cremation services in Meredith, NH

Questions People Ask About Cremation Services

As you start deciding on the options that you want to offer a loved one who has passed away, you may be considering cremation. Cremation can offer a lot of benefits, but sometimes people do not know enough about it to be able to make a decision. If you are worried about this and want to make certain that your loved one gets the right arrangements, you want to take some time to learn the answers to some questions. Here are the things that providers of cremation services in Meredith, NH want you to keep in mind.

What Options are Available?

This is definitely something that you want to ask. You want to be able to get the exact options that you want for your loved one and this can mean taking some time to read up on choices. You can decide to have a direct cremation, which is the most affordable option as well as the quickest. You can also choose to have a full cremation, which takes care of the cremation and of the service. You can also have a bio cremation, which can be the right option if your loved one wanted a green service. This kind of cremation is done with water and not heat, so it releases less carbon into the air, but it also requires special facilities, which not all providers can offer. Ask about this before choosing.

Will the Remains be the Right Ones?

One of the most common concerns people have when speaking about cremation is whether they will be able to get the right remains. Because cremation cannot be undone, providers of these services always have very strict protocols to ensure there are no mistakes. There can be lots of paperwork when you choose a cremation and that can put you at ease that there will be no mistakes made. Another thing to remember is that you can also be present while the actual cremation takes place.

Is a Service Possible?

Sometimes people think that only when you choose to have a burial you can have a funeral, but that is not the case. You can have a service after the cremation takes place, and for many people, it can actually be the best option. You can put together the exact kind of service that you want for the person without having to rush and you can allow people to be able to attend, when they may not have been able to if the service was rushed.

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All of these questions can stop you from making the best decision for your loved one. You want to consider all of the options you have and see what you feel most comfortable with. You can learn much more about cremation options by reaching out to a Meredith, NH cremation service provider like us at Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home & Cremation Services. We are ready to help you with all of the options that you may be considering. Give us a call right now or stop by our location to learn more about our options.

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How to Find the Right Casket

If you are starting to plan the arrangements that you want for a loved one who has passed away and you want to be certain that you get all of the options you need, one of the things you will want to know about is the casket. Deciding on the right casket is something that you want to carefully think about because of all of the options out there. To help you with this purchase, there are some things that directors of funeral homes in Meredith, NH want you to keep in mind.

You want to have a clear idea of the kind of budget you will need for the funerary services. This can mean taking some time to read up on the options and on their average costs. By doing this, you will be able to make the right arrangements for your loved one without spending more than you want to. This is an important thing to remember so do not skip this step.

You then want to think about the material the casket will be made of. There are different options, include metal caskets that can be made of steel, stainless steel, bronze, and copper. You can also choose caskets that are made of wood, including affordable options like those made of pine, poplar, or willow. There are more expensive options that can include walnut, mahogany, and cherry. If you want to offer your loved one a green service, you may be thinking of a biodegradable casket, which is usually made of soft woods. If that is what you want, you will want to ask the cemetery if they allow this option, since not all of them do.

Another thing that you want to remember is that there are different sizes of caskets. Lots of times, people think that all caskets are the same size but that is not the case. A person who weighed more than two hundred pounds and who was taller than average will need a casket that is a bit larger. There are also caskets that are made for children and infants. All of this can make a difference in the one that you choose. If you are not certain about the size you need, it can be a good idea to ask the provider you have hired.

