Monthly Archives: November 2021

cremation service in Monroeville, PA

Mourning After the Cremation Service

Mourning is an important part of grief after a cremation service in Monroeville, PA. Mourning rituals are symbolic activities that help ease the pain of loss and the heavy weight of grief. Mourning rituals help those in grief connect with others over the loss and find support in one another. They are traditionally based in religion, like the catholic funeral service or the Jewish shiva.

However, as classic religion is on a decline, many people are looking other places for their mourning rituals. These are simple yet powerful mourning rituals you can use after a loved one’s death. You can use these modern mourning rituals if you’re looking for inspiration for a ritual of your own:

  1. Host a Giveaway Ritual – Some ancient cultures would host a “giveaway” in which they would each take a piece of the deceased’s possessions to use as their own. You can do a modern version of this in which you go through and donate the deceased’s possessions with other grieving people.
  2. Burn Sage – Sage burning is another very traditional ritual. Sage has long been associated with cleansing and can therefore help you feel like you’ve aided the deceased in their passing or can assist in cleansing away negative emotions.
  3. Carry a Remembrance Item – You can carry an item that belonged to or reminds you of the deceased and help you remember that they are always with you. Remembrance items can be anything, such as a watch, handkerchief, lighter, or piece of jewelry.
  4. Cook the Deceased’s Favorite Meal – Food brings people together, especially in hard times. Cooking the deceased’s favorite meal and then sharing it with others allows you to honor their memory and connect with those that are also grieving the loss.
  5. Write Letters – There are often many things left unsaid when someone dies. A healthy way to say those unsaid things is to write a letter to the deceased. You can bury the letter with your loved one, burn it to release the feelings, or hold onto it for later remembrance.
  6. Create Art – Coloring a picture, painting, or sculpting is a wonderful way to release feelings of grief and loss. Create in the deceased’s memory in whatever medium feels comfortable to you.
  7. Light a Candle – Candles have a long history of being associated with both rituals and grief. Take this tradition and make it your own by lighting a candle for the deceased at a certain time of day, a special date, or whenever you need to feel connected to them.
  8. Create an Altar – Though altars are traditionally more Eastern, they have recently become more and more popular in Western cultures. An altar for your lost loved one can be anything from a collection of meaningful items to an array of photos, candled and incense.

cremation service in Monroeville, PA

Patrick T. Lanigan Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc. is here to help if you want more information on mourning rituals or Monroeville, PA cremation services. You can stop by and visit us or give us a call today.

funeral homes in Monroeville, PA

Getting a Body from Overseas to the Funeral Home

We are never truly prepared for a death, most people do have some funeral or cremation arrangements preplanned at funeral homes in Monroeville, PA, though almost no one ever plans on having to deal with a death or bringing a body home.

What happens when someone dies abroad? If you lose a loved one while they’re traveling, the stress of that death is usually compounded by the question: “what do I do now?” The process of bringing a body home, called body repatriation, can take a long time and a mountain of paperwork, so it’s best to get started as soon as you can.

Move quickly and efficiently to make sure that you stay on top of all that needs to be done. Generally, the local embassy of the country where the person died will contact the United States State Department, who will in turn notify the appropriate next of kin. That’s when it’s time to get moving with an executed and signed Next-of-kin Affidavit and a Letter of Instruction that details your wishes for the body’s repatriation. There are some instances in which confirmation of the deceased is tricky, so the next-of-kin may be asked to provide dental or medical records to assist with confirming the identification of the body.

The exact process of body repatriation can differ slightly from country to country, but it’s important that you follow the laws of the country where the death occurred. There are generally three different methods of body repatriation. The first is Preparation and Return of an Embalmed Body. In this method the body is embalmed at a funeral home in the country where the death occurred and then returned to the USA. Sometimes the embalming standards of the local country are not at the same level as American embalming, so a viewing of the body will not be advisable.

There is also Local Cremation and Return of Cremains. Cremation is usually available in most countries. However, cremation might be more costly or less available in countries that are predominately Muslim or Catholic. And finally, Local Burial. Local burial is possible if the country in which the death occurred allows for burial of foreign nationals. The local embassy will generally make burial arrangements and send the next-of-kin the details.

Keep in mind that the next-of-kin will be responsible for all body repatriation costs as the US government does not have funds set aside for these instances. Embalming prior to repatriation is the most expensive, with local cremation and local burial coming behind. Also, it’s important to note that there might be extensive delays in body repatriation if the deceased was a victim of a crime as the local police will need to investigate.

funeral homes in Monroeville, PA

If your family is put in the ill-fated situation of losing a loved one overseas, you need a funeral home you can count on. Patrick T. Lanigan Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc. offers Monroeville, PA funeral home services with the compassion and expertise needed to help you through this difficult time. Call or visit us today to learn more.

cremation service in Penn Township, PA

All About Death Certificates

You will need to get a death certificate for almost cremation service in Penn Township, PA, but what do you know about them? Keep reading to learn more.

