Following a cremation ceremony, one of the most popular practices that surviving family members choose for the deceased’s ashes is scattering, which refers to distributing the deceased’s ashes in or on the ground, air, or water. Here, you will find several ideas to consider for your loved one’s ash scattering ceremony.

Incorporating the Ashes into the Ground
Two common methods of placing a deceased individual’s ashes into the earth are trenching and raking. Trenching traditionally involves digging a shallow trench, scattering the ashes along its length, and then burying them with soil. Raking refers to the process of gently raking the cremated remains into the ground, as opposed to simply scattering the decease’s ashes onto the ground. This method allows the ashes to integrate with the environment more rapidly. Before choosing either of these methods, it is important to check the area’s regulations for disposing of ashes.

Casting the Ashes from the Air
To cast a loved one’s ashes into the air or over a broad expanse of water or land, some people choose to perform the ceremony on a helicopter or plane. Before proceeding, be sure to check with the local regulations regarding this method for scattering ashes.

Additional Options to Consider
Traditionally, casting ceremonies begin with a eulogy or a brief speech, along with music or a poetry reading. These choices give you the opportunity to personalize the ceremony and pay tribute to the deceased’s life journey and their favorite musicians or authors. If your casting service is to be held in a sheltered area, then incorporating photos and candles can be a beautiful choice. Also, casting the ashes along with birdseed, wildflower seeds, or flower petals is a nice way to add a natural touch to the ceremony.

Chapel of the Chimes Oakland offers several cremation and funeral services at our funeral home in Oakland. To find out more about our funeral home ceremonies and services, please contact us by calling (510) 654-0123.

Are you in the midst of funeral planning and have questions about burial types? If so, then you may have encountered an option for mausoleum entombment. A mausoleum is a structure built to house the remains of one or more deceased individuals, and this entombment method has been in use for ages.

Because mausoleums are buildings, this allows surviving family members and friends to come and visit the burial site in comfort year-round, in spite of any inclement weather. Also, many people consider mausoleums to be an ecologically friendly option because this type of burial usually requires less land than an underground burial. Lastly, mausoleums provide an alternative for individuals who dislike the idea of underground burials or cremation.

At our memorial park in Oakland , Chapel of the Chimes Oakland provides beautiful entombment mausoleums and many other burial options. For information regarding our funeral home and its services, please call us today at (510) 654-0123.

When the health of someone that you care about is declining, experiencing feelings of grief is not uncommon. If you are involved with funeral pre-planning for an ailing loved one, then you may find yourself suffering from anticipatory grief. Read on to learn more about this grieving process and how you can cope.

Understand what you are feeling.
It is common for people to think of grief as something that occurs after a loss. While this is true, many people experience grief before a loved one’s passing if that person is in poor health or old age. This process can last a few days or a few years or more, and is referred to as anticipatory grief. During this time, it is important for you to understand that grief is a normal experience to have before a loved one’s passing.

Communicate with friends and relatives.
When experiencing anticipatory grief, communication can be a key factor in successfully handling your emotions. If you are feeling this way, then it makes sense that your loved one’s friends and other family members are as well. Reaching out to these individuals and communicating about what you are experiencing can be beneficial for everyone. Similarly, developing a support system through friends and family is an excellent way to help cope with your feelings and any responsibilities that you have for your ailing loved one.

Take advantage of grief counseling.
Many people feel that turning to counseling for help in any situation is a sign of weakness or a measure of last resort. When you are experiencing anticipatory grief, it is crucial to understand that taking advantage of counseling offers a beneficial way for anyone to express what they are going through and cope with their feelings.

At Chapel of the Chimes Oakland, our experienced staff can assist you with funeral pre-planning services, and we also offer online grief counseling in Oakland . For more information about planning ahead, please call us today at (510) 654-0123.

Whether you are assisting with funeral pre-planning for an ailing loved one, or you are organizing funeral services following the death of someone that you were close to, knowing how to cope with your emotions can be helpful during this time.

