Minimizing Conflict When Planning a Later Memorial

Planning a memorial is such an opportunity, but it can also become a stressful experience. People often decide to hold a memorial during a more opportune time, when more family members can attend. They may choose a spring or summer date to avoid having to host the service in the cold of winter, for example. By establishing plans in advance, making reasonable accommodations for family and providing for clear communication, memorial hosts reduce arguments and stress during the memorial. Planning Ahead One of the biggest problems families face when they decide not to hold a memorial shortly after a person’s death is a decision about the timing.

This can be a unique obstacle with memorials in general, because unlike a traditional burial, there is no pressure to have the memorial right away. However, plans should be put in place as soon as possible so that family members can make arrangement to attend. This minimizes the likelihood of confusion about the timing and frustration about the overall plans. Reasonable Accommodations Many families like to plan a destination memorial, but this poses a lot of the same problems to family members as a destination wedding might. It is extremely important for family and friends’ emotional well-being for them to have the opportunity to grieve with their loved ones and get a chance to say goodbye. If the person planning the memorial selects a location that is difficult to get to, or is hundreds of miles away, it is also prudent to offer a smaller memorial ceremony in a location close to the place where most family members live. That way, the ashes may be scattered in a great location, but everyone gets a chance to take a part in the final sendoff.

Communicating Openly As with all parts of planning a funeral or memorial service, it is vital for hosts to communicate their expectations and preferences to family members as soon as possible. If a person decides to have their ashes scattered on a distant island with a huge party on the beach, family members should be notified when death is imminent so that they can start to prepare. Communication minimizes the likelihood of conflict on the day of the actual memorial and what their final wishes were, such as a cremation Albany, as opposed to a burial. No one wants a stressful memorial, so people often schedule the ceremony for a later date for their convenience. To avoid disagreements and frustration, it is crucial to make plans clear to family members, and accommodate people’s needs.

Green Cremation: Options and Considerations

These days, many people focus on the environmental impact that their death and final rest will make. They want to reduce their carbon footprint, and this goal extends past their final days. With these options, cremation Albany can be a green choice, as well as a cost-effective decision. Can Cremation be Green? Many people worry that the consumption of fossil fuels that is needed to convert a body to ashes makes cremation an environmentally unfriendly choice for handling a person’s earthly remains. However, this is not necessarily true. The Green Burial Council notes that cremation does involve burning a lot of fossil fuels and possibly leaking some contaminants into the atmosphere. However, more recent crematoria are generally more energy efficient. Equipment coming to the market soon will decrease the likelihood that heavy metals (such as mercury from dental amalgam fillings) are sent into the atmosphere.

Preparing the Body There are many ways to prepare the body that are better for the environment. People do not have to have their bodies embalmed before cremation, or they can request natural embalming solutions for their bodies. This is a viable choice for people to make whether they plan to be cremated or buried traditionally. Biodegradable Burial The ultimate goal is avoid the most severe of environmental impacts, and the method of disposition for of ashes makes a significant difference. Many urns are placed in a columbarium or in urn vaults with a headstone in a traditional cemetery.

While the concrete is technically natural, the energy used to produce it makes it a choice that is less environmentally friendly, according to the GBC. Instead, people might opt for a biodegradable burial approach, by either scattering the ashes or burying them in a biodegradable urn. There are hundreds of options for either, so that families can find a burial method that suits them and their loved ones ideally. Some people think that cremation cannot possibly be green, but there are ways to make it better for the environment. By researching and making a more educated decision, people can have the flexibility that cremation provides them without causing negative effects to the environment.