WWW.QNS.COM RIDGEWOOD TIMES MAY 14, 2020 29
COPING WITH DEATH
Key decisions to help memorialize a loved one
Despite the certainty of death,
many Americans delay dealing
with the fact and avoid funeral
planning.
In fact, nearly three in fi ve Americans
aren’t confi dent they could plan a
funeral for themselves, let alone a loved
one, according to a survey conducted
by RememberingALife.com, which was
created by the National Funeral Directors
Association to empower families
in their funeral planning, help them
understand memorialization options
and support them as they navigate
their grief aft er a death.
One of the main challenges in planning
a funeral for a loved one is ensuring
the service captures the person’s
life and memories.
However, according to the survey,
just 41.2% of respondents know the
deceased’s preferences for a funeral,
burial or cremation, and 26.5% have not
discussed their preferences with loved
ones, though they do feel confi dent
their family and friends would plan
an appropriate funeral or memorial
service for them.
To kickstart the planning process,
consider discussing these decisions
with your loved ones:
CREMATION OR BURIAL
Despite the growing popularity of
cremation, burial is still important to
many families.
There are many factors that go into
this decision, such as religion, environmental
factors, cost and more.
EULOGY
One of the most impactful parts of
the service can be the eulogy. Think
about who knows you best and would
be comfortable speaking. Some choose
to write their own eulogy. Either way,
eulogies can provide closure and
honor a life.
AFTER THE SERVICE
While services are an opportunity
for loved ones to grieve and heal together,
it’s important to consider how to keep
memories alive, such as by planting a
tree, scattering cremated remains in a
special location or visiting a gravesite.
Any of these options can help a family
continue to pay tribute to the deceased.
To fi nd more information about how
a funeral director can help plan a meaningful
service and resources to help
you understand your own and others’
grief and loss, visit RememberingALife.
com.
— Courtesy Family Features
129
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• Pre-Planning
• Serving the Financial
Burden of All Families
in Their Time of Need
• A One Level Concept of
a Modern Funeral Home
• Large Chapels
• Newly Renovated
• Large Parking Facility
on Premises
718-366-1900
www.senecachapels.com
494 Seneca Avenue,
Ridgewood, NY 11385
Village Chapels, Inc.
67-67 Eliot Avenue
Middle Village, NY 11379
718-458-3000
Funeral Directors
John DiMario,
George H. Luhrin
/RememberingALife.com
/WWW.QNS.COM
/www.senecachapels.com
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