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These are all important things to remember when you decide to purchase a casket for a loved one. You want to remember that there are many options, and that there are lots of styles and sizes to consider. By taking the time to speak with an expert about the options you have, you will be able to find the option that best suits your needs. Get started right now by reaching out to a Meredith, NH funeral home like us at Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home & Cremation Services. We are ready to help you with the arrangements that you need for your loved one. You can call us right now to learn more about what we can offer.

death announcement

Writing an Announcement of Death

When you are grieving the loss of a loved one, there will be many things that you need to do. One task is writing an announcement of death. While most people don’t know what this entails, here are tips from cremation services:

Many times it’s best to use certain phrases and words like “died,” not passed away, or died suddenly.”
Keep lists short; these statements can sound awkward if they go on too long.
Use language such as ‘was’ rather than ‘is.’ This avoids having your statement seem present tense when referring to someone who has already passed away”

If you are not sure about the differences, or if you are not sure where to begin, you can reach out to a Gilford, NH cremation service provider like us at Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home & Cremation Services. We are ready to offer the kind of services that you need for your loved one and we can do so at competitive rates. Give us a call at (603) 524-4300 or stop by our location to learn more about the services we offer. 

It can be of great help to read some examples of these announcements. You can get a good sense of the length that the announcement should be and the tone that it should have. There are many sites online where you can find examples and if you are still not sure, you can ask the provider of funerary services that you have hired.

How to Write a Death Announcement

When you are writing a death announcement, there are some things to keep in mind. It’s never easy to write this for someone else or even yourself so it can be helpful if you go through these guidelines beforehand so that the thoughts and emotions aren’t rushing at once all over your paper

A person has passed away unexpectedly and their loved ones want people who read about them online/in print media (newspapers) to know how they lived, what kind of legacy they left behind etc.

To summarize:

Keep any personal feelings out of the first sentence – just stick with facts

Try not using contractions 3-4 words max per line 5-8 lines maximum

Avoid cliches like “They were taken from

The next thing that you need to do is to write all of the details of who the person was and how they died.

Keep the information simple and do not add too much information that can confuse people. Focus on the crucial facts. Mention the location of the service and any other special requests that you may have, like donations. Keeping it simple can make a difference when writing a death announcement.

You can include a photo with the announcement of death, though keep in mind that doing so will add a bit to your budget.

Death announcements are usually printed and adding a picture can increase the total costs. You will want to remember this as you start planning the announcement for your loved one.

how to write a death announcement

You need to understand that an announcement of death is not an obituary.

An obituary is much longer, for one thing, and it focuses on the person’s life. It includes a biography, which an announcement of death does not. Many people choose to have a death announcement as well as an obituary. To let people, know as soon as the death happens, the announcement works well, giving you time to write the obituary a few days later. Keep that in mind as you decide on what works best for you.

These are some things that you want to remember when you start thinking about writing an announcement of death. You want to read examples of these announcements and you also want to be sure that you know what to include. Keep in mind that it is not the same thing as an obituary.

funeral homes in Gilford, NH

Letting a Child Know About a Death

Having a loss in the family is something that affects everyone, including children. If you are going through this now and you want to let your child know the truth about what has happened, you may not be sure of where to begin. There are some tips that can help you tell your child about what has happened. Here are the ones that directors of funeral homes in Gilford, NH want you to know about.

It is important to remember to let your child know about the death in an honest manner and without using euphemisms to try to soften the truth. Children can get confused by some terms and you do not want to make this more complicated than it has to be for them to understand. You want to be honest without being too offhand. If you are not sure how to do this, there are many resources online that can help you find the right words.

Another thing to keep in mind is that the child is likely to have questions. You want to let them be able to ask them. Be honest in the answers that you give your child, and if you are not sure about the answer to something, you want to let them know that you will try to find out for them. This can all help your child understand what is going on.

You want to let the child know how you are feeling, too. This is another important thing to do, since it can show the child that you are going through the loss just as they are. You do not want your child to feel alone with their grief, and letting them know that you are also struggling can help do this.

