Writing Your Own Funeral Service for a Loved One
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Writing Your Own Funeral Service for a Loved One

Hi, my name is Crystal, and I love tradition and ritual, but I also love novel things and creating something special just for one person. When my mum died a few years ago, I decided that I wanted to write her funeral service – not just my eulogy, but the whole service. I wanted to tie in traditional elements as well as Bible verses and poems that she loved, but I also wanted something that was just for her and her alone. I learned a lot through that experience. If you have lost a loved one, I extend you my sympathy. I know how that feels, and I want to help with the funeral service. This blog has ideas and tips for writing your own service as well as a range of other things. I hope it helps.

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Writing Your Own Funeral Service for a Loved One

3 Common Mistakes to Avoid When Choosing a Cemetery Monument

Minea Pesola

Choosing the perfect cemetery monument for a dearly departed loved one can be one of the hardest parts of planning funeral and burial arrangements, especially if you've never done it before. Here are three of the most common mistakes people make when choosing a monument and how you can avoid them.

Choosing Low Quality Materials

When you're choosing a cemetery monument, most memorial companies will provide you with a digital or physical catalogue of the available materials. Often, these catalogues only show a swatch of the material's colour and texture along with a name. As a result, many people choose their monument materials based on looks alone. However, while looks are certainly important, you also need to keep longevity in mind. Many pretty materials don't stand up to weathering over time, leading monuments to crumble over the years. So when choosing a material, make sure you do your research on its durability. Marble, for example, is a beautiful choice, but it's also unsuited to damp areas. Granite, on the other hand, is both attractive and highly durable.

Ignoring the Cemetery Regulations

Another common mistake many families make is neglecting to check whether their monument choice adheres to the cemetery's regulations. If you don't check the rules before ordering, you could find yourself with a very costly and unusable monument on your hands. Most cemeteries have guidelines on which materials, colours, sizes and shapes they'll allow. Some also have rules on which side the husband and wife should be on in a companion memorial, whether built-in vases are allowed, and which religious symbols can be incorporated. Remember that you're not bound to a specific cemetery. If the one you've chosen doesn't allow for your dream monument, feel free to ask around at other local cemeteries.

Overspending on an Expensive Monument

Finally, it's always important to resist overspending on your monument. Since you loved your dearly departed friend or relative so much, you likely feel an obligation or desire to memorialise them with the best monument money can buy. However, if you spend too much on the monument, you'll find yourself struggling with other aspects of the funeral arrangements. When choosing a monument, try to remember that you don't need to spend a lot of money to show how loved the deceased was. Other ways to show how much you care include choosing a monument in their favourite colour or adding a small personalisation.


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