• What to Do After a Death

    Funeral Planning Oakland

    When a death occurs, it can be a trying time for your family and friends. Whether the death was expected after a long illness or more sudden, there are a number of things that must be done soon after the deceased passes. In addition to planning a funeral , other details such as deciding between cremation and burial and writing an obituary must also be considered. Since a death can happen at any time, it’s a good idea to educate yourself about what you should do after someone passes away. Read on to learn what steps you should take after a death.

    Notify the Authorities
    Once a death happens, you must let the proper authorities know so that the death certification process can begin. Death certification is done by either a doctor or a coroner, along with a funeral director. You’ll need multiple copies of the death certificate to put all of the deceased’s affairs in order, including the estate and insurance. A funeral director will need to claim the body for it to be buried or cremated, so it’s often a good idea to have a funeral home in mind before a death occurs.

    Work with Others
    In most cases, the deceased’s body must be removed within a few hours after death. That’s why you’ll need to work with a funeral director to make sure that the body is transported properly and the remains are stored. As you speak with the funeral director, you’ll discuss the deceased’s wishes as to whether he wanted traditional burial or cremation. If the deceased didn’t leave instructions, it may be up to you or your family to decide what to do with the body.

    Plan a Service
    After a death, you will have to decide what type of service to hold. A funeral takes place before the body is buried, while a memorial service takes place after the body has already been cremated or buried. You can choose to hold a service at a funeral home, a place of worship, or even the cemetery.

    When someone you care about passes away, let Chapel of the Chimes Oakland guide you through the funeral and memorialization process. Contact us at (510) 654-0123 to learn more about how we can help you and your family with funeral pre-planning near Oakland. We offer caring, compassionate service to help ease the burden during a challenging time.

  • Reasons to Consider Mausoleum Entombment

    Mausoleum Oakland

    Though death is a topic that many people try not to think about, it is a reality that must be addressed at some point. Pre-planning your own funeral can help ease the burden on your friends and family when you pass away, and ensures that your wishes will be followed. When you are funeral pre-planning, you’ll have to decide between burial and cremation. If you choose burial, you’ll then need to choose where you want to be buried. A mausoleum is a building that houses the bodies of the deceased, providing a final resting place that is safe from the elements. Instead of being buried underground, bodies are kept in crypts above ground. This method of entombment has been in use since Ancient Egypt, and is a choice of many people today since it is comparable in cost and also saves land from being used for burial.

    Contact Chapel of the Chimes Oakland at (510) 654-0123 for assistance with pre-planning your funeral, and to discuss your options for mausoleum entombment. We are a full-service cemetery offering memorialization, burial, and cremation services near Oakland for you and the people you care about. Our friendly staff members will help you with all aspects of planning ahead.

  • There are no words to express our sorrow for the people in Paris at this time.

    There are no words to express our sorrow for the people in Paris at this time. The tragedy cuts to the core of what we do and why we do it. We are sending love and saying prayers for the people of France, their friends, and families.

  • Planning Readings for a Funeral

    When someone you care about passes away, you’ll need to choose a funeral home to assist you with the arrangements. As you plan a funeral, you may want to include readings during the service that had some importance or bearing on the deceased’s life. Watch this brief video to learn how to plan readings for a funeral.

    In order to personalize a funeral service, you can ask friends and family members if the deceased had a favorite author or poet. If the deceased was a religious person, a verse from the bible or other spiritual text could make a good selection for a reading. Remember to keep the readings relatively brief so that everyone has a chance to pay their respects.

    When you’re planning a funeral near Oakland, you can rely on Chapel of the Chimes Oakland to provide you with professional and courteous services. We are a full-service cemetery and funeral home and work directly with you. Call us at (510) 654-0123 or visit our website to learn more about what we do.

  • Memorialization Options for Cremated Remains

    Funeral Home Oakland

    Death is a natural part of life, but it can still be a difficult and overwhelming experience when someone you care about passes away. In some cases, a person may leave instructions with what to do after they pass away, including specifying the desire for cremation or burial. A funeral home can help you carry out your loved one’s wishes, including offering cremation services. If cremation is the choice of your loved one, you’ll have a few different options for how to memorialize their remains. Read on to learn what you can do to create a lasting memorial for cremated remains.

    Columbarium
    Once you have the deceased’s remains in an urn, you have a choice of where to place this container. Some people choose to keep an urn in their homes, while others may place it in a columbarium. A columbarium is a room or structure with individual niches where cremated remains are placed. Opting for a columbarium has a few distinct advantages, including the fact that it is a place that anyone can visit to pay their respects. Since it is a permanent memorial, future generations may also visit a columbarium to honor their ancestors and get a sense of their personal history.

    Burial
    Even if your loved one chooses cremation, they can still be committed to the ground. Cremation remains can be buried in a cremation plot or a regular plot, and may be able to be placed in the burial plot of a family member. Like a columbarium, burial provides a permanent resting place for your loved one’s remains and more people will be able to visit the site.

    Marker
    A cremation bench, memorial rock, or grave marker with a repository can be used to memorialize your loved one’s remains. These memorials can be placed in a cemetery, though some families choose to have them placed on their own property.

    Chapel of the Chimes Oakland is a funeral home in Oakland that offers a wide range of funeral services including cremation, pre-planning, and columbarium inurnment. Contact us at (510) 654-0123 to learn more about how we can assist you and your family during this difficult time.