The aftermath of losing a loved one is a difficult experience for everyone. But even though your loved one has passed on, you will always have memories to look back upon. There are many ways in which you can keep your loved one’s memory alive for many years to come.

Make a Donation You can preserve a legacy for your loved one for years to come by making a pledge or donation in his or her name. Examples of this could include a college scholarship for children in your town or a donation to a charity with a mission that he or she admired, among others.

Hold a Memorial Memorials are a great way to commemorate a life and connect with others who miss your loved one. They don’t have to be elaborate to be memorable. You might gather some of your loved one’s friends and family at one of his or her favorite places, such as the beach, a restaurant, or even a city. Even if it’s just for an hour or two, everyone can have a chance to quell some of their own grief and share fond memories.

Plant a Tree in Their Honor You might also consider planting a tree in your yard in memory of your loved one. Pick a species that conveys something about him or her, such as an oak tree to show strength or a tree that bears his or her favorite fruit. Not only do trees live for hundreds of years, they also come to be part of your property, so that even after you sell your home and move on, future owners will always be able to look upon and admire the tall, beautiful tree that symbolizes the spirit of your late loved one.

Don’t forget that the first step after any loss is to ensure that your loved one receives a proper burial. Chapel of the Chimes offers a full range of services to put your loved one to rest with the respect and care that they deserve. Call us at (866) 475-9407 to learn more about the services that we offer.

The pain that follows the death of a loved one takes its toll on everyone in different ways, and gender plays a role in those differences. In that sense, it can be difficult for friends and family to interpret the emotions and actions displayed by their grieving peers. Here are three ways in which men and women tend to handle grief differently:

Coping with Memories Everyone must cope with memories after a loss, and the main decision is normally how one is going to handle them. Oftentimes, women will immerse themselves in the past, doing whatever they can to keep the memories alive, even if it means delaying their own recovery. This could take the form of anything from keeping pictures of their lost loved one in prominent locations to creating a shrine. Men differ starkly from women in this sense, in that their restoration tends to take priority. They will repress memories, trying to appear stronger and much closer to recovering from their grief than they really are.

Reactions A study by Yale University researchers indicated that men are more likely than women to turn to alcoholism in the wake of a loss. After exposing a group of 27 males and 27 females to emotion-provoking imagery, the researchers found that their male subjects showed emotional responses linked to alcohol cravings. The female subjects, on the other hand, reported greater feelings of sadness and anxiety, which can potentially result in depression or anxiety disorders.

Willingness to Seek Help Women tend to be much more open about their grief after loss, actively seeking out groups and other support networks to which they can vent their feelings. Men, on the other hand, are more likely to keep their mourning private. Rather than joining groups like women, they will keep their grief pent up inside them, sometimes taking up new hobbies and activities to take their mind off the pain.

You can always depend on Chapel of the Chimes to help you handle your recent loss. We offer compassionate, professional end-of-life services to assist you at every step of the way. To set up a consultation, call (866) 475-9407.

At Chapel of the Chimes in Oakland , we offer a peaceful place for your loved one to be laid to rest. For more information about the funeral-planning process, take a look at these links:

• Are you trying to choose the appropriate funeral flowers ? This page has some helpful advice.
• You can learn about arranging a funeral in this article from the National Funeral Directors Association .
• This website explores the benefits of pre-planning your funeral services.
• This article from the Cremation Association of America can help you learn about the history of cremation.
• Visit HowStuffWorks.com to find out how cremations are performed .

If you would like to learn more about our services , call us at (510) 654-0123 or visit us online.

Pre-planning your funeral with Chapel of the Chimes in Oakland ensures that, when the time comes, your loved ones will not have to worry about planning your memorial services. We are one of the top crematoriums in Northern California, and we are dedicated to easing the burdens of grieving families:

Benefit from Our Professional Experience Pre-planning your funeral allows you to take advantage of our professional experience to the fullest. Extensive pre-planning with our funeral directors ensures that your memorial is completely personal and unique. Families with reservations about funerals are doubly encouraged to consider pre-planning with Chapel of the Chimes. Our experienced funeral staff will answer all of your questions and help to alleviate your anxiety long before a funeral is actually necessary.
 
Choose Your Final Resting Place If you are considering cremation, Chapel of the Chimes can display your urn in our columbarium. Pre-planning with our staff will give you extra time to inspect the columbarium and decide if this is a good resting place for you. Time spent in the columbarium may inspire ideas for personalizing your urn as well.

Personalize Your Memorial Service At Chapel of the Chimes in Oakland, we offer signature services to help you personalize your memorial service. These optional services range from memorial bracelets to majestic harp performances. Pre-planning your funeral with us gives you plenty of time to review these services as well as work out a budget for your memorial services.

