Monthly Archives: May 2022

cremation services in Monroeville, PA

Green Memorials

Everyone wants to do their part when it comes to the environment, and this includes hosting an eco-friendly funeral or memorial service for a lost loved one. Eco-friendly memorials and funerals have been on the rise, whether they’re at churches, halls, or after cremation services in Monroeville, PA.

These tips and tricks can offer guidance and inspiration if you want to plan an eco-friendly service for your lost loved one. First, recycle and repurpose. Try using repurposed or recycled items for any decoration you may want for the service or wake. You can easily put together beautiful and meaningful decorations while being considerate of the materials and their sources. Try using clean materials like jute and cotton or make the flower arrangements from fabrics to cut back on flower use.

You can also choose to use recycled or organic fabrics instead of synthetic ones. Also, shop local. There are a lot of emissions involved when it comes to transporting goods long distances. If you choose local supplies and vendors for the funeral or memorial, you can greatly reduce the event’s carbon footprint. Not to mention that supporting local vendors is great for the local economy and can also save you some money. What about lighting? If you’re having the service at night or in a dark venue, it can go through tons of energy. Try and use more eco-friendly LED lights to use less energy or invest in candles that you can re-sell or hold onto as keepsakes after the event.

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You can also host a daytime funeral or memorial and skip the lights altogether. Don’t forget to shop seasonal? If the wake or memorial service will have food, make seasonal produce a priority when planning the menu. Seasonal produce is dramatically less harmful to the environment than out-of-season food and is also easier to get fresh and in bulk. This is because seasonal produce uses fewer preservatives and fertilizers and doesn’t require lots of refrigeration or greenhouse heating. Plus, in-season fruits and veggies are almost always more delicious and flavorful than other options. Be mindful of paper. Funerals and memorials use a lot of paper. From invitations to programs, menus, and even fans, a lot of this paper goes into the garbage after the service of over.

Make sure the paper products you use are recycled after the event or save on paper items by choosing creative substitutes. Do a chalkboard sign as opposed to programs or send out invitations via email as opposed to on postcards. Also, be aware of what you’re burying with the deceased so you’re not releasing harmful or non-biodegradable materials into the environment. Finally, think about the guest lists. The more guests you have, the bigger the funeral’s carbon footprint will be. If being eco-friendly is important to you, try and cut down the guest list to a smaller number. Plus, the smaller the guest list the more intimate and respectful the deceased will be.

We are here to help if you want to learn more about eco-friendly services or Monroeville, PA cremation services. Stop by and visit us or give us a call today for more information.

cremation service in Monroeville, PA

Writing Thank You Cards for After Cremation Services

The end of your loved one’s cremation service in Monroeville, PA isn’t the end of your funeral to-do list. You still have to send out thank you cards. Handing out thank you cards might seem a bit outdated or unnecessary, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. It’s absolutely vital to thank the people that brought flowers, food, or otherwise supported you in your time of loss. giving gifts. Plus, thank you cards allow you to stay connected with people even after the funeral is over.

How do you actually go about sending thank you cards? It may seem like a lot of work, but it actually isn’t that bad – especially if you follow these tips:

  1. Stay Organized – Make a list and stick to it! Keep track of who gave what and when so you can just follow your list when it’s time to say, “thank you.”
  2. Who should you send thank you cards to? – Besides the guests and anyone who sent a gift or donated, you should also thank vendors, officiants or speakers, attendants, your parents, or whoever helped you organize the funeral. Some people also send thank you cards to the funeral director or cremation provider staff.
  3. Start Tracking Early – It will be so hard to try and remember or determine who gave what or who brought what after the funeral. The sooner you start keeping track of flowers, food, or donations the better off you will be. If people send gifts early you can also be sneaky and write some thank you cards before the funeral itself. Just don’t send them till afterward.
  4. Go Slow – You don’t have to write all the cards in one sitting. In fact, it’s better to write a few every day so you don’t get overwhelmed, make mistakes, or lose personalization.
  5. Keep it Personal – Try to make every card as personalized as you can. Write a tidbit about where their donation is going or how their thoughtful food was delicious. These personalized touches will make your guests feel appreciated.
  6. Stationary – If you have it in your budget to buy personalized or custom stationery for the thank you cards, go for it. However, if you don’t have the extra cash, clean, pretty, and simple cards or paper will do the trick.
  7. Don’t Wait Too Long – Try to send out thank you cards as soon as you can after the funeral, but don’t stress yourself out too much. The proper window of time for thank you cards is one to two months after the service.
  8. Get Some Help – Similarly, you don’t have to write the thank you cards all on your own. Get some help, whether it’s from a colleague, friend, or family member.

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As a Monroeville, PA cremation service provider, we are here to help with any other questions you may have about thank you notes, funeral services, or any other aspect of at-needs or pre-needs planning. We’re honored to do what we can to help in your time of loss. Call or visit us today.