You need to also remember to include the child in the funerary services that you will have for the person who died. Let them know what services are planned and ask them if they want to attend. It is important to remember not to force the child to attend if they do not want to, since that can be worse. Ask them a few times as the date of the service arrives to be sure that they are ready for it.

funeral homes in Gilford, NHWhen getting ready to let your child know about the death of a loved one, these are all important things to remember. You do not want to leave your loved one wondering what the truth is, so be as honest as possible. Allow them to ask questions and tell them what you are feeling about the loss, as well. All of that can help. If you want to learn more about all of this, you can reach out to a Gilford, NH funeral home like us at Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home & Cremation Services. We have years of experience helping people manage the death of loved one, so let us help you, too. Give us a call today to learn more.

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Finding a Final Outfit for a Loved One

Before you are able to bury someone or to cremate them, you will have to choose the kind of final outfit that they would have wanted. This can be stressful to do sometimes, and you may not be sure about the options that you have. If you want to know how to best do this, there are some suggestions that experts have. Here are the things that providers of cremation services in Laconia, NH want you to know so that you can choose the best outfit.

One thing you want to remember is the personality your loved one had. If they did not like dressing up formally, you may not want to choose a very formal outfit as their final one. Think about whether they had a favorite outfit or a favorite color. All of these things will help you decide on the right outfit.

You also want to think about the kind of service you will have. The outfit that you choose for a funeral or memorial might not be the same that you choose for your loved one if you are having a celebration of life. That is crucial to remember. A celebration of life has the mood of a party, so you will want to choose an outfit that is brighter and less formal.

If your loved one wanted to be buried with a particular item, you will want to let the funeral home director know about this. There may also be an item that you want to include for the service but you do not want left for the burial or cremation. If that is the case, you will want to let the funeral home director know, as well, and remind them on the day of the service.

There are some items that cannot be cremated. This is something that you want to also want to keep in mind. Most metals with not breakdown, so avoid belt with buckles, jewelry, and even glasses. Some processed leathers are also not a good option. If you want to have a list of all of the items that cannot be broken down during cremation, you want to reach out to a funerary services provider to learn more about it.

cremation services in Laconia, NHAll of these things are important to remember when you start thinking about the final outfit for a loved one. Ask about the items that cannot break down during the cremation process and be sure to also think about the personal preferences your loved one had. By keeping in mind all of these things, you will be able to choose the best outfit possible for the person. You can ask more about this by reaching out to a Laconia, NH cremation services provider like us at Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home & Cremation Services. We have a team of experts ready to help you with any decision you need to make. Give us a call now or stop by our location to learn more about your options.

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Planning a Service for a Child

If you have suffered the loss of a child, it can be exhausting to think about making the arrangements for the service. No one wants to have to focus on this when they are dealing with the grief, so it can be important to consider some tips to help you make these plans. Here are the things that directors of funeral homes in Laconia, NH providers want you to know about planning a service for your child.

The first thing you have to do is to decide on the kind of service that you want for your child. A funeral or memorial is not always what you may want. For lots of families, a celebration of life can be a better choice. A celebration of life allows you to honor the life of your child without focusing only on their passing. A celebration of life can be a great way of honoring who your child was.

You also want to think about where you will have the service. A funeral or memorial at a church or a religious location can always be appropriate, but you can also have a service somewhere that meant something to your child. This is especially the case if you have chosen to have your child cremated, since you can transport the urn without problems. If your child loved being outdoors, for example, you can think about having a service at a park or even at the beach.

Another thing you want to think about is the kind of music that you have for the service. There are a lot of options, but you may not want to have religious or classical music for your child. If that is the case, then you can ask the funeral home director for recommendations of options that can work well for a child’s service.

