Is a text enough?" Here's why experts say yes.
  • Funeral Planning, Music
how to choose music for a funeral or memorial service

How to Choose Music for a Funeral or Memorial Service

Find funeral music that feels true to your loved one. From classical to contemporary, here's guidance on selecting songs that honor their unique life.
  • Funeral, Funeral Planning

What To Wear To A Funeral

What you should wear to a funeral can be confusing. Our six guidelines will help you show respect without drawing attention. From religious services to out-of-town burials, we’ve got you covered.
  • Etiquette, Funeral
What to Do When You Can’t Attend a Funeral

What to Do When You Can’t Attend a Funeral

Funerals are important for finding closure after a loss, but there are many reasons you might not be able to attend. Missing a funeral doesn’t lessen your bond with the deceased. Ten other ways to honor their memory.
  • Funeral, Funeral Planning

Sympathy Flowers & Their Meanings

Flowers boldly express love and sympathy in times of loss. From elegant lilies symbolizing peace to heartfelt roses conveying love and grief, each bloom carries its own powerful meaning. Learn how to confidently choose the perfect sympathy flowers that honor
  • Sympathy

What to Write in a Sympathy Note

Reaching out to someone who has lost a loved one can feel awkward, but it's important for their healing. Staying silent can hurt more than you think. A few kind words can show that you care and support them.
  • Eulogy, Funeral, Funeral Planning

Three Tips for Writing a Heartfelt Eulogy

Being asked to write a eulogy can feel overwhelming, but it’s an opportunity to share your relationship and honor their memory. You don’t need to be a professional writer; a eulogy is simply telling the story of your connection.
  • Back-to-School, Grief
back-to-school grief

When Grief Meets Back-to-School

Back-to-school season can bring up strong feelings for parents who are grieving. While there's excitement in the air, the pain of loss can make even small tasks seem huge. Here are some tips to help you through.
  • Funeral, Funeral Planning

A Daughter’s Guide to Planning a Funeral

Reading Time: 7 minutes They raised you, provided for you and supported every wish, whim, hope and dream. And now, when it comes to celebrating and commemorating your parent’s life, how do you pull all of the pieces together and

  • Funeral Planning, Grief, Guidelines, Resources

Helping a Parent Through Grief: A Daughter’s Guide

Reading Time: 7 minutes When my father died my mother found herself alone for the first time in nearly 60 years. Since meeting at 18 they had done everything together, from college to first jobs to big moves, all underscored

  • Grief, Guidelines, Resources

Helping a Sister Through Grief – A Sister’s Guide

Reading Time: 6 minutes Life changes fast. Life changes in the instant. You sit down to dinner and life as you know it ends. So begins author Joan Didion’s memoir “The Year of Magical Thinking” in which she shares what life and

  • Grief, Journaling

The Healing Power of Journaling

Grief can be a transformative journey, filled with profound emotions that ultimately lead to healing. Journaling becomes a remarkable ally in this process, offering a sanctuary for expressing feelings and honoring cherished memories.
  • Grief, Social Media

Navigating Grief Online

Reading Time: 5 minutes How to Announce a Death on Social Media & Memorialize a Facebook Page Social media is where we share not only our joy and accomplishments but also our grief and loss. How we mourn and remember

  • Grief, Guidelines, Resources

Things to Say to Someone Who’s Grieving

Reading Time: 3 minutes Though we’re all well acquainted with how to celebrate happy occasions with people, sad ones are more fraught with worry. It’s sad, it’s awkward, and it’s hard to know what exactly to say when someone you

  • Grief, Guidelines, Resources

Things You Can Do When Someone You Know Suffers a Loss

Reading Time: 4 minutes After a lifetime of helping families with final arrangements, we can tell you that the most frequent questions we get aren’t about headstones, caskets, memorial services, or burials. When people ask those questions, what they really

  • After the Funeral, Grief Support
what to keep, what to let go of when a loved one dies

What to Keep, What to Let Go of When a Loved One Dies

Practical strategies for anyone facing the difficult task of deciding what to keep and what to let go of after a loved one dies.
  • Grief Support, Holidays, Valentine's Day
valentine's day survivor's guide