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How Do You Choose a Memorial Venue?

One of the most important aspects of planning a memorial after a cremation service in Penn Township, PA is choosing the right venue, even though planning the service aspect of the memorial, writing a eulogy, and even deciding on the flowers are all very important.

Unfortunately, choosing a venue can be stressful. Rather than get overwhelmed, use this list of things to think about when choosing an event center in which to host your lost loved one’s memorial. Start with ambiance. The existing décor or ambiance in the space is key. Think about the architecture, décor, and interior style. Do you want a more intimate feel? Then look for a venue that is already more intimate and cozier.

Do you want lots of greenery and plants? Look at event spaces with pre-existing greenery. The less the existing ambiance matches the feel you want for the memorial, the more work you will have to do once you begin planning. You should also look into insurance. Depending on the venue, you might need insurance. Check with potential venues to see what their insurance policies are and if they include event insurance in their packages.

There’s also accessibility. You need to be sure that any venue you choose is accessible to everyone who wants to attend the memorial no matter their physical abilities. Are there wheelchair ramps? Handicap bathrooms? If there will be children at the memorial, you also need to think about access to children’s amenities. You need to be aware of being welcoming to any and all capabilities. Don’t forget about acoustics. You don’t want your memorial to be too loud to too quiet, so you need to think about acoustics when looking at venues. A low ceiling may make a space feel cozy, but it might also make sounds too loud during eulogies or speeches. The reverse can also be true if a ceiling is too high.

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Acoustics can almost always be fixed with sound systems, but those do get pricey. Being flexible on open dates is another great way to narrow down venues. Some venues book up years in advance, while others keep open dates on their calendars for more last-minute bookings. Be sure to check if a venue has your desired date open before you spend a lot of time researching it.

Want more information? You can also check out local online reviews, consumer bureaus, and other websites for more information to narrow down your options. If you take the time to do your research, you’ll find a great venue for your lost loved one’s memorial in no time.

Finding the right event space for your lost loved one can be stressful, but it doesn’t have to be, especially if you enlist us, a Penn Township, PA cremation service provider, to help. We have years of experience in the industry and would be happy to make venue recommendations. Please stop by and visit us or give us a call today to learn more about what we can do for you in your time of loss or of preplanning.

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Food for Wakes

Many people are starting to enjoy staying healthy even in times of grief. If you’re planning a wake after a service at a funeral home in Penn Township, PA, you might want to consider having a few healthy options on your menu. Having good food at your lost loved one’s service is essential for success, but it can be hard to satisfy the array of preferences, dietary needs, and tastes that your guests will have.

Remember, healthy doesn’t have to mean boring or bland. There are tons of food options out there that are just as lean as they are flavorful. Many of them are in the Mediterranean. Mediterranean food is known for bold flavors with plenty of nutritious benefits. Recipes from Spain, Italy, Greece, and other similar locations are great options for healthy but still delicious food. Mediterranean food is mostly made of lighter meats like seafood and poultry as well as plenty of fresh vegetables, brown rice, and whole grains. These particular blends help give the body essential nutrients as well as healthy fats that provide lasting energy. Looking for some inspiration?

Check out these Mediterranean memorial service food ideas, like Orzo Salad. Pasta salad is an event favorite, but orzo salad takes it to new levels of flavor while keeping things light. Orzo salad often has herbs, olives, and vibrant cherry tomatoes with plenty of flavorful olive oil and maybe vinegar. What about Grilled Chicken Souvlaki with Tzatziki? This Greek dish is bold in taste but light in fat thanks to skewered and grilled lean pieces of chicken and a dip made from zesty green yogurt with cucumbers, garlic, and savory herbs. Serve with pita bread for dipping. Finally, Kolokithokeftedes, hard to say but easy to eat, these zucchini fritters contain olive oil feta cheese and dill. They are crispy and light but are super simple to make and serve.

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Also, be sure to provide both vegetarian and vegan options as these diets are very popular these days. You need to make sure that your vegan and vegetarian guests will be just as happy and satiated as your more carnivorous guests. Don’t forget about cleanup. Try and keep some of the food handheld and easily consumed to prevent spilling and extra dishes. Also, remember, pasta sauce can quickly ruin a dress and an evening. Also, take some time to think about how the drinks will pair with the food. For example, don’t serve fish and only red wine, or sweet sangria with super sweet cake. Offer a range of items. After all, not everyone likes the same things so you need to be sure that there will be something everyone can enjoy.

Choosing healthy and delicious food for your lost loved one service doesn’t have to be hard. Are looking for more tips or information on what to do in your time of loss? As a Penn Township, PA funeral home, we are here to help. We are honored to do what we can to help in times of loss. Give us a call or visit us today to learn more.