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16 04, 2021

Make Family the Foundation for Funeral Planning

By | 2021-03-30T19:02:35-04:00 April 16th, 2021|Pre-planning|0 Comments

There are two ways to take care of funeral planning: 1) you can plan your own funeral in advance or 2) your survivors can plan your funeral for you after your death. Regardless of when it is planned, or who plans the funeral, the planning needs to start with your family. Your family should be the foundation for funeral planning. After all, the funeral is not really for the deceased…it is for those who survive. We show respect for all human life in the manner in which we care for the body that housed the soul or spirit of our [...]

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2 04, 2021

How to dress for a funeral

By | 2021-03-30T18:41:22-04:00 April 2nd, 2021|Funerals|0 Comments

First, understand that what you wear to the funeral is much less important than actually going to the funeral or gathering.  Don’t underestimate the value of your presence. Your kind words, shared stories, or even just a hug will mean a great deal to friends and family when there has been a death. Don’t let not having a pair of dress shoes keep you from offering your support. That being said, what you wear depends on several different factors. The first thing to consider is who died. If your 80-year-old grandfather passed, the funeral is likely to be more traditional. [...]

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19 03, 2021

How to Say the Right Thing at a Funeral

By | 2021-02-23T18:55:17-05:00 March 19th, 2021|Funerals|0 Comments

First, take a deep breath and relax. We all worry that we’ll say the wrong thing. Second, know that you don’t have to be eloquent. While we wish it were so, you can’t make everything all better with a few words. Here are a few simple ideas to keep in mind to be sure you say the right thing when attending a funeral. Don’t underestimate the power of your presence. It’s important. Just being there says more than you can know. Keep your words simple. “I’m sorry for your loss” may be all that is needed. Share your story. If [...]

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17 03, 2021

What to expect at a funeral

By | 2021-04-02T11:28:56-04:00 March 17th, 2021|Uncategorized|0 Comments

We’ve all been there. Going to a funeral can be a little daunting, especially if it’s your first or if it’s been awhile since you attended one. Let’s talk a little bit about some of the terms you will hear and what you can expect in general. There’s a great deal of variety in funeral service today. The funeral home works with the surviving family to help them choose service options that reflect their lifestyle and belief system. The spouse, parents, or children of the deceased determine the content of the service. The service typically includes: A gathering or visitation [...]

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5 03, 2021

Control funeral costs by planning ahead

By | 2021-02-23T18:51:25-05:00 March 5th, 2021|Pre-planning|0 Comments

How does planning for your funeral in advance save you money? Doesn’t it just let the funeral home make money on your money? How big a part should emotion play in your funeral selections? First, let’s be honest. Emotion is not a bad thing. Some life events should move us emotionally. Marriage, birth, and death all appropriately tug at our heartstrings. But the cost of all three can also get out of hand if you make all the decisions when emotions are running high. Put the word “wedding” in front of anything and the cost doubles. If you’ve ever planned [...]

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5 02, 2021

What Do Funeral Directors Do?

By | 2021-04-08T09:08:30-04:00 February 5th, 2021|Uncategorized|0 Comments

It’s late, why is the light on at the funeral home? Today, there was a funeral. People cried. Tissues were crumpled and left on the tables.  Flower petals fell to the floor. Now, the cleaning staff is making things tidy for the family who will be here tomorrow. It’s late, why is the light on at the funeral home? Someone in our town died away from home, the funeral director is traveling many miles to bring him home and into the funeral home’s care. The light is on in anticipation of his safe return. It’s late, why is the light [...]

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9 12, 2020

7 Tips For Dealing with Grief and the Holidays

By | 2020-12-09T17:46:32-05:00 December 9th, 2020|Grief Support|0 Comments

By: Victoria Assumma LCSW-R The Holidays are challenging times when dealing with the emotional impact of losing a loved one. This year has been extraordinarily difficult with the COVID-19 restrictions, leaving people with a profound sense of loneliness and feelings of disconnect. As the holidays approach it is important to put things in perspective. 1. Plan ahead and let others know your wishes and thoughts for the holidays. No one can read your mind.  Let others know how you are coping and what your plans are for the holidays, in advance, to alleviate pressure and stress. Be open to compromise, [...]

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30 06, 2020

For The Safety Of Our Community and Our Staff

By | 2020-08-19T09:12:52-04:00 June 30th, 2020|Uncategorized|0 Comments

What You Can Expect From Us Complete Disinfections All surfaces are thoroughly cleaned and sanitized between family visits Protective Gear Our funeral directors and staff are provided with gloves and masks Limited Gathering Sizes We continue to monitor the situation and follow CDC recommendations Pre-Screenings Families are assessed before being allowed entry into gathering areas Social Distancing Furnishings have been rearranged to allow for social distancing Virtual Visits Click Here or call 914-949-0566 to make arrangements with our caring staff [...]

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30 04, 2020

Ten Freedoms for Using Ceremony During the COVID-19 Pandemic

By | 2020-04-30T15:32:47-04:00 April 30th, 2020|Uncategorized|0 Comments

by Alan D. Wolfelt, Ph.D. If someone you love has died during the novel coronavirus pandemic, you have come to grief in an exceptionally challenging moment in history. You may have been separated from your loved one as they were dying. You may have been unable to view or spend time with the body after the death. You may have been prevented from having the full funeral you wanted because of gathering and travel restrictions. And people who care about you may not have been able to be near you to support you in your grief. These and other pandemic-related [...]

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28 04, 2020

Grieving a Coronavirus Death: Help for Special Circumstances

By | 2020-04-28T09:02:09-04:00 April 28th, 2020|Uncategorized|0 Comments

by Alan D. Wolfelt, Ph.D.   If someone you love has died of the novel coronavirus, it is likely that you are facing a number of challenging circumstances. Grief is always difficult, but it is especially difficult whenever a death is sudden, unexpected, and unfolds in ways that violate our expectations and puts up barriers to the cultural grief rituals that help us through. I have been a grief counselor and educator for over forty years, and this pandemic is unlike anything I have encountered. I am sorry you have been so deeply affected by this hardship. First, it is [...]

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