The decorations you choose are another thing that you want to think about with care. Flowers are always beautiful, so consider them for the service. You may think that funeral wreaths are not the best option, however. If that is the case, you can consider asking people to donate flower arrangements. You may also think about adding balloons as decorations, especially if your child loved them.

funeral homes in Laconia, NHWhen you start planning the service for your child, you want to consider all of the options that you have. This can include the location of the service, the kind of service, and even the options that you have for decorations and music. There are lots of ways of honoring your child and you can turn to an expert to help you with this. If you want to start this process, you can learn more by reaching out to a Laconia, NH funeral home like us at Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home & Cremation Services. We are ready to help you find the best options for your loved one and for your family. You can give us a call now or you can stop by our location today.

cremation services in Meredith, NH

What to Know About Death and Social Media

There will be many things you will have to do after the death of a loved one and one of these is to think about what to do with the person’s social media and what to say on your own. You may not be sure what the right etiquette is and this can make the process much more difficult. As you get ready to make decisions and arrangements, there are some things that providers of cremation services in Meredith, NH want you to remember.

Social media can be a useful tool for letting others know of the death, but it can feel like a bit of added pressure to think about letting people know soon after. If you are not up to it yet, you can take your time. You do not have to worry about writing something online as soon as the death occurs unless you want to do so. This is something that you definitely want to keep in mind so that you have reduced stress levels.

If you can get access to your loved one’s social media, this can also be a good thing. You can let people you may not have contact with know that the person has died. If you do not have access to the social media accounts, you can ask other relatives to make the announcements on their pages so that everyone can know what has happened.

It can be a good idea to place the obituary on your social pages as well as those of your loved one. This can make it easier for people to know the details of how the person died without having to reach out to you personally, and they can also learn about the services that will take place. If you have any other special requests, like donations of flowers or other items, be sure to post it here, as well.

You can also host a kind of virtual service for your loved one online. More people are choosing to do this, allowing people from all over the world to be able to participate. You will want to think about adding pictures and sharing memories and encouraging others to do the same. It can offer the kind of solace that you and other need after a death.

cremation services in Meredith, NH

To ensure that you have a bit less stress, it can be a good idea to learn about how to use social media after this kind of loss. You want to keep in mind that you do not have to write anything if you do not feel up to it, yet, and that you do not have to worry about getting access to the person’s accounts if you cannot do so. Social media is just there to help you, not stress you even more. If you want to know more about the process of doing all of this, you can reach out to a Meredith, NH cremation service provider like us at Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home & Cremation Services. Our team is here to help you. Give us a call right now.

funeral homes in Meredith, NH

Important Funerary Terms You May Not Know

One important thing you need to do when getting ready to make arrangements for a loved one who has passed away is to know what the different terms you may hear mean. There are some common terms you may have come across many times, but there are also other ones that you may not have heard before. If that is the case, you will want to know as much as you can about them. Here are some important funerary terms you may not be sure of and that directors of funeral homes in Meredith, NH want you to keep in mind.

If your loved one chose to preplan their arrangements, you may hear terms like burial insurance, which can cover the cost of the burial. You may also hear revocable trust, which is when the person can make changes to the arrangements they made, while an irrevocable trust is one in which changes cannot be made. You may also hear about lump-sum benefits, which involve a one-time payoff for the family of the deceased if they can provide the right documentation. By knowing all of these terms, you will know what the person would have wanted for their services.

You may also hear terms related to the casket or the urn. One such term is innument, which is the actual process of placing the cremated remains into the urns. If the provider says this word, you will want to know exactly what it means. Another one you may hear is catafalque. This word refers to the stand where the casket is placed. You may also hear the word columbarium, which is the location in a cemetery where urns can be placed.

funeral homes in Meredith, NHThere are also service terms you may not be aware of. Visitations are a service where people have the chance of greeting the family of the deceased, while a viewing has the casket present and it makes it possible for you to say your goodbyes to the person. You may also have come across a celebration of life. This kind of service is one that more people are choosing to have for their loved ones. It honors the person’s life and not just their death. It can be a good option for lots of families, so be sure to consider it.