To begin, a death certificate is an official document that formally declares a death. They usually list the date, time, location, and cause of death as well as some other personal information about the deceased. Though death certificate laws can vary slightly from state to state, they generally are required to be registered with a state’s Department of Health and Vital Statistics.

If you need a copy of a death certificate you can visit your state’s vital records office to be issued a certified copy. Death certificates are not free. Their exact cost depends on your state and how you order them. For example, the cost of extra death certificate copies from the funeral home is probably different than the cost of copies from the office of vital statistics or the state’s website.

You can make it easier to obtain death certificates quickly and affordably by having your funeral home or cremation provider order several directly from the state office. No matter what the reason you need a copy, there are a few different ways you can order a copy of a death certificate: through the funeral home that did the service or cremation, in person at your state’s vital statistics office, or online at your state’s vital statistics website.

It’s important to note that not just anyone can access death certificates and copies. The only people that are eligible to get a copy of a death certificate are immediate family members like spouses, parents, children, siblings, or grandchildren or legal guardians, representatives, state agencies and federal agencies. You must submit proof of relation to the deceased when applying for a copy of a death certificate with your state’s registrar. Proof of relation could be a birth certificate, legal document, or a letter stating how the applicant has legal representation rights to the deceased.

There are some cases in which someone needs a copy of a death certificate, but they are not one of the eligible relations. For example, a cousin of the deceased might be eligible for death benefits but cannot access the death certificate. In these instances, the person must ask an eligible person or party, like a life insurance holder, to request the death certificate for them. There are a lot of different reasons why you might need a death certificate, but they all have to do with proving a death. Some of the most common reasons you would need a death certificate are to access insurance policies, Social Security, property ownership, Veteran’s benefits, safety deposit boxes, last will and testaments, post office accounts, bonds, stocks or brokerage accounts, pension plans, treasury bills, IRAs, and tax records.

cremation service in Penn Township, PA

Patrick T. Lanigan Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc. is here to help if you want to learn more about death certificates or Penn Township, PA cremation services. Call or visit us today for more information on what we can do for you.

 

funeral home in Penn Township, PA

All About Mausoleums and Funeral Homes

While a traditional burial in a cemetery after a service in a funeral home in Penn Township, PA is always a valid choice, there are many other options for a deceased’s final resting place. One such option is a mausoleum.

According to the National Funeral Directors Association, a mausoleum is “a building designed for above-ground placement of a casket. The casket is placed into a crypt that may be designed for one or two persons.” In other words, mausoleums are free-standing structures that provide a secure, dry, and clean place for bodies to be interred. There are many different kinds and styles of mausoleums. Some mausoleums have one crypt, or a chamber designed to hold one body, while others have a larger space made to hold a few people like a family or a couple.

Some mausoleums even have more than one room for different parts of a family. Mausoleums are commonly decorated with exterior markers to denote who is resting inside, and yet others have windows and glass to allow in natural light and air. The term mausoleum came from one of the first one’s ever built. Built in 353 BC near what is now known as Turkey. That is a long time ago! But just because these structures have a long history doesn’t mean they aren’t still popular. In fact, mausoleums offer tons of great benefits, making them a common choice for internment.

Some of the benefits of mausoleums include protection and privacy. Though everyone will experience grief, most people prefer to show their mourning in private. Because mausoleums are enclosed buildings, they offer the bereaved much-desired privacy in their time of loss. Similarly, because they are enclosed buildings, mausoleums also offer protection for the body. Many of them are also climate-controlled, which gives the bereaved even more peace of mind for the body and comfort when they are paying their respects.

Both traditional ground burial and cremation have negative impacts on the environment, such as ground disruption or release of gasses into the atmosphere. Since mausoleums can hold more bodies per square foot of ground that a traditional burial, they are better for the planet and are a great option for those that want to leave a small footprint behind when they’re gone.

Mausoleums are also convenient. Mausoleums are convenient for the bereaved as they offer easy access to the lost loved one for year-round visitation. Hot summers, cold winters, rain and other elements aren’t an issue. Mausoleums have been proven to have comparable costs to those of a more traditional ground burial, especially if the structure will be used to house more than one body. Families can lower the costs of burial by purchasing a shared mausoleum.

funeral home in Penn Township, PA

Patrick T. Lanigan Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc. can help you decide if a mausoleum is the right choice for you or your family. We have vast experience as a Penn Township, PA funeral home and can offer you more information on your different internment choices. Call or visit us today to learn more about what we can do for you.