Watch this video for tips on dealing with grief and loss. Grieving the death of a loved one is different for every person, and there is no right or wrong way to go through this experience. Through this period, it is important to remember that grief is an up-and-down process, and not a simple task to complete.

Chapel of the Chimes Oakland stands as the ultimate provider of healing experiences in our community. To learn about the cremation, grief counseling, and funeral services provided by our funeral home in Oakland, please give us a call at (510) 654-0123.

When planning a cremation ceremony, it’s very important to talk to someone at your funeral home or crematorium about where you can scatter your loved one’s ashes. Planning ahead will ensure that you adhere to laws regulating cremation services and the scattering of ashes. Here is some practical advice for scattering ashes during or after a funeral service or cremation service.

Find Out Where You’re Allowed to Scatter
You must follow certain regulations when arranging cremation services and scattering ashes on private land, controlled public land, or in a public body of water, such as a lake or ocean. You shouldn’t plan a cremation ceremony on private property without written permission from the landowner. Before you scatter ashes on controlled public land, like city or federal parks, you’ll need to obtain permits and follow regulations. At least 30 days before scattering ashes in a body of water, you’ll need to notify the EPA.

Consider Keeping Some of the Ashes
You may want to keep some of the ashes as a memorial to your loved one. When you begin planning a cremation ceremony with your funeral home or crematorium, ask the funeral director about your cremation services options. You can retain some ashes in a cremation urn or cremation jewelry. You can also bury a portion of the ashes in a cemetery, or entomb them in a columbarium or mausoleum.

Include Friends and Family When Planning a Cremation Ceremony
When planning a cremation ceremony, you should include friends and family in the cremation services. The cremation ceremony will be more meaningful if other loved ones are involved in the planning process. Loved ones can also provide grief support and comfort during a difficult time.

If you’re planning a cremation ceremony near Oakland and would like to talk to an expert at a funeral home and crematorium, come see us at Chapel of the Chimes Oakland. Our compassionate staff has experience planning funeral services and cremation services for families of all cultures, religions, and ethnicities. For more information about our funeral home and crematorium, including our memorial park, mausoleum, and columbarium, call us today at (510) 654-0123.

As you begin funeral pre-planning or arranging a funeral for a veteran, you’ll have access to certain funeral services and benefits. To take advantage of these benefits and guarantee that your loved one has the funeral services and funeral ceremony that he or she deserves, it’s important to begin planning ahead and gathering as much information as possible. Here are some great tips for working with your funeral home before or after a veteran passes.

Determine Which Benefits Your Loved One is Eligible For

The military funeral service benefits that your loved one is eligible for through the VA will depend upon the length of his service, the circumstances of his discharge, and the cause of death. These benefits must be requested from the United States Department of Veterans’ Affairs. The VA will require you to provide documentation and request specific funeral services and financial aid before you can begin funeral planning.

Gather the Necessary Documentation
VA will need official documentation regarding the circumstances of your discharge and the nature and length of your service. They typically require a discharge report titled Form DD 214: Report of Separation from the Armed Forces of the United States. This form is generally automatically mailed to the veteran or next of kin. The director of your funeral home or crematorium can assist you in obtaining this form if necessary.

Make Financial Arrangements with Your Funeral Home
VA may cover some of the costs associated with the funeral service or cremation service. You can work with the director of your funeral home and cemetery to make financial arrangements for the funeral service and burial plot. These costs are covered for honorably discharged veterans who were disabled during service, retired, or died under VA contract in a VA hospital or nursing home.

If you want more information about funeral planning near Oakland for a veteran, come see us at Chapel of the Chimes Oakland. Our experienced funeral home staff can walk you through the process of arranging a funeral ceremony honoring your loved one. Call us today at (510) 654-0123 to speak with us about funeral services.

If you’re planning a cremation service for a loved one or pre-planning a funeral, you may experience anticipatory grief. Anticipatory grief is a form of grief that can occur when a loved one is elderly, ill, or injured, and you know that he or she will soon pass away. As you begin planning ahead, you may want to seek grief support services from a grief counselor through your funeral home or crematorium.