The biggest benefit of pre-planning your funeral services is achieving peace of mind. By pre-planning, your loved ones will not be stressed financially or emotionally after you pass. Contact Chapel of the Chimes in Oakland at (510) 654-0123 if you’d like to learn more about pre-planning your funeral services. You can also visit us online to learn about our beautiful and historical facilities and our cremation services.

Let Chapel of the Chimes in Oakland celebrate the memory of your loved one with our signature services. These services are designed to make a memorial as personal and memorable as possible. Here is a look at a few of our most popular signature services:  

Memory Portrait If you are looking to commemorate the image of your loved one, our professional artists can create a fine oil portrait based on a photograph. The portrait comes in your choice of a 24 x 36 glass and walnut frame or a 16 x 20 gold and maple frame. The portrait is presented at the memorial service where it can be seen by visiting friends and family members. A Memory Portrait is also an easy way to personalize the funeral even when the body cannot be viewed.

Musical Tributes Music is a powerful way to celebrate the memory of a precious family member. At Chapel of the Chimes in Oakland, we offer musical tributes performed by bagpipe players, vocalists, violinists, or a harp player. The style of music and song selection can be personalized as well. Choose some of your loved one’s favorite songs, or select powerful musical pieces that capture your loved one’s character. Regardless of the type of music you select, attendees are sure to be moved.

Symbolic Presentations We also offer several symbolic presentations for your loved one’s services. For example, a white dove release can be used to symbolize your loved one’s life journey. We also offer a butterfly release to represent family and the cycle of rebirth.

Choose Chapel of the Chimes in Oakland to help you design the perfect memorial tribute. You can learn more about our signature services by visiting us online or calling us today at (510) 654-0123. Our professional staff will be happy to answer all of your questions.

Chapel of the Chimes in Oakland is a funeral home that provides personalized services that celebrate the life of a precious family member. Our long list of signature services can help you create a completely unique memorial.

This video shows how our signature services can personalize a funeral. You can choose a portrait of your family member, a video tribute, specialized pins for guests, or a stunning dove release.

Chapel of the Chimes in Oakland is the area’s best crematory and columbarium. We specialize in providing personalized funeral services that truly capture the memory of your lost loved one. Call us today at (510) 654-0123 if you’d like to learn more about our services.
 

You can learn more about the funeral-planning process by reviewing these links.

• CancerCare.org discusses how to cope with the loss of a mother or father .
• MedicineNet.com provides relevant information about the stages of grief.
• Visit the National Funeral Directors Association for information about cremation in the United States.  
• This article from Grandparents.com can prepare you to talk about death and loss with a child.
• This article provides readers with important questions to ask their funeral directors .

For more information, call Chapel of the Chimes in Oakland at (510) 654-0123. Our directors can help guide you as you plan funeral services for a loved one or as you consider pre-planning your own services.
 

It can be extremely difficult to prepare a eulogy for a friend or loved one, as the speech must somehow encapsulate the life of the deceased. This video has tips on how to prepare a respectful and poignant eulogy.

When writing a eulogy, it’s important to speak with the family of the deceased. By learning more about the late loved one, you have more experiences to draw from as you prepare your eulogy. You can also work with a professional funeral director to perfect your speech.

Chapel of the Chimes in Oakland has proudly served the community since 1909. Call us at (510) 654-0123 or visit our website if you have questions about eulogy preparation, cremation or funeral planning.

The loss of a parent can be extremely difficult, regardless of the parent’s age or health. This devastating event can send an entire family into intense emotional turmoil. However, there are many proven strategies for coping with the loss of a parent:  

Take Time Everyone experiences and processes grief differently, so the coping process can vary in length from person to person. Resist the impulse to rush through your grieving process. This behavior will only make the coping process more difficult in the long run .

Be Honest The emotions you feel after the loss of a parent can be unpredictable. There’s no right or wrong way to feel about the passing of a loved one—allow every emotion you experience to come to the surface. Though these rushes of emotions may be uncomfortable, they are also an important part of the coping process.

Acknowledge Loss A journal is a great tool for coping with the loss of a parent. Consider recording some of your favorite family memories in the journal. By coming to grips with everything you’ve lost, you’ll be in a better position to grieve properly.

Make Connections If your parent has passed away, don’t try to cope with the loss on your own. Instead, reach out to neighbors and loved ones for support. A friend or family member can offer emotional support during this trying time. You can also find several online resources that explain grief, where it comes from, and how to resolve the feeling.

Chapel of the Chimes in Oakland is one of the oldest and most beautiful resting places in Northern California. That’s why so many families trust us to handle their funeral proceedings. Contact us today at (510) 654-0123 or visit us online to learn more about our funeral and memorial services.