Valentine’s Day: A Survivor’s Guide

If you're grieving a loss, single, or simply overwhelmed by expectations, Valentine's Day can heighten feelings of isolation and heartache. Here's a Valentine's Day Survivor's Guide just for you.
  • Grief, Mother's Day
Grief and Mother's Day

Grief and Mother’s Day

Mother’s Day can bring up many feelings for those who have lost a mom or maternal figure. There’s no “right way” to deal with this day—what matters is finding comfort in a way that feels right to you.
  • Father's Day, Grief
father's day grief

The Hidden Grief of Father’s Day

Father’s Day can be a complex time for those grieving the loss of a father or father figure. While many celebrate with barbecues and tributes, others navigate a landscape filled with conflicting emotions.
  • Grief, Thanksgiving
When Thanksgiving and grief collide

When Thanksgiving & Grief Collide

Your grief doesn't pause simply because it's Thanksgiving. In fact, it can feel even stronger when those around you are celebrating. Give yourself permission to do what you need to do for yourself this season.
  • Grief

7 Ideas to Help You Through Grief at the Holidays

Reading Time: 5 minutes No matter when a death occurs, holidays are particularly difficult to navigate.  Holiday memories of past joys are particularly cutting when we are currently grieving. I was reminded of this when I saw a Today Show

  • Christmas, Grief, Holidays

The First Christmas After a Loss

December is different this year. Different for my husband and his brother and two sisters. Different for my mother-in-law. Different for us. My father-in-law Max passed away in July at 94. Now, we are experiencing all of the “firsts” without

  • Christmas, Grief, Holidays
The Space Between: When Everyone Goes Home

The Space Between: When Everyone Goes Home

The holidays can be a time of joy, but for those grieving, the days that follow can feel heavy with loss. December 26 often brings a wave of emotions as the bustle fades and silence settles in.
  • Christmas, Grief, Holidays
Giving Yourself Permission to Change Holiday Traditions

Giving Yourself Permission to Change Holiday Traditions

You don't have to do things the way you've always done them. Whether skipping the office party, cooking dinner, or creating new traditions, you have the power to reshape the holidays in a way that feels right for you.
  • Grief, Holidays
holiday gift ideas for someone who's grieving

Holiday Gift Ideas for Someone Who’s Grieving

The holidays can feel impossibly heavy for someone missing a loved one. A thoughtful gift doesn’t fix that pain, but it can say something powerful: “I remember them too.” From personalized ornaments to self-care gifts, here are a few ideas.
  • Grief, Holidays

How to Support Someone Who’s Grieving During the Holidays

Reading Time: 6 minutes If you have a friend or family member who is grieving during the holidays, it’s important to offer your support in a way that is meaningful and helpful. Here are five specific ways to support someone

  • Grief, Holidays

A Guide for Coping with Grief at the Holidays

Reading Time: 5 minutes The holidays are traditionally filled with joy and celebration, though for some, it can be a profoundly challenging period, especially if they are coping with the heavy weight of grief. Below are some tips to help

  • New Year's, Planning Ahead
a resolution that lasts

A Resolution That Lasts

What if this year, you made a different kind of resolution? How to talk about end-of-life planning without it sounding weird. Your family will thank you—someday when it matters most.
  • Resources

How to Keep Your New Year’s Resolutions

Reading Time: 7 minutes Whether it’s getting in shape, learning a new skill, or cultivating better habits, setting goals for a new year is a tradition that dates back thousands of years. However, studies show that only a fraction of

  • Funeral Planning, Resources

What to Do First When Someone Dies

Reading Time: 7 minutes What to Do First When Someone Dies Who do I call? What should I say? Here’s what to do first when someone dies, and what to do in the hours and days that follow. What should you do

  • Obituary

Tips on Writing an Obituary

Writing an obituary can be tough, especially when trying to capture your loved one’s spirit. Think about what made them special—were they adventurous, funny, or creative? Discover our tips for creating a meaningful obituary that celebrates a life well lived.
  • Burial, Cremation
which to choose burial or cremation

Which to Choose: Burial or Cremation?

Deciding between cremation and burial is deeply personal, influenced by various factors. With the cremation rate in the U.S. above 60 percent, many are exploring this option. Whether you lean towards the flexibility of cremation or the timelessness of burial,