• Creating a Personalized Memorial

    Cemetery

    After your loved one passes, you want to do everything you can to honor his or her life. In addition to planning a tasteful funeral service, creating a personal and elegant memorial can help ensure that your loved one’s memory lives on. Chapel of the Chimes will answer any questions you have and help you design the ideal memorial.

    An elegant bench memorial made of natural stone can provide an elegant and useful reminder of your loved one’s life. There are numerous kinds of benches to choose from, including an Army veteran bench or an 19th century Italian bench. Other elegant options include upright monuments, private cremation estates, and pedestals. If you’re looking for something a little simpler, you might consider a traditional flat memorial with a profound epitaph. For help determining which memorial best represents your loved one, consult friends and family members.

    Chapel of the Chimes offers a wide selection of tasteful memorials, including those listed above. To speak with a representative from our Oakland-area funeral home , call us at (510) 654-0123.

  • Understanding the Elements of a Military Funeral

    WWII Veteran Funeral

    Those who selflessly give their lives in service to the nation receive the full honors of a dignified military funeral. Family members learn of the passing away of their loved one with a personal visit from a military chaplain and a service member. As this is occurring, arrangements are already in place for the dignified transfer of the remains to the funeral home .

    Dignified Transfer

    The U.S. military developed strict protocols to ensure that the remains of all service members are handled with the utmost respect and care. Fallen service members re-enter the U.S. through Dover Air Force Base in Delaware. Family members may choose to allow news coverage of the return of fallen heroes, or they may prefer to keep the ceremony private. The remains are then carefully prepared and dressed in full dress uniform. A direct military flight brings the fallen hero to the nearest airport to the family. However, the family may request a commercial flight if they prefer. Traditionally, a military escort accompanies the remains ; however, the family may choose that an escort not be used.

    Rendering Honors

    At all transfer points, military personnel are on hand to render honors. The fallen service member is carried with the utmost respect at all times and he or she always travels feet-first. An honor guard, including the military escort, accompanies the remains to the funeral home.

    Honor Guard

    When a military family chooses to have the funeral at a national cemetery, a six-man honor guard carries the flag-draped casket to the grave. A committal service is read and the honor guard holds the American flag over the casket. Three volleys are fired and “Taps” is played by a bugler. Then, the American flag is ceremoniously folded and an officer presents it to the family with a salute.

    Private Cemetery

    Some families choose to have the funeral at a private cemetery. In these cases, the honor guard may perform slightly less formal arrangements. However, the basic elements of the dignified military funeral remain.

    Chapel of the Chimes is proud to offer veteran’s honors to service members and their families. Please call our funeral home in Oakland at (510) 654-0123 to discuss dignified arrangements or to request a veteran’s preplanning guide. We also invite you to tour our beautifully landscaped grounds.

  • Above-Ground Entombment Options

    White coffin with pink sympathy flowers

    Your loved one’s funeral service and memorial should reflect his or her preferences and unique personality. If your loved one was averse to a traditional burial, consider an above-ground entombment. Above-ground entombment is ideal for those who did not like the thought of being buried in the earth. It is also ideal for family members who desire a permanent place to visit their loved one’s remains and reflect upon their cherished memories.

    One type of above-ground entombment option is an indoor mausoleum. You can put your loved one to his or her final rest in a climate-controlled crypt. Indoor mausoleums also include cremation options. For some families, staying physically close to each other after death is ideal. These families may wish to consider a private family estate. Family members will have crypts and urn interment niches close to each other.

    Chapel of the Chimes is a funeral home in Oakland dedicated to providing tasteful, customizable funeral and cremation options for local families. We provide indoor mausoleums and private family estates for both cremation and burial. If you have any questions, call our funeral home at (510) 654-0123.

  • Choosing Between Cremation and Burial

    When deciding whether to have your loved one buried or cremated, the most important factor to consider is his or her final wishes. If the preferences of your loved one are unknown; however, you can consider the benefits of each option to decide which is best for your family. Cremation is becoming an increasingly popular option because it is cost-effective and allows for flexibility. It may also be ideal for loved ones who were concerned about the environment because it saves land space.

    To learn more about cremation options, watch this video. You’ll view an interview with a funeral director and see a selection of tasteful biodegradable urns. You’ll also learn some of the reasons why cremation is becoming increasingly popular.

    For more than 100 years, the professionals of Chapel of the Chimes have been assisting Oakland-area families with compassionate and personalized end-of-life services, including traditional funerals with burial to follow and cremation services. Call our funeral home at (510) 654-0123 and let us know how we can help you honor your loved one .