Anticipatory grief often encompasses the same five stages of grief that are present after a death: Denial, bargaining, depression, anger, and acceptance. Most grief counselors do not consider anticipatory grief to be earlier symptoms of typical grief, however. Anticipatory grief can make you feel isolated, anxious, and angry, particularly when paired with the stress of pre-planning a funeral ceremony or planning a cremation ceremony.

If you anticipate the death of a loved one and are in need of a funeral home near Oakland that offers grief support services, come see us at Chapel of the Chimes Oakland. Our compassionate funeral home staff can help you pre-plan a funeral or cremation ceremony, and offer access to grief counselors in your time of need. To learn more about our funeral services, call us today at (510) 654-0123.

At the Chapel of the Chimes Oakland, our experienced funeral home staff pride ourselves on providing compassionate, comprehensive funeral services and cremation services to our diverse community. We are able to accommodate specific needs when planning cremation ceremonies and funeral ceremonies for community members of all religions, cultures, and personal beliefs.

Watch this video to learn more about our historic funeral home, crematorium, columbarium, and memorial park. You will get a private, virtual tour of our Oakland funeral home, including the elegant spaces in which funeral ceremonies or cremation ceremonies may be held.

If you’re interested in speaking to someone at our funeral home and crematorium near Oakland , feel free to stop by for an in-person tour. We can help you pre-plan a funeral or cremation ceremony that truly honors your loved one. Call us today at (510) 654-0123 for more information.

Everybody grieves differently. Planning a funeral can be an emotionally tiring experience, but you don’t have to scatter any ashes immediately after a cremation. Instead, wait until the time is right and devise the perfect plan for scattering the ashes of a loved one. Keep reading if you are wondering when you should scatter the ashes of a deceased friend or family member.

The right time to scatter ashes depends on a multitude of factors. However, there are a few elements to keep in mind when deciding on the appropriate time. As is the case with traditional burials and funeral services, people will have the opportunity to visit their lost loved ones and pay their respects after a cremation. Since the departed may have loved ones all over the country—or even the world—it is possible that not everyone can make it to the funeral services. Before you scatter the ashes of your loved one, make sure everyone has had a chance to pay their respects and say their goodbyes.

Are you ready to learn more about cremation services or funeral planning near Oakland? Contact Chapel of the Chimes Oakland today. We offer funeral pre-planning, grief support , and much more. Give us a call at (510) 654-0123.

Death can be a difficult concept for children to wrap their minds around, and the aftermath can be just as tricky. If a close family friend or loved one undergoes cremation , your kids might have a slew of questions. Try not to shy away from your kids’ questions, and have funeral services so that they can pay their respects. Continue on for more on the process of explaining cremation to children.

Learn about cremation.
Conversations about life and death can be tough, especially when it comes to children. This is why it is important that you learn about cremation yourself before you try to explain it to your kids. Fortunately there are plenty of different ways that you can go about enhancing your knowledge of cremation; you can find resources online, talk to people you know who have had loved ones cremated, or even visit Chapel of the Chimes Oakland to learn everything you want to know about this option.

Engage your child’s curiosity.
There are countless things that spark children’s curiosity, and the last thing you want to do is shut them down. It is perfectly natural to wonder what is happening when a loved one passes away, and children are not the only ones who feel this way. If your child has questions, you should do your best to answer them. Never ignore your children’s curiosities and concerns when it comes to death, especially regarding someone close.

Have a memorial service.
Cremation can be a difficult concept to understand for kids. In some cases you can make this easier by having a traditional memorial or funeral service. This will give your kids a chance to pay their respects, and it might give them the closure they need to help them get over their loss. The specific type of memorial service you hold is up to you, but the right one can be helpful for your kids.

Chapel of the Chimes Oakland offers cremation services near Oakland. You can learn more about cremation services and other funeral services that we offer by calling us today at (510) 654-0123.