Your cart is currently empty!
Category: Articles
-
Dealing With the Death of a Loved One? How to Manage Grief
The death of a loved one can cause you to feel uncontrollable grief. If you struggle to deal with this emotion in the aftermath of your loved one’s passing, discover ways to manage grief as you honour your loved one.
Speak to a grief counsellor
Grief, especially in the days and weeks following your loved one’s death, can seem like it will always be there. Do you struggle with day-to-day living because the grief seems too much to bear? If you can’t seem to work or get through school or have become depressed, then you might consider a grief counsellor.
A grief counsellor can help you understand your grief, deal with the challenges you experience due to your grief and come to terms with your loss. With a professional’s help, you can better know the grieving process, the coping mechanisms to turn to and the ways to heal and move forward. And during all this, you’ll be able to speak about your loved one and the times you shared.
Remember happy times
You likely made great memories with your loved one. While these memories might seem too painful to dwell on, they can be a great way to bring some laughter and smiles. If you were able to record these experiences in photos or videos, don’t be afraid to go through them. Other ways to remember your happy memories is to write them down, talk about them or simply think about them.
Have a support system
Never isolate yourself after a loved one’s death. Grieving might make you feel alone and afraid to reach out to others. However, having a support system is key. Whether that support system is friends, family, other grieving people or professionals, they can help you simply by being there when you need them.
The level you depend on your support system is up to you. Perhaps you want to simply talk to someone about your loved one, or you might need someone who knows how you feel and has gone through similar experiences. No matter what, having a reliable person to turn to when you feel alone can help you stay connected with the world and process your feelings as you work through them.
And with your support system, you can collectively remember and cherish your loved one.
Take care of yourself
When some people grieve, they might feel that some things are too hard to deal with. This can include daily tasks like hygiene, sleep or eating. However, while grief can seem crippling, ensure that you continue to take care of yourself.
For example, sticking to a daily routine can help a person find comfort in the familiar and pride that they have managed these tasks despite their grief. This also ensures that you do the necessary daily things to keep yourself going.
Find a distraction
Perhaps, despite your best efforts, your grief might seem too overwhelming. In that case, the best thing to do sometimes is to distract yourself. While you shouldn’t do this all the time, it can be a great way to focus on other things, even for just a little while.
A distraction can be something as simple as finding a new TV show to like or as complex as pursuing a new passion like hiking. And while the distraction should be something you enjoy, you can also pick something that your loved one enjoyed or was interested in. That way, you can keep the memory of your loved one alive, honour them and enjoy this new hobby yourself.
Give your loved one a fitting farewell
No matter where you are in your grieving journey, rely on the professionals at Cremations Only. We offer a variety of funeral packages and keepsakes for departed loved ones. Speak to our caring team today about how to best honour your loved one.
-
Burial or Cremation – a Personal Choice
There are many considerations that are made when deciding how one’s body is respected in death. Some may be financial, others religious, and some may simply be determined by circumstances.
Throughout history, the treatment of the body in death has taken many directions. One of the most fascinating ceremonies is performed by the Zoroastrians, who believe that decomposition of the body is a corrupting influence.
The process may be confronting to some readers, but it is viewed as an environmentally sustainable means of farewelling the body. The earth is kept clear of any contaminants that may be in the flesh of the body and the air is not polluted by the fumes of cremation. If you would like to learn more about Zoroastrian tradition, we encourage you to do your own research.
It’s unlikely that the traditional Zoroastrian funeral will even take place in Brisbane, but it does give pause for reflection on the many practices available. Affordable funerals need not be a choice between how we want to be remembered and a budget funeral service.
Planning for your funeral early gives you the option to set aside a portion of your estate and determine your funeral wishes. However, we cannot always predict the end of life and coping with unexpected tragedy can be difficult to process.
Assessing the Options
A cremation allows you to decide how your ashes will be dealt with. You won’t necessarily have a permanent headstone or gravesite, but you do have the option to have your ashes scattered. Alternatively, a permanent memorial may be established in your honour at a memorial park, a cemetery, or another location that is meaningful to you.
Increasingly, people are concerned about the environmental impact of burning remains versus burial. While burning can release toxic substances into the air, an embalmed body within a metal casket can also have a lasting negative effect on the environment. There’s also the space required for a casket to be buried, as opposed to a memorial plaque. The cost of real estate in cemeteries is increasing at a rate matched by housing in many Australian cities.
In the case of unexpected death, the decision can be frightening and can even cause anguish in years to come. Ensuring you have the proper support in family, friends and counselling is recommended. A low cost funeral home need not come at the expense of remembering your loved one with dignity and respect.
Consult Brisbane’s Funeral Directors
When you’re ready to talk to a funeral director in Brisbane, Cremations Only can help with planning and preparation of a funeral. Our sensitive staff can help assess the details of a funeral and a cremation and provide the guidance that is relevant to you.
Our low cost options are amongst the most competitive for funeral homes in Brisbane and can be arranged discreetly and with the greatest sensitivity to all involved.
-
Everyone should have a Will
A Will is a legal document that outlines your wishes for what will happen to you, your property and assets after you are gone. It’s the only way to be sure that your Estate (the legal term for your property and assets) will be divided among those you care about in a way that you’re comfortable with. Regardless of the value of your Estate, it’s important to create a Will for a number of reasons.
