WWW.QNS.COM RIDGEWOOD TIMES DECEMBER 9, 2021 25
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 five
Americans aren’t confident 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 after 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 confident 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.
SERVICE OPTIONS
Regardless of a preference for
cremation or burial, how a family
pays tribute to its loved one is also
important. There are a variety of
ways a funeral, memorial service
or celebration of life can reflect the
life of the person who died, such as
through pictures, location of the
service, music 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 find 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
Village Chapels, Inc.
67-67 Eliot Avenue
Middle Village, NY 11379
718-458-3000
Funeral Directors
John DiMario,
George H. Luhrin
49
• 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,
129 Ridgewood, NY 11385
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