Monthly Archives: June 2022

cremation services in Kilgore, TX

5 Tips for Creating a Thoughtful Service

When it comes to laying your loved one to rest, and you need to plan the cremation services in Kilgore, TX, you want to have it be as authentic as possible. We have taken the time to compile some great ideas that can help you create an event that’s memorable and thoughtful as you start to process the loss, so here are some tips to get you started.

Do a Reading

One way to help remember the individual after they’re gone is to create a eulogy that will help reflect on their life. The item can contain elements like any achievements or milestones they accomplished with their job or hobbies or other essential things about them. The main point is to create an emphasis on their life to share with others that helps reflect on who they were and what they brought to the world.

Create a Theme

If the individual loved specific themes like holidays, you might consider including these in the services. Whether it’s asking for individuals to wear specific colors or dress up in costumes to help honor a more joyful individual, this can be a unique experience for all the attendees.

Allow Pets to Be There

If the individual loved animals or worked for services that helped animals, you might consider having the guests bring any pets. This can help create a truly memorable event and get some excitement and joy to the services to help develop a sense of community, connection, and healing for everyone attending.

Offer a Wearable Customized Item

If you want to create a sense of unity for everyone coming to the event, you might consider getting an item that’s wearable that can be handed out when people arrive. This could be a personalized bracelet with an inscription, a button that has the individual’s photo, or even a T-shirt that has writing and images on it. If everyone is wearing them simultaneously, it can help enhance the sense of community and support that’s needed for healing through loss.

Create a Tribute

The last recommendation is to take the time to create a memorial video tribute. These tributes are beneficial because they can physically show the individual’s life on-screen through photos, video clips, or even interviews of people who knew them. Multiple applications can be used on handheld devices, or you might consider outsourcing to a company specializing in this form of documentation to help highlight your loved one’s life.

Professional and Compassionate Services

cremation services in Kilgore, TX

These are just a few ways to help make the cremation services in Kilgore, TX, more authentic, and it can be helpful to do some additional research to find other suggestions that might feel more appropriate. If you are looking for assistance with planning, we are a locally owned company who have been serving our community since 1993 with the highest level of compassionate care on the market. We take great pride and understanding how to create a truly thoughtful event, so if you would like to schedule an appointment or have any questions contact us today.

funeral homes in Kilgore, TX

Your Loved One Was a Vital Part of Your Life, and Here are Ways to Celebrate Them

Losing a loved one can be an incredibly challenging experience, and once the services are completed at one of the funeral homes in Kilgore, TX, it can be helpful to find ways to remember them. Whether the loss is new or older, we have compiled some ways to help you honor them through actions in this article, so here are a few popular suggestions.

Honor Yourself

Going through the loss of someone important to you creates I need to heal and at the same time keep them with you after they are gone. It can bring up many different emotions and be different for each person, so when you come to more difficult days, it’s one suggestion to be present with your experience. This can be taking time to express what is happening and, more importantly, just practice compassion and kindness.

Create a Meal in Their Honor

One of the best parts about gathering can be having a meal with people you care for, and if this was a common practice with your loved one, it could be helpful to recreate this space. If the individual had a favorite meal or item, they like to prepare; this could be another suggestion to help remember them.

Volunteer

Research shows that helping others can help you, so another recommendation is to take the time to volunteer. If the individual had a favorite cause or charity they would like to work with, you might consider donating some of your time to them In your loved ones’ honor.

Do Something They Enjoyed

If the individual had favorite hobbies or activities, you might consider doing them yourself. Whether visiting a specific restaurant or going on a camping trip, engaging in something the loved one would have enjoyed can help you feel closer and more connected to them after they’re gone.

Connect with Others

The loss can be heartbreaking for some, but one thing that can help is to connect with others who are either going through the same loss or have experienced it in their lives. Sitting with people who understand the pain of losing a loved one can help process the grief while at the same time allowing you to remember the individual and what they brought to your life.

Carry on the Traditions

The last suggestion is to carry on any traditions you may have had with them. This could be holiday-based or just something you may have done on occasion and taking the time to recreate these can help create a sense of comfort on more challenging days.

