If someone close to you has lost a loved one, preparing for the cremation or funeral service often involves writing a sympathy card. Watch this video for advice on proper etiquette for this type of condolence.

When writing a sympathy card, it’s important to use delicacy and restraint in your wording in order to help the recipient to feel respected and supported. Humor can be used if it’s not disrespectful toward the recipient of the deceased. You will want to sensitively acknowledge their loss without telling them how they should feel or that you understand what they’re going through.

Many funeral homes and cemeteries can supply sympathy cards and memorial gifts. If you are planning a cremation or funeral ceremony near Oakland, Chapel of the Chimes Oakland offers several beautiful services. We can be reached at (510) 654-0123.

When you begin pre-planning a funeral , you will have the option to choose burial or cremation services. The choice you make may depend upon your own personal religious and cultural beliefs. Here is a look at some major religious perspectives on the practice of cremation.

The Catholic Church’s Views on Cremation
Until 1963, the Catholic Church didn’t support cremation services. The Church believes that funeral services should follow the path of Jesus’ death and resurrection, and after death, the body and soul pass from the physical world to live on in the afterlife. Due to the Catholic belief in the body as a temple for the Holy Spirit, and faith in the resurrection of the body, there’s a strong preference on entombing or burying the body. After 1963, the Church relaxed its ban on cremation services, but still prefers the body be present for the funeral mass. After cremation, the remains must be buried or entombed, and cannot be scattered.

Buddhist and Hindu Cremation Services
The Buddhist religion allows for cremation or burial. After cremation, the remains may be kept by the family, enshrined in a columbarium or memorial park, or scattered at sea. According to the Hindu tradition, every member of the Hindu faith is cremated after death. The only exception to this tradition is babies, children, and saints.

Jewish Beliefs About Cremation
The views on cremation services depend upon the degree of orthodoxy of the deceased. Orthodox Jews believe that cremation is unacceptable, and that the body must be buried in a burial plot at a Jewish cemetery. Conservative Jews oppose cremation, but a rabbi might agree to perform a funeral service for someone who has been cremated. Reform Jews and Reform rabbis support cremation services.

If you’re interested in learning more about cremation near Oakland , come see us at Chapel of the Chimes Oakland. We can help you arrange a funeral, memorial, or cremation that follows the traditions and beliefs of any religion or culture. To learn more about our funeral home and memorial park, call us today at (510) 654-0123.

The Conversation Project is a non-profit organization that promotes the discussion of preferences for end of life care, and planning ahead for funeral, burial, or cremation services. The organization works in collaboration with the Institute for Healthcare Improvement to provide community members with information about the benefits of funeral pre-planning.

When people feel comfortable talking to their families about their wishes for their funeral service, they can save their families from a lot of stress and heartache. After a death, many families experience extreme financial and emotional difficulty when burdened with the task of planning a funeral and paying the high costs associated with funeral homes, cemeteries, and burial plots. When you pre-plan a funeral, you can ensure that your wishes are followed, and the financial and emotional burden is lifted from your family.

If you’re interested in learning more about the Conversation Project or funeral pre-planning in Oakland, come see us at Chapel of the Chimes Oakland. We can walk you through the process of pre-planning a funeral or cremation ceremony. To speak with one of our compassionate and knowledgeable funeral home employees about funeral pre-planning, call us today at (510) 654-0123.

Depending upon the religious, ethnic, and cultural background of the deceased, modern funeral home ceremonies are often less formal than they were in the past. While some religions dictate very specific funeral traditions, others are more flexible and less strict. Here is a look at the basics of modern funeral etiquette , absent any specific religious or cultural traditions.

What to Wear to a Funeral or Memorial Service
Unless you’re specifically directed to wear a certain type of clothing, you should assume that funeral attire is semi-formal. Women should wear pants or mid-to-long skirts or dresses, with blouses or modest shirts. They should avoid wearing anything revealing or immodest. Men should avoid wearing shorts, t-shirts, or sandals. They should instead wear dress pants and a dress shirt.

How to Behave at the Funeral Service, Memorial, and Burial
You should arrive on time to the funeral service, memorial service, or burial. Don’t use your cell phone or camera during the service. When you speak, use quiet or hushed tones. Don’t leave the funeral or memorial service early unless you sit near the back and can do so without interrupting. It’s customary for only family and very close friends to speak during a funeral service or memorial service.

How to Support the Family of the Deceased
If the family of the deceased has requested that donations or memorial gifts be made to a specific charity, you can support them in their time of loss by honoring these wishes. You can also offer to bring food or beverages to the funeral or memorial reception, if appropriate. The best form of grief support after the death of a loved one is simply offering to be there for the family, and asking them if there is anything specific that they need.

If you want more information about funeral services in Oakland, come see us at Chapel of the Chimes Oakland . We have years of experience planning funerals, burials, and memorial services for community members of all ethnicities, religions, and cultural backgrounds. To learn more about our funeral home, crematorium, and memorial park, call us today at (510) 654-0123.