Chapel Of The Chimes Oakland - A Lifemark Group Property

Why You Should Consider Funeral Pre-Planning

The love and support you give to your family in life is of immense importance. Even in death, though, you can still provide comfort and peace of mind to your loved ones. Funeral pre-planning is becoming an increasingly popular choice for individuals of all ages. If you have yet to coordinate your funeral services, consider the many benefits that this action can have for you and your family. 

Prevent Emotional Distress

Saying goodbye to a loved one can be one of life’s most difficult moments. No matter the circumstances surrounding your passing, your family is likely to experience considerable grief over it. Trying to plan a funeral during this time can be quite challenging. To help ease the emotional burden of having your family arrange your funeral service, you can do it for them. Funeral homes make it easy to select your casket, burial arrangements, and other aspects of your funeral service so that your loved ones can be spared this process.

Ease Financial Costs

Funeral services can be highly affordable in many instances, but they still require expense on the part of your family. Trying to determine whether your loved ones can easily afford your funeral years ahead of time can be a difficult task. Instead, remove all worry from their minds by pre-planning your funeral now. With prepayment for your services, both you and your family can rest assured that your passing will not put your loved ones in a financially challenging situation.

Avoid Misunderstandings

If you do not make your funeral wishes known, your loved ones may only be able to guess your preferences after your passing. Though they will have your best interests at heart, they may also have conflicting opinions about how best to coordinate your funeral service. Differing ideas can increase stress during this emotionally charged time, but you have the ability to avoid this scenario. Pre-planning your funeral can make clear what you want for your service and prevent potential conflicts.

Are you considering pre-planning your funeral service? If so, talk to the experts at Chapel of the Chimes Oakland. We can help you arrange all of the details of your funeral. Call (510) 455-4004 or visit our website to learn more about our complete funeral service options.

Receptions After the Funeral Service

Funeral services can give friends and family members of a lost loved one the opportunity to celebrate his life and legacy. During this time, having others to share memories with is key to the grieving process. That is why Chapel of the Chimes Oakland offers beautiful reception services for our guests. Our reception areas provide funeral service attendees with the chance to find support and comfort in the presence of their loved ones, and our catering options can provide ample nourishment as well. Being able to come together and remember the life of a friend or family member can be a healing experience, so let Chapel of the Chimes Oakland help you arrange a reception that fits your needs.

Would you like to learn more about our reception services? If so, call Chapel of the Chimes Oakland at (510) 455-4004 to set up an appointment. Our friendly and knowledgeable staff would be happy to discuss our complete funeral service options with you.

How to Arrange a Military Funeral

If your lost loved one served the country in the military, honoring him or her with a military funeral can be a fitting final tribute. When choosing a funeral home, be sure to select one that offers military funerals and understands the process. With the support of the funeral home, there are some steps to take to ensure that all requirements are met. Here is a look at the things you will need to do in the course of planning a military funeral. 

Arrange for Military Honors

Having an honor guard at the funeral of your lost loved one is an important part of planning a military funeral. The honor guard should be from the branch of the military in which your loved one served. Start by contacting the honor guard representative for that branch for advice. Veterans groups, such as the American Legion, can also help make arrangements for military honors.

Request Appropriate Memorial Items

There are a number of memorial items that veterans are eligible for, but they must be requested. Military headstones and markers are available through the VA, as are request forms for Presidential Memorial Certificates. You can also place a request for a burial flag. In many cases, the funeral home can help you complete the necessary paperwork for these requests in time for the funeral.

Seek Funeral Reimbursement

Reimbursement for some or all funeral costs is available for veterans. Unless you have chosen to have your loved one buried at a military cemetery, you will need to apply for this funding and submit proof of your expenses and proof that they have been paid in full. This is another area in which the funeral home can help.

At Chapel of the Chimes Oakland, we’re experienced in planning ceremonies for veterans and can help you honor this important aspect of your loved one’s life during his or her funeral. For more information about our funeral home services, please call (510) 455-4004.

Signature Services from Chapel of the Chimes

At Chapel of the Chimes Oakland, we offer a number of Signature Services to help families plan personalized funeral services that truly honor lost loved ones. Our Signature Services can be mixed and matched to help you best honor your loved one’s final wishes.

The Flight Home Ceremony, in which a dozen doves are released to signify the soul of the lost family member, is one of our Signature Services. We also offer a digital guestbook, a themed registry package, framed memorial portraits, memorial jewelry, and a life tribute DVD with digital photos. We can also provide a harpist, vocalist, bagpipe player, and memorial bracelets for funeral attendees.

To learn about our full range of Signature Services, call Chapel of the Chimes Oakland at (510) 455-4004. Our funeral home can help families with all aspects of funeral planning, including cremation services. Rely on us when you need to plan a ceremony for a lost loved one or to learn about pre-planning services.    

Reasons to Seek Grief Support

Grief is a natural experience after the loss of a loved one, but that doesn’t make dealing with it any easier. Although you may be tempted to try to battle grief on your own, there are many reasons why support can be the best option, particularly after the funeral ends and life returns to some sort of normal. If you’ve been on the fence about whether grief support could benefit you, here are some reasons to consider giving it a try. 

Discuss Your Feelings Without Worry

During the funeral, you’ll be surrounded by family and friends who are eager to listen and support you. After the funeral, even with the best of intentions, it’s natural for those people to begin to resume their normal activities. You may get the impression that they want you to snap out of your grief or that they simply can’t grasp what you’re going through. By joining a grief support group, you can discuss your feelings without worrying that you’re burdening someone or that they don’t understand where you’re coming from. Talking about your experiences with people who are going through the same thing can be a helpful release.

Learn Coping Skills

There is no roadmap for grief, and what works for one person may not work for another. When you’ve been shaken by a loss, however, you may have no idea how to even begin coping on your worst days. In a grief support group, you learn how people in your same position are coping and get ideas for strategies that you can also try.

Discover New Ways to Honor Lost Loved Ones

Finding ways to incorporate the memories of your lost loved one into your life can bring relief. Within a grief support group, you can learn about new traditions other people coping with grief have developed that may also be a good fit for your family.

At Chapel of the Chimes Oakland, supporting families in their grief is one of the most important parts of our funeral planning services. Get more information about our funeral home in Oakland by calling us at (510) 455-4004. You can also learn more on our website.