• Our Reception Services

    Funeral Home Oakland

    Funeral homes provide many spaces and services to help grieving families plan memorials for their lost loved ones. Here at Chapel of the Chimes Oakland, we know that the burial isn’t the only part of the funeral with which families will be concerned. We also offer reception services to help you plan a meal and other special activities with guests after the funeral service.

    We can help you plan a reception following the funeral by setting you up with a caterer that will work for your budget. This will make it easy to plan a meal that your friends and family members will be able to enjoy while sharing memories about the deceased. Our reception services can help you avoid the stress of working with a variety of different people in order to put the funeral together.

    If you are looking for a funeral home in Oakland, Chapel of the Chimes Oakland can provide the services you want to honor your loved one. You can learn about our funeral home, mausoleums, and grief support services by calling us at (510) 654-0123.

  • Making Cremation Arrangements for a U.S. Veteran

    Cremation Oakland

    If you have recently lost a loved one who was a U.S. Veteran , you may have some questions about how to plan the memorial service. When choosing cremation for this type of deceased individual, it is important to know how Veteran status should impact the memorial. Keep reading to learn how to make cremation arrangements for a U.S. Veteran:

    Learning About Cremation
    Cremation is typically seen as an alternative to traditional burial that has become more popular among more people. While some people choose cremation due to religious or cultural beliefs, others choose it because it costs less than traditional burial and also has a lesser impact on the environment. If your loved one didn’t specify any plans for what they wanted to happen after they passed on, it’s important to talk to your family members about the possibility of cremation.

    Choosing a Spot for Cremated Remains
    While cremation is an alternative to burial, the cremated remains can still be buried in a cemetery as a way to honor your deceased loved one. These remains can be buried in a specific spot of the cemetery that is designated to honor U.S. Veterans only. You can also place the cremated remains into separate groups. This will allow you to bury some of the cremated remains in the cemetery but also have some to keep in an urn or other container for cremated remains that you can keep in your home or another special location.

    Planning a Memorial Service
    Whether you want to bury some of the cremated remains or keep them, you can still plan a memorial service for your recently lost loved one. A memorial park can host a service for your lost loved one whether you are choosing cremation services or traditional burial.

    Are you preparing cremation arrangements for a U.S. Veteran? Chapel of the Chimes Oakland can help you throughout the planning process. You can learn more about cremation options in Oakland by visiting our website or giving us a call at (510) 654-0123.

  • What Should I Write in a Condolence Card?

    Funeral Home Oakland

    Funeral homes provide a space where family and friends can come together to celebrate the life of a lost loved one. It is also customary for guests to bring flowers, gifts, and condolence cards to those closest to the deceased. If you’re wondering what you should write in the condolence card you’re preparing for a funeral, this guide can help:

    Express Condolences
    It is always a good idea to start off a condolence card by sharing a message of sympathy. Talk about how you will miss the deceased and how you are sorry for the family’s loss. Avoid common expressions about the deceased being in a better place or a higher power having some sort of plan, as these can seem insensitive to some during a time of grief.

    Show Appreciation
    Following a death, it is nice for the family of the deceased to hear positive things about their lost loved one. In your condolence card, you can describe qualities about the deceased that you appreciated or that you felt made your life better. These messages will help the family focus on what they loved about the deceased.

    Share Memories
    Another great way to fill out a condolence card is with cherished memories you have of the deceased. Write up a short memory that represents a quality you loved about the deceased. These memories can comfort the family, especially if they are stories that the family has never heard.

    Offer Support
    You might not be able to make the family’s pain or grief go away, but you can offer other forms of support. In your condolence card, express that you are available to help the family in any way possible. This can mean being there to talk or just listen or even helping with household chores that the family might neglect during their time of grief.

    Chapel of the Chimes Oakland offers funeral services near Oakland. We also have a store where funeral home guests can purchase flowers and other gifts that are appropriate and comforting during funeral planning. Call us at (510) 654-0123 for more information.

  • Etiquette Tips for Attending Your First Funeral

    If you’ve never attend a funeral before, you may be unsure of what to do, what to say, or even how to dress before heading to the funeral home. Learning about proper funeral service etiquette will help you feel more comfortable and ensure that you show respect to the family of the deceased.

    As you will see in this video, a funeral home service provides an opportunity for family and friends to come together to mourn their lost loved one. It is important to dress appropriately and understand how the funeral service is scheduled so you can show respect to the family. You should also consider sending flowers to the funeral home or family’s house to provide more comfort.

    Chapel of the Chimes Oakland can help you learn more about etiquette for funeral homes in Oakland . Give us a call at (510) 654-0123 for more information.