Mausoleums are commonplace in today’s cemeteries. They are used for above-ground burials, and they are found all over the world. Mausoleums date back to 377 B.C. and the ancient ruler Mausolus.

Mausolus was the ruler of Halicarnassus, an ancient city that is now Bodrum, Turkey. After Mausolus died, his wife—and sister—Artemisia wanted to honor him by building the most extravagant tomb anywhere in the world. The structure was made of white marble in Greek, Egyptian, and Lycian styles and was so closely associated with Mausolus that this style burial tomb was named after him—mausoleum. Named one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the tomb was eventually destroyed by the Crusaders. Some of the works held in the mausoleum were spared and eventually uncovered by an archeologist. They are now displayed at the British Museum.

Chapel of the Chimes Oakland offers indoor mausoleum spaces for burial as well as private family estates. Whether you’re funeral pre-planning for yourself or need to explore your options for a lost loved one, our funeral home can help. Get more information by calling our Oakland funeral home at (510) 654-0123.

After losing a loved one, doing something special to honor their memory will bring comfort to you and your family. Working with your funeral home to create a personalized service that truly reflects your loved one is the first step. After the initial stage of saying goodbye has ended, a longer-lasting tribute, like a tree, can be a great choice.

Watch this video to learn how to plant a tree that serves as a memorial to your loved one. Although there are no rules for what kind of tree to choose, try to pick one that is suited to your climate and that has a sentimental value for you.

At Chapel of the Chimes Oakland, our funeral home can assist you in all stages of funeral planning, from choosing between burial and cremation to designing a memorial service. In your time of need, call our funeral home in Oakland at (510) 654-0123.

When you lose a loved one, grieving is not something that ends when the funeral service is over. Grief can be a palpable part of your life for years, and many people eventually need to seek grief counseling to help them learn to cope with their feelings. For people living with a loss, mindfulness can be a way to move forward. By being mindful of your feelings and proactive about finding a new way to approach life, you can learn to control your grief rather than letting it control you. Here are some ways to practice mindfulness as you deal with a loss.

Be Reflective
Take time to consider other painful experiences in your life and how you managed them. Think about the strategies you used to cope, and ask yourself if any of those efforts could help you now. You should also think about how you felt as you were recovering from past hardships and if there were any signs you can recognize that you were turning a corner in your recovery. Seeing that you have faced pain in the past and that you did recover can give you the confidence that you have the tools to get through this as well.

Stay Centered
It’s inevitable that overwhelming feelings of sadness, regret, and helplessness will strike you as you’re grieving. These feelings may come out of nowhere when you think you are feeling strong. Rather than trying to block these feelings, acknowledge them and experience them, but then practice meditation or try deep breathing. These practices ground you and anchor you to the present, so you can be in control of your feelings.

See the Future
Set time aside to focus on the kind of future you can see for yourself. It may be helpful to look for a way that you can engage with some of your interests and honor your lost loved one at the same time. By seeing a future for yourself, you can see a way to manage your feelings.

At Chapel of the Chimes Oakland, our compassionate staff is here to assist families who are making decisions about funeral services, burial, and cremation during difficult times. Find out how we can help you by calling our funeral home in Oakland at (510) 654-0123.

Funeral pre-planning ensures that your final wishes are honored and relieves your loved ones of the burden of making difficult decisions at an emotional time. When you pass, your plans can simply be put into action by the funeral home, allowing your loved ones to focus on their grief and comforting each other. If you wish to have a secular funeral service, then pre-planning can be even more important, because it allows you to state your wishes explicitly. Here are some tips for pre-planning your secular funeral.

State Your Wish for a Secular Service
Even if your friends and family know you to be a non-religious person, don’t assume that that means that they will know you want a secular service. Without specific instructions, some family members may plan a religious service for you out of tradition, while others may do so because they believe strongly in the importance of a religious ceremony. Your funeral plan should specify clearly that you want a secular service, so that there are no questions about your wishes. Likewise, don’t rely on stating that you want a secular service in your will or other estate documents, as they will usually not be read until after the funeral.

Choose Readings
Considering choosing readings for your service during the pre-planning process. This will take this responsibility off the shoulders of your family, and it gives you an opportunity to choose secular pieces that speak to you. You may also wish to do the same for the music included in your ceremony.

Find a Service Location
For religious funerals, the place of worship is usually where the funeral services are held. With a secular service, you have more options. The funeral home that is assisting with the planning process can help you find a location for your service that is experienced in holding secular funerals.

Chapel of the Chimes Oakland is adept at accommodating the beliefs and preferences of all of the families who come to us. For assistance with funeral pre-planning in Oakland, please call (510) 654-0123.

For a young child, death is not an easy concept to understand. After a loved one passes away, in the midst of dealing with your grief, it’s important to explain the death clearly to the young people who are affected by it so that they too can grieve the loss in a healthy way. Even if you decide it’s not appropriate for your children to go to the funeral home, you may still want to take some time to explain death to them.

Watch this video for advice on explaining death to young children. When doing so, remember to use honest language and avoid euphemisms, like going to sleep or going to a better place, which can create fear and confusion.

At Chapel of the Chimes Oakland, our compassionate funeral home staff understands how overwhelming funeral planning can be, and we are here to support you every step of the way. When you need our services, call our funeral home in Oakland at (510) 654-0123.