Monthly Archives: June 2021

cremation services in Penn Township, PA

How Do I Know I’ll Get My Loved One’s Remains?

Even as cremation services in Penn Township, PA and beyond grow in popularity, many people still have lots of questions and concerns when it comes to the process. One of the main concerns the bereaved have with cremation is how their loved one’s remains will be identified throughout the cremation process. Many people hear false horror stories of families being returned the wrong cremains, or just being given bags of wood ash or even of sand. These rumors lead to a lot of concern over the cremation identification process.

However, there is no reason for these concerns as all licensed cremation providers have thorough and effective identification procedures in place to ensure accuracy and dignity. Most licensed cremation providers are more than happy to walk clients through their individual identification process. Don’t be ashamed to ask for these details, as most businesses understand these concerns and are happy to help alleviate them. It’s important for you to be 100% comfortable with your provider and their practices.

It can be difficult to ask questions surrounding such delicate and potentially painful topics. If you’re unsure of what to ask surrounding identification during the cremation process, try these questions such as:

  • How can I be sure my loved one is the one you are cremating?
  • How can I be sure of this if I choose a cremation without a viewing?
  • How are the deceased identified?
  • How does this process change if I am not there when he or she passes?
  • In what ways do you certify that the ashes I am returned are those of my loved one?

If the cremation provider is unable or unwilling to answer questions such as these, consider taking your business elsewhere. It’s vital that you feel comfortable with the cremation process.

Remember, in most states, crematories are obligated to carry out two different identification processes to ensure the deceased are correctly identified based on the name provided by the authorized agent or the bereaved.

  • First, the deceased’s name, as provided by the bereaved or authorized agent, will be clearly listed on the cremation container.
  • Second, a metal bracelet, disk, or other tokens will be placed in the container with the deceased. This metal tag will not be broken down during the cremation process and will remain with the cremated ashes to further ensure identification.

If you’re still not comfortable, you can always ask for additional identification steps. You can ask for a detailed explanation of the cremation process in writing, have the cremation provider do a comparison of the deceased to a current photo of your loved one before the cremation begins, ask the cremation provider to do a final identification check based on a listed unique detail like a tattoo or birthmark.

funeral home in Penn Township, PA

Patrick T. Lanigan Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc. is here to help if you would like to learn more about the body identification process or Penn Township, PA cremation services. Stop by and visit us today or give us a call.

funeral home in Penn Township, PA

Questions We Ask Ourselves After the Death of a Loved One

Dealing with the loss of a loved one is going to be difficult, and will be a long journey, no matter you choose to have a service at a funeral home in Penn Township, PA or a more non-traditional service. One part of the journey is asking yourself questions about the loss.

These questions usually fall into two categories: Why and How. “Why did this happen to us?” “Why did God let something like this happen?” “How will I start to feel better?” “How do I find the positive in this loss?” If you’re asking yourself these or similar questions, you are definitely not alone. Have compassion and understanding with yourself as you grieve, and don’t try to overthink what you’re going through. Most importantly, talk about your feelings and experiences either with a loved one or a professional.

Though everyone can find themselves asking different questions, as everyone responds to grief differently, there are some common themes seen across many different grief journeys, such as these five:

  • What Should I Do if I Feel Like I’ll Never Get Over the Loss? Death and loss aren’t something one should try to overcome, especially since death and loss aren’t things that anyone can fix. Instead of trying to fix the grief, learn to live with it. It will adapt as you grow, and you will slowly begin to move forward.
  • What’s Wrong with Me? If you feel like your grief is different or weird, don’t worry. Nothing is wrong with you. We all grieve in different ways. You might be grieving differently that someone that is facing the exact same loss as you, and that’s OK. Even if it feels like no one can understand you, try talking about your feelings.
  • Why Aren’t My Friends Supporting Me? Many people don’t know how to help someone that is grieving, as it’s such a personal thing to deal with. Your friends, coworkers, or even family simply might not know how to relate to what you’re going through, or they might be afraid of offending you. Tell them how you feel, and what they can do to better support you.
  • How Can I Tell My Doctor That I Don’t Want Medication? Just do it. Communication is key with your health professional, especially when it comes to mental health. It’s vital that you communicate with your doctor if you don’t want to take medication, as then he or she can come up with a different plan to help you.
  • Why Don’t I Feel Better Yet? Losing someone you love isn’t like breaking a leg or spraining your wrist. There is no set amount of time that it will take your loss to heal. Let yourself grieve as long as you need to. You will start to feel better over time as you slowly reach healing milestones. Celebrate your small victories as you heal.

funeral home in Penn Township, PA

Patrick T. Lanigan Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc. is here to help if you want to learn more about dealing with grief or Penn Township, PA funeral homes.

cremation services in North Versailles, PA

Fun Facts About Cremation Services

It’s a good idea to know all you can before a death as a time of loss is not a good time to learn.