We are Here to Help

funeral homes in Kilgore, TX

Staying connected could be an essential part of going through the healing process, and if you’re looking for help when it comes to planning the details, we are here for you at one of the funeral homes in Kilgore, TX. We offer affordable and compassionate services for all of our clients, so contact us today if you have any questions or need to schedule an appointment.

cremation services in Longview, TX

Unique Urn Ideas to Use After Loss

You may not be aware of this, but thousands of different kinds of urns are available on the market because almost anything can be used to help store remains after the cremation services in Longview, TX. If you’re someone that finds traditional urns less than appealing, you’ll be happy to know that we have gathered a few great options that are available that are not conventional urn styles, and here they are.

Wall-Plaque

The first item on this list that you could consider is getting an urn that is also a mountable plaque. The plaque can make a great decoration item and can be customized with any words or images that you would like to have on the front of it while at the same time being a safe space to store your loved one’s remains.

Favored Items

Depending on the individuals’ hobbies, you can use items they enjoyed housing their remains, and here are a few examples of this idea.

  • Cookie Jar: For the avid baker, it can be an original idea to use a favored cookie jar or storage container adorned with an inscription and any other decorations you choose.
  • Toolbox: If the individual was a mechanic or someone who liked to tinker with tools, it could be a unique idea to use a favorite toolbox. This can provide a space to hold their remains and any favorite mementos.
  • Watering Can: If you had a gardener in your life, the outdoor area is a great place to house their remains. An item like a favorite watering can be decorated and have a plaque placed on it to signify they are being laid to rest there.

Picture Frame

Another company is creating picture frames that can be personalized by not only holding the individual’s remains but a photo of your choosing at the same time.

Books

These make a great addition because if your loved one was a book lover, you can special order a version that looks like the real thing and has an internal space to hold their remains.

Glass Art

The last option in this list is to order an art deco piece that makes an interesting piece for any room. They are built to house the remains of the individual while at the same time can hold a candle to light in their memory after they are gone.

We Offer Affordable and Professional Services

cremation services in Longview, TX

These are just a few of the options available when it comes to an alternative urn. It is recommended that any of the details you choose for the services are authentic to who the individual was because this can help contribute to truly laying them to rest.

If you’re looking for streamlined and affordable cremation services in Longview, TX, we are here to help. We have been in business since 1993, providing our local community with the highest quality care on the market, so if you have any questions or would like to schedule an appointment, give us a call today.

funeral homes in Longview, TX

Meal Trains Can Help Offer Support and Here Are Ways to Get Started

After an individual loses a loved one and plans services at one of the local funeral homes in Longview, TX, they may experience a wide variety of emotions and need extra support. If you want to offer additional help, a meal train is just one option for being of service, and we have comprised the ways to get started in this article, so keep reading for more information.

Getting the Right Information

Everyone’s experience will be different, and some may need help around the home, or others can find it more beneficial to have meals provided to decrease their stress levels. If you choose to make a meal train, there are a few essential questions to ask them to start getting organized.

  • Are there any food allergies or intolerances that the volunteer needs to be aware of?
  • Do they have any food preferences like vegetarian or vegan requirements?
  • What kind of kitchen appliances do they have in their home for reheating food items?
  • How would they like to be notified when the meal will be delivered to their home?
  • Do they have any favorite local restaurants or places they like to eat that could be provided?

Once you have this information, you can start organizing the meal train through email, a professional website, or social media platforms. Having specific details and needs that the household has can better prepare the helpers so they can choose meals and times that work for them.

Recipe Ideas and Tips

When creating the meal train, a few things to consider is to make sure you prepare any meals in containers that do not have to be returned because this will help decrease the amount of stress that the household will have. In addition, it is recommended to include beverages and dessert in any meals that are provided. It can also be a nice touch to add a note or special treat for the household to help them feel more support and care.

A few popular meal ideas are:

  • Pan baked meats with vegetables
  • Baked pasta like spaghetti or lasagna with garlic bread
  • Crockpot style meals like soup or chili
  • Breakfast platter with oatmeal, fresh fruit, or bagels and cream cheese
  • Deli tray with meats, cheeses, rolls, and condiments

And if the household has children in it, you might consider getting the meals specifically for them like finger foods or an option to create a pizza.

Professional Services for All Our Clients

funeral homes in Longview, TX

The meal train can provide exceptional support that will allow the family to be more focused on their healing and promote a sense of comfort. These are small details that can make a difference in laying a loved one to rest, and if you are looking for funeral homes in Longview, TX, we are here to help. We are locally owned and have been providing our community with exceptional services since 1993 so if you have any questions or would like to schedule an appointment, give us a call today to get started.