You need to make sure the service is memorable, respectful, and meaningful, but you should also make sure your kids feel included as they knew and loved the deceased, too. Your kids deserve to participate in a service at a funeral home in Penn Township, PA as it will not only make them feel included but will also help them express their own grief in constructive ways.

What can you do to help them feel included? These tips can help:

• Make Them Part of the Service – While younger children might not be able to be part of a memorial or funeral, older kids certainly can. In fact, many older kids would be honored be part of remembering and celebrating their lost loved ones. You can make kids part of the service by having them do a reading, make a short speech, lead a prayer, or even just stand up at the front with the rest of the family.
• Add Activities for Them – If your other children are younger, they might feel left out of the service and the planning because such events usually don’t have activities for younger kids. To make them feel included, add a few kid-friendly games or activities to the service schedule to make sure they are part of the event. Set up a children’s table with coloring books or crafts or hire a babysitter to help keep them entertained during the long day. Even having a side room where they can go if the service gets overwhelming will be helpful.
• Give One-On-One Attention – It won’t hurt to put in a little extra effort with your little ones while planning a memorial or funeral. You don’t want anyone to feel neglected. Try putting aside some one-on-one time for your younger children while planning. You can take them with you while running errands and stop for lunch or ice cream after, or just add a bit of extra playtime into your daily schedule.
• Assign Responsibilities – One surefire way to keep everyone happy and feeling involved is to actually involve everyone. Handing out responsibilities to your kids is sure to keep them happy and help them feel like they’re part of the experience. Plus, there is a lot to do when planning and executing a service, so the extra help will be appreciated. Get them to help with researching good quotes for speeches, helping guests make travel arrangements, or drawing pictures for decorations. Your other kids will feel excited and engaged if you give them a personal assignment to help make their lost loved one’s service the best it can be.

We’re committed to making sure your lost loved one’s service and Penn Township, PA funeral home service goes off without a hitch and is as meaningful and respectful as possible. Call or visit us today to learn more about funeral planning tips or to get more information on our services or what we can do for you in your time of loss or preplanning.

Funeral, memorial, and other service attire can be a minefield of differing traditions and opinions, often leaving guests completely unsure of what to wear. You’re not alone if you’re wondering what to wear to a funeral at a funeral home in Penn Township, PA.

However, you don’t have to be unsure anymore. Use this ultimate guide to funeral attire as inspiration for your funeral or memorial outfits. When dressing for a funeral or memorial, you should be aware of some common attire guidelines. For instance, avoid revealing pieces. Shirts and dresses should always cover up to the neck and pants and dresses should go down to the knees.

Many traditions also require shoulders and knees covered as well as headwear such as hats for men and headscarves for women. As for footwear, avoid athletic shoes like sneakers as well as casual shoes like flip-flops. More casual services may allow t-shirts and other informal wear, but always avoid loud prints or big logos and keep a formal jacket on hand just in case. A general rule of thumb is to dress as you would for a job interview or a church service: conservative, clean, and put-together. The traditional colors worn to funerals are an important aspect of funeral attire.

Though not every service calls for dark hues, you will almost always blend in and be appropriately dressed if you stick to the tradition of wearing a black, dark grey, or deep blue. Brown shades, lighter grays, and other earthy colors are acceptable for most funeral services. Be sure to avoid bright colors including yellow, red, pink, orange, and white. You can wear white if it’s part of an accessory or worn underneath dark colors, like a white shirt with a dark jacket.

It’s important to note that different kinds of services have different attire requirements. For example, wakes, viewings, or visitations are muted, somber events and therefore require muted, somber clothing. Expectations for attire can range from highly formal to dressy-casual, so be sure to check the invitation or dress according to what you know about the family. Similarly, it’s important to dress respectfully and conservatively at a funeral to honor the deceased and the bereaved. Stick to tradition, avoid bright colors, and, when in doubt, dress like you would for a job interview. Memorials are more informal events than funerals, but they still require somewhat subdued formal clothing. When in doubt, err on the side of more formal and more traditional with dark colors and conservative cuts. Celebrations of life are unique services in that they are more casual and upbeat. As such, they have fewer expectations and requirements for dress. Celebrations of life can range from lighthearted memorials to parties with dancing, so be sure to check the invitation for guidance on attire. However, it’s safe to assume that a smart-but-casual outfit will be acceptable.

We are here to help if you want more guidance on Penn Township, PA funeral homes, or what to wear to death-related events. Please call or visit us today.

Your lost loved one was incredibly unique. How can you commemorate exactly what made your lost loved one so special at the funeral home in Penn Township, PA? Modern families often seek ways to make a service more personalized for the deceased, such as honoring what made the deceased special by celebrating their interests or hobbies.

The service should be just as unique as the person it’s honoring. Take this list of niche tribute ideas as inspiration so you can plan a personalized service to honor and remember your lost loved one. Did your lost loved one like golf? You can easily celebrate golf! If your loved one was a golfer, there are many ways you can include the golfing theme as part of the service, from having the service at the country club and setting out their golf bag as decor to setting up a golf memorabilia table with scorecards, collectibles, photos, and more.

Don’t forget about gardening. Flowers and other plants are always welcome at services, especially if the deceased loved to garden. Celebrate their love of gardening by filling the service with flowers, giving guests seed packets, displaying a casket or an urn with a flower motif, or using a memorial tree urn or casket to bury the remains. Did your lost loved one enjoy boating or being out on the water? Celebrate that interest with boat-themed touches at the service. For example, you can have the service at a beach or dock, or even on a boat. You could also play tracks of ocean waves, display boat models, or display a large piece of sail cloth for attendees to sign or notate memories of the deceased.

