Monthly Archives: May 2021

funeral homes in West Seattle, WA

Learning About Cremation Services From Funeral Homes

When you are interested in knowing more about cremation services, there are plenty of places you can go to get the information you crave. Whether you need to plan final services with funeral homes in West Seattle, WA or not right now, you can still get details. In fact, it’s almost better to get the information in advance so you are prepared for the future when you need those details. Here are a few ways to gather the details you want to know about, whether you need them right now or not.

 

Read Articles Online

One of the first place people go when they need information is to the internet. As long as you read articles from reputable sources, that’s a great place to start. You can find out what you need to know, or at least get a good start on the information you want before you move into the future and need those details.

 

Find Books At The Library

The library is always a good resource of information and the librarian can help you to find recent books written on cremation so you can get the relevant information you need on the process. You can browse the books there in the library or you can check them out and take them home with you to look things over with more time and care.

 

Talk To People Who Have Used It

If you have friends or family members who have chosen cremation for loved ones, or for themselves as part of a pre-plan, you might be able to get some information from them as well. They can talk to you about why they chose what they choose and how things went in the services around the cremation. Their first hand experience can really help you figure out how things operate and what you might want if you had a situation later on.

 

Meet With Funeral Directors

If you are really serious about getting details, one of the best places to call is the local funeral home. Funeral directors are there to help with final services, but they also want to help you find answers to questions about cremation or other related topics. They are there for you by phone and they can also meet with you in person to go through the questions you need to have answered.

 

funeral homes in West Seattle, WAIf you are looking for answers about cremation services, funeral homes in West Seattle, WA are there for you. The professionals at Columbia Funeral Home & Crematory help to provide services for people who have passed away. They also help to pre-plan services in advance. But they are also there to help with questions you might have, whether you need to plan services right away or not. They want you to have the information you need, whenever you need it. They are there to help with details even if you just want to know some things about the process, how it works, and whether or not you might want to consider it in the future.

cremation services in West Seattle, WA

Cremation Services Are Valuable

You may already know that cremation services in West Seattle, WA are way less expensive than funeral and burial services, and they are. They take a lot of the products and services out of the picture that you just don’t need when you go with cremation instead of burial. However, just because cremation costs less doesn’t mean it is any less valuable. In fact, it is just as honorable and respectful as a traditional route.

 

They Are Less Expensive

Cremation doesn’t cost less because it is worth less. It costs less because you don’t have to have as much involved in the process. You don’t have to embalm your loved one. You don’t need a burial plot in the cemetery. You don’t have to buy a headstone. You don’t have to have a funeral, and the list goes on and on. Taking all of those things out means the process isn’t going to cost as much, but that doesn’t take any of the honor away from the procedure.

 

Services Can Be Added

Cremation services can still give you the closure and final goodbye you need because you can indeed add services to a general cremation. You can have whatever kind of memorial you want after the cremation process is complete. You can still honor your loved one in a unique way and gather your family to mourn for them, or even celebrate their life. That’s very valuable.

 

Ash Scatterings Are Possible

There are things you can do with cremation that you just can’t do with the traditional route. For example, you can place your loved one in a special location through an ash scattering ceremony. These ceremonies are often small, intimate, and very meaningful. You can place your loved one in a location they loved when they were around when you and that will give you a spot to visit when you want to think about them or even talk to them.

 

There Are Permanent Memorial Options

It’s also possible to give your loved one a permanent memorial, though you don’t have to buy a headstone for them because there is no cemetery plot. You can have a plaque put on a park bench or you can buy a brick in a walkway where they spent a lot of time. There are plenty of options to consider to honor your loved one in a permanent and meaningful manner.