These are all important things that you will want to know about so that you can make the best possible decision for your loved one. If you hear any words that you are not sure about, it is always important to ask about them. The right provider of these services will be more than happy to answer any questions you may have. To learn more about the terms you may hear, you can reach out to a Meredith, NH funeral home like us at Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home & Cremation Services. We are here to make this process just a bit easier. You can visit us or you can give us a call today to speak with one of our experts.

cremation services in Gilford, NH

Ways of Having a Creative Memorial Service

After the death of a loved one, you may not be sure how to make the best arrangements for their funerary services. Many times, people think that choosing any options but those that are the norm can be an issue. This is something that is not true. You can choose options that are a bit different from the ones that you have seen other people choose so that you can plan a unique service for your loved one. Here are some tips that providers of cremation services in Gilford, NH want you to know so that you can have a more creative service.

One excellent way of having an original and unique memorial service is to have it somewhere other than a place of worship or a funeral home. Lots of people are opting to have the service at home. This can make the service more intimate and can make it possible for you to have fewer people at the service. With a memorial service, you do not have to worry about transporting a casket, just the urn. Think about this if you want to have the service in another location.

You also want to think about the music that you have at the service. Your loved one may not have enjoyed classical or religious music, so it can feel wrong to have that at their memorial. Instead, you can choose to have music that would have meant something to the person. Think about putting together a playlist of favorite tunes or ask other guests to suggest other music options. All of this can make a difference.

A celebration of life can be another excellent choice if you want to have another kind of service for your loved one. A celebration of life does not just focus on mourning the person’s death but also on honoring their life. This kind of service can be more like a party, with games, dancing, music, and drinks, all in honor of the person you lost and the legacy they left behind. It can be a particularly good option for younger people.

Think about the flower arrangements you choose, as well. Not everyone would want to have funeral wreaths. You can choose lots of other options, including many different kinds of bouquets. You can also ask people to donate flowers for the service, allowing the entire thing to be more unique.

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As you start making plans for your loved one’s service, you will want to think about all of the options that you have. There is no reason to have the same standard service that other people have when you can plan something more unique for the person you love. To get started learning more about all of this, you can reach out to a Gilford, NH cremation service provider like us at Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home & Cremation Services. Our team is here to answer any questions you may have about planning a memorial. Give us a call right now or stop by our location.

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How to Honor a Loved One During a Pandemic

If you have lost a loved one recently, it can be difficult to know what to do to honor their memory. With the pandemic which has limited options, it can be even more difficult to do this. You will want to consider a number of different options that are possible during these unusual times. To help you with this decision, you can turn to a director of a funeral home in Gilford, NH for more information. 

One great option you have when trying to offer your loved one the kind of tribute they deserve is to have a service online. There are lots of funeral homes these days that make this possible and that will help you make all of the necessary arrangements. You can even be present at the funeral home with one or two other people while the rest of the guests are there virtually. This can allow you to still have the kind of service that you wanted for your loved one, including one that has eulogies, music, and readings. It can be a great way of ensuring that people get the kind of closure they need after a death.  

Another option you have is to do something outdoors. If your loved one enjoyed going to a park or to the beach, you may want to consider doing something there. Think about locations the person would have appreciated and see if you can arrange to have some kind of tribute there.  

You can also do some things on your own and at home. If your loved one liked a particular movie or show, why not watch it in their honor. This can allow you to bring the person to mind and to also get a bit of closure after the loss. Something as simple as cooking one of their favorite meals can be a great option.  

Think about donating money or time to a charity the person would have wanted. For people who were interested in helping animals, for example, you can go to a shelter to help or you can donate money. This is something that can allow you to give your loved one the kind of honor that they would have wanted.  

funeral home in Gilford, NH

If you are looking for ways of honoring the memory of your loved one, you will want to consider all of these options. You can plan a virtual service, which the funeral home can help you with, and you can do other things, like donate to a favorite charity, in their name. If you want to know more about ways of honoring the memory of a loved one during a pandemic, you can reach out to a Gilford, NH funeral home like us at Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home & Cremation Services. Our team is here to help you find exactly the options you need for your loved one. You can stop by our location or you can give us a call right now to learn more about the options available.