Many bereaved have questions about the cremation process, which is understandable as its not common knowledge how it works and its done. This article offers interesting facts about cremation services in North Versailles, PA to give guidance on these sensitive matters.

To begin, the cremation chamber, sometimes called an oven or a retort, operates between 1,400- and 1,800-degrees Fahrenheit. This high heat is necessary to break down the body into small fragments of bone and ash and is generally produced by propane or natural gas. Most cremation ovens are made out of fire-resistant bricks and special masonry. The fire-resistant bricks line the interior of the chamber on the ceiling and walls.

Specially made masonry materials cover the bottom of the chamber as that is the area that is exposed to the highest temperatures. Cremation oven walls are usually about 6 inches think to keep the extreme heat contained. They can have manually or mechanically operated doors depending on the model and design. Organic body materials like skin, tissue, organs and muscle are oxidized and then vaporized during the cremation process, as the human body is mostly made of water, bone and carbon.

These vapors are filtered and released through the oven’s exhaust system. All that remains after a cremation is bone fragments and non-organic materials like artificial bones or joints, implants, or dental work. All jewelry and removable medical devices are taken off the body before the cremation. The bone fragments are separated from non-organic materials and then left to cool.

After cooling, they are processed and broken down into what we call ashes, with a texture like coarse sand. These ashes are placed in sealed bag and returned to the bereaved so they can inurn, bury, scatter or spread them as they so choose. Also, all bodies are placed in a cremation container before the cremation takes places and for the duration of the process. This is to stay in compliance with health and safety codes and to maintain the dignity of the deceased before, during and after the cremation. There are certain container specifications that also must be met for health and safety laws, but the remainder of the container details can be chose by the bereaved.

cremation services in North Versailles, PA

Many choose standard corrugated boxes, and others choose wooden containers or caskets. No matter what kind of container is chosen, its purpose is to hold the body before the cremation and break down entirely during the cremation, so no residue is left.

These are just a few interesting facts about cremation services and how they work. Patrick T. Lanigan Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc. is here to help if you have more questions about the cremation process or would like to learn more about your options for North Versailles, PA cremation services. We offer a wide range of services designed to help you in your time of loss. Please stop by and visit us or give us a call to learn more.

North Versailles, PA funeral homes

Songs to Play at Your Lost Loved One’s Funeral Home

Music is a powerful tool that can evoke emotion and mood, especially at North Versailles, PA funeral homes. There are many different kinds of funeral home songs out there, from traditional to modern and everything in between.

When choosing funeral songs, many bereaved like to pick music that the deceased would have enjoyed, but it isn’t limited to just the lost loved one’s preferences. In fact, there are an amazing number of options when it comes to funeral songs. So how do you choose? For starters, you can take into account what kind of music the deceased would have enjoyed, as the point of the funeral is to celebrate his or her life.

Also, try to choose music that the funeral guests will enjoy, too. You can even try playing a few different kinds of music to try and meet everyone’s tastes and preferences, though you shouldn’t stress about meeting everyone’s tastes as that’s almost impossible to accomplish. You also need to choose songs that go along with your plan for the funeral. Think about if you want songs that speak about death and spending eternity in heaven, remind you of certain qualities and characteristics of the deceased, allow for reflection over fond memories, and your lost loved one enjoyed.

You can also choose the music by getting inspired with common and popular funeral song choices. There are tons of options out there, from common to more unique. Here are some that might inspire you. This list includes country, modern, classic and traditional options.

  • You Should Be Here by Cole Swindell
  • Lay Me Down by Sam Smith
  • Hallelujah by Jeff Buckley (there are many other iterations by other artists)
  • Let It Be by The Beatles
  • Broken Halos by Chris Stapleton
  • Over You by Miranda Lambert
  • Drink a Beer by Luke Bryan
  • See You Again by Wiz Khalifa & Charlie Puth
  • Only One by Kanye West and performed by Kanye West and Paul McCartney
  • Supermarket Flowers by Ed Sheeran
  • Who You’d Be Today by Kenny Chesney
  • When I Get Where I’m Going by Brad Paisley
  • In the Arms of an Angel by Sarah McLachlan
  • What A Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong
  • Hero by Mariah Carey
  • If You’re Reading This by Tim McGraw
  • One More Day by Diamond Rio
  • Fix You by Coldplay
  • Hear You Me by Jimmy Eat World
  • How Long Will I Love You by Ellie Goulding
  • Last Kiss by Pearl Jam

North Versailles, PA funeral homesPatrick T. Lanigan Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc. is here to help if you want more guidance on music choices or would like to learn more about your options for North Versailles, PA funeral homes. Please pay us a visit or give us a call today. After all, choosing the kind of music, you want to play at your lost loved one’s funeral is a very personal experience, so there is no right or wrong answer. All music can evoke powerful emotions and memories, so go with your heart when making the decision.