 

cremation services in West Seattle, WAWhen you are working on cremation services in West Seattle, WA, if you are even a little uncertain about the process, remember that it is just as honorable and respectful as a funeral service and that it brings a lot of value to the table itself. The professionals at Columbia Funeral Home & Crematory encourage you to take your time in deciding as cremation is a permanent process that cannot be reversed. But it is a great choice that is used in about half of the cases today. Families can find nice ways to honor their loved one that are unique and special after cremation is complete.

cremation services in Bellevue, WA

Unique Cremation Urns To Consider

One of the things to remember about cremation services in Bellevue, WA is that when you have your loved one cremated, you get to choose what kind of container they get for their remains after the cremation process is complete. Choosing a cremation package means they can automatically get a simple container from the funeral home, but you might want something more for them. There are a variety of urns on the market, many of which are unique, but there are other choices, too, that feel even more customized and unique. Here are a few to consider:

 

A Planter Pot

If your loved one had a green thumb, why not have their remains placed in a planter pot. You will think of them every time you see the pot and the plant that you grow in that pot will be all that much more special. New life will be growing out of their death and that can be meaningful to your whole family.

 

Wind Chimes

If you like the sound of the wind chimes in the breeze, it can feel right to you to have your loved one’s remains placed inside the chimes or in another part of the fixture. Your loved one is always present and blowing around in the wind on your porch, making beautiful music. Perhaps you spent a lot of time having chats with them out there and that’s fitting for you.

 

Hollowed Out Books

If your loved one always had their nose in a book, or if they had a favorite they adored, having a hollowed out book might be a nice way to keep their ashes safe and in a special location. You can place the book on a shelf with other books or in a special place of honor in your home. It’s a nice way to honor that person and keep them in a location that is unique and special.

 

Memorial Jewelry

Cremation jewelry is becoming more popular and it’s a nice way to keep your loved one as close as possible. You can get jewelry in many different materials and styles, but in general, they are usually pendant, heart, or cross shaped. You can put a little bit of your loved one’s remains in the jewelry and actually wear it to keep them close to your heart.

 

Stuffed Animalscremation services in Bellevue, WA

If you have lost a child, or if your child has lost someone special to them, having remains placed in an urn within a stuffed animal can give you, or them, something to snuggle and hug when you want to think about that person.

 

There are lots of other options for unique urns and final resting containers for your loved one. You could place them in holiday ornaments to hang on the tree, within a musician instrument they adored, or even in a tackle box. The options are endless. After cremation services in Bellevue, WA, talk to the professionals at Columbia Funeral Home & Crematory for even more choices and you can find something fitting for your loved one.

Funeral homes in Bellevue, WA

Choosing A Caterer For A Funeral Home Reception

When you have a final service for a loved one, traditions generally call for a visitation, a funeral service, a burial, and then, a reception. The reception is a nice time for your family to gather, mourn together, catch up, and just spend more time with one another. Funeral homes in Bellevue, WA are there to help you with every detail of the planning process and can often offer suggestions for caterers if you are going to have a reception after. Here are some of the things you will want to look into as you check the options.

 

Check The Service Options

If you are considering a certain company for the catering service, you will want to check the service options they have available. Do they offer meals large enough for the group you will have? Do they deliver, set up, and clean up? You will want to ensure that whatever you want from the caterer, you can get from that company before you move ahead and are disappointed that they don’t actually do what you need.

 

Look At Prices

It’s important to check the price lists for the meals you are considering so you will see that you can afford what they offer. The reception is often one of the last thing you plan as you need to make sure your loved one is taken care of first, and you might not have a lot of funds leftover for this part of the process. Make sure the prices are in the right range for your budget.

 

Consider The Meal Options

IF you have a certain kind of meal in mind, perhaps something your loved one liked or something that would be good for almost anyone in the family, you will want to be sure that the company you are considering has that type of meal. Look through the options and be sure they have something fitting. If you have someone with allergies to nuts or something else, you might want to consider that in the meal as well.

 

Look Into Drop Off Options

Funeral homes in Bellevue, WAThere are catering companies that offer full services, but if you are on a budget, you might want to see if the restaurant offers drop off options as well. You may have people offering to help with the process and if they can serve, set up, and even clean up, all you really need is the food from the company that cooks it.

 

There are lots of things to consider around the services you are going to have with funeral homes in Bellevue, WA and the caterer you use for the reception after those services can be an important part of the day as a whole. The professionals at Columbia Funeral Home & Crematory organize final services on a daily basis and we have good relationships with caterers around the area. If you know what kinds of things you want, let us in on those wants and we can offer suggestions to help you get the right fit.