There’s also antiquing! Many people get into antiquing as an expression of their love of decorating, the enjoyment of the style of a particular era, or as a fun way to make a little side of money as they discover, fix up, and resell antique furniture and collectibles. If your loved one was into antiques, showcase the hobby at the service by creating an antique scrapbook or decorating the space with some of their favorite pieces. What about photography? From snaps on a smartphone to old-school photo shoots, there are many ways to be interested in photography. Similarly, there are many ways to celebrate the life of someone who loved photography, like displaying pictures the deceased took, playing a slideshow of their work, or encouraging attendees to snap photos and share them. Who doesn’t love fishing? If the deceased was a big fishing fan, celebrate that in the service by serving fish at the reception, donating fishing kits to local charities in honor of the deceased, or displaying photos of all their great catches.

We are here to help if you want more information on planning unique services with niche tributes or Penn Township, PA funeral homes. Call or visit us today to learn more about what we can do for you in your time of loss or preplanning.

A pallbearer is someone that helps carry or officially escorts a casket during a funeral at a funeral home in Penn Township, PA. If you were asked to be a pallbearer for someone’s funeral or service before a cremation service, you need these tips for serving as a pallbearer for guidance and inspiration. Hopefully these tips will help you calm your nerves and make sure you are ready to take on this honor:

• Wear Sensible Shoes – You really don’t want to trip when carrying the casket. Be sure to wear sensible shoes that will help keep your feet firmly planted on the ground and will be supportive when you lift the casket.
• Being Nervous is Normal – It’s true that all eyes will be on you when you carry the casket, so it’s OK to be nervous. Just follow the instructions, breathe deeply, and you’ll be alright.
• What Does a Pallbearer Do? – Pallbearer’s duties traditionally consist exclusively of carrying the remains from the hearse to the church or funeral home before the service, and then back into the hearse after the service. If the remains are to be buried or inurned, the pallbearers also carry them from the hearse to the final resting place. Here are more tips:
• Turn Off Your Phone – It would be horrifying to have your phone ring during the service or, even worse, when you’re carrying the casket. Turn off your phone completely or leave it in your car or at home.
• Consider Your Attire – Pallbearers need to dress appropriately. Unless the bereaved specify otherwise, men should wear dark, solid suits with white shirts and conservative ties, and women should wear dark pantsuits or dresses.

• Be Prepared to Lift – The main job of a pallbearer is to lift and carry the casket, so prepare yourself. Remember, it’s OK to turn it down if you’re asked to be a pallbearer by can’t physically do the job.
• Stay Back and Support the Family – Don’t rush out as soon as the service is over. Hang around for a bit to offer support, comfort, and assistance to the family.
• Follow Instructions – Always follow the instructions of the family, bereaved, and the funeral direction. This is true even if you’ve been a pallbearer before or have different ideas of how things should go. It’s not your time to shine, it’s your chance to be respectful and honor the deceased.
• Be On Time – You need to arrive at the funeral home or service location at or even before the time specified. This way you can be as prepared as possible and not rushing or worried after a late arrival.
• Serving as a Pallbearer is an Honor – Being chosen as a pallbearer means that the bereaved trust you and care about you. It’s a privilege, so do your best to treat the honor with dignity and respect.

Do you need more guidance when it comes to pallbearers or Penn Township, PA funeral homes? We are here to help. Call or visit us today to learn more about what we can do for you in your time of loss or of preplanning.

Everyone wants their lost loved one’s service to stand out and be remembered for years to come, but it can be hard to impress people when you’re not exactly sure how. Are you looking to really honor the memory and life of your lost loved one with a memorable and unique celebration of life after a service at a funeral home in Penn Township, PA? That’s where these tips come in.

Use these ideas to help make your lost loved one’s celebration of life really stand out, like live streaming. Social media has another connection-boosting feature: live streaming. Almost every platform from Facebook to Instagram can live stream your celebration of life allowing guests that can’t attend in person the chance to celebrate the life of your lost loved one. You can also make a grand entrance. Everyone loves to make an entrance, so make sure the gateway into the celebration of life is something to remember. Dress up your entrance with lots of decorations and unique touches to make it feel more special and memorable. You can add a red carpet, flower wall, step, and repeat, or a balloon walkway to make your event feel just like a celebrity award show. Or you can create a large photo collage of the deceased or make the entrance themed to something that he or she loved in life.

Don’t forget about food. People love food, so it’s not surprising that one of the biggest parts guests remember of any event is the food. So, make sure your food really shines! Talk with your caterer to create a menu that focuses on fresh, local, and high-quality food, and don’t forget to include plenty of options for common dietary restrictions like gluten-free, vegetarian, dairy-free, and vegan. What about photo opportunities and art? It’s no secret that social media is huge these days. Take advantage of the craze for your loved one’s celebration of life by creating Insta-worthy photo-ops. You can rent out a photo booth or just set up a corner of the space with a backdrop and props. Not only will these changes to taking photos help your guests have fun, but they will also help create more memories of your lost loved one that will live on. You can even create a unique hashtag that guests can use when posting so everyone can see the photos. You want people to never stop talking about your event, and what makes people talk more than art? Hang unique and thought-provoking art pieces at the celebration of life. They double as décor and conversation starters. You can also choose to hang large pictures from the deceased’s life as a way for guests to remember big moments.

We are here to help if you want more assistance with creating a memorable celebration of life. We are a Penn Township, PA funeral home with the experience necessary to help you in your time of loss or of preplanning. Call today to learn more.

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.

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.