The Will determines who’s in charge of your assets after you are gone and can outline instructions for your cremation or burial and funeral. It’s important to note, too, that not having one can lead to some pretty complicated legal situations down the line where others will make decisions for you.
Who’s in Charge of the Will After I’m Gone?
In your Will you can appoint an “Executor of the Estate” to administer the Estate after you pass away. Usually the Executor is the spouse or other next of kin, and it’s their job to confer with the solicitor and settle legal matters. If any disputes arise in legal matters regarding your Estate, the Executor of the Estate has the final say on how to resolve them.
Do I Need to Plan My Funeral in My Will?
How you set out your Will is up to you, and while you are not legally obligated to outline your wishes for your funeral, doing so creates a guideline for your family. It helps them to know what to do and gives them the peace of mind they’re doing the right thing when the time comes. If they are aware of your wishes, they are likely to carry out the funeral plans – and burial or cremation – that you set out for yourself, so it’s also a way of ensuring your wishes are met.
If you don’t provide funeral directions in your Will, it’s up to the Executor of the Estate – or anyone appointed by them – to organise the funeral.
When Do I Need to Start Thinking About a Will?
There is no time too soon to start planning your Will. If you have a Will and something happens to you, you can rest assured that your family will know what to do and that someone you trust will be in charge of executing your estate. Remember that you can update your Will at any time, so as long as you keep it updated there’s no risk of being legally bound to your past preferences. If you re-marry it is important to make a new Will.
What Happens if I Don’t Have a Will?
If you don’t have a legal or valid will then your Estate will be divided according to a set of rules called the “Rules of Intestacy”. This can complicate matters for the family and means that your assets might not go to the beneficiaries you hoped they would go to.
At Cremations Only, we recommend writing a Will as soon as possible to make matters easy for your family. If you need advice or options for an affordable cremation or funeral service, we’d love to help you. Call us on 1300 311 747 to discuss or email us.
-
Asides
Taking your child to a funeral for the first time can be difficult, but it can also be a great way for them to say goodbye to a loved one. This article explains four simple things you should do before the funeral, from explaining what will happen to find them a useful task to do.
How to Choose the Right Dress Code for a Funeral
When you start to organize a funeral for your loved one, people might ask you whether you have any plans for the dress code at the service. You might not have thought about this yet; however, the clothes that people wear during the funeral can help set the tone. You can simply stick with a traditional dress code here, or you can ask guests to wear something different that you feel has a closer connection to the person who has died.
-
4 Flowers You Can Use at Funerals
Whether you’re planning a funeral or want to buy flowers after a loved one’s death, the flowers at the funeral are an important part. What flowers should you get? Discover four common types of flowers that people get to express their love, sympathy or admiration.
1. Roses
Many people think of roses when they think of funeral flowers. Roses, with their varied colours and meanings, can express different feelings, depending on the person who orders the flowers. For example, what if you get:
- White roses? White roses often mean youth and innocence, but they also can mean respect and remembrance at funerals. They also have a historical connection with religion, which is ideal for any religious funerals.
- Pink roses? Pink roses represent elegance, grace or appreciation, which can show the respect or love that a person had for the deceased.
- Red roses? While red roses are mostly popular for romantic occasions, red roses at a funeral can symbolise the deep love and affection a person had for the departed loved one. Special deep crimson roses can indicate grief or sorrow, which makes them ideal for this often sad and solemn occasion.
- Yellow roses? Yellow roses mainly represent friendship, so they are mostly useful for friends of the deceased.
Anything from a single rose to a bouquet of roses can be perfect for a funeral flower arrangement.
2. Lilies
Lilies are another popular funeral flower. Many people choose these flowers for funerals because of their sweet smell and symbolic meanings. White lilies are especially popular. Lilies, as a while, represent purity, innocence, sympathy or peace, all of which can hold significant meaning for the deceased loved one. A bouquet of lilies is a popular flower arrangement.
3. Carnations
Carnations are popular both as themselves and as supportive flowers for lilies or roses. Carnations often represent remembrance and affection, but different carnation colours can provide other meanings as well. Pink carnations are often popular for funerals, as they carry religious meaning that also can translate to a mother’s love for her children or continuing love, even after the death of the loved one.
Red carnations can symbolise romantic love, perfect for a grieving spouse or partner, and white carnation can represent innocence, gratitude, love or faithfulness, perfect for friends or family members.
Carnations are often ideal for funerals because they are able to be dyed and are also more affordable than other flower arrangements.
4. Orchids
These unique flowers can be the show of a flower arrangement. Orchids, in general, are symbolic of continuing love. However, pink orchids also emphasise sympathy, perfect for friends and family. Both white and pink orchids are popular for funerals, but other orchid flower colours can be appropriate in many circumstances.
For example, purple orchids represent admiration or respect. Red orchids mean strength or courage. Blue orchids, which are uncommon because they have to be dyed, represent preciousness or rarity due to their uniqueness. Each of these might be perfect for a specific person’s funeral.
Orchids can be part of a flower arrangement either as a cut flower or as a growing plant. Orchids can last for a long time, so if mourning family members want a visual reminder of their departed loved one, the funeral orchids could be just the thing.