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Grief that comes with losing a loved one is surprising and inescapable. Death and mourning, although universal, are treated differently across the world. Looking at other cultures’ mourning traditions may bring solace to you. Hindu mourning traditions While death may not carry the same finality for Hindu people due to their belief in reincarnation, mourningRead more

Phaneuf presents funeral and cremation planning seminars to members of Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) through Granite State College. OLLI is a member-driven, volunteer-based membership program for people ages 50 and up who enjoy lifelong learning, social events and volunteer opportunities. Funeral planning for OLLI Here is an overview of the topics we cover duringRead more

The National Funeral Directors Association recently released its 2022 Cremation and Burial Report. Here are some highlights that may be of interest to you and your loved ones: The rise of cremation and decline in burial Many factors contribute to the rising selection of cremation by U.S. consumers, including cost considerations; environmental concerns; an increasinglyRead more

In Tibet, many people adhere to the Buddhist afterlife beliefs of resurrection. According to these beliefs, there is no need to preserve the body after death, because it is considered at that point an empty vessel. Whatever your beliefs, there are common threads binding the varied interpretations of life beyond death, many of them offeringRead more

FEMA funeral assistance for families with a death from Covid-19 has been available since April 2021, yet only half of eligible families have applied for FEMA funeral reimbursement. Some families may not be aware these funds are available. FEMA authorized $2 billion toward financial assistance for families who paid funeral costs specifically related to CoronavirusRead more

Many people consider their pets fur babies and pamper them with all the love they’d give a child. But what would happen to your pet  if you were to die tomorrow? Who would take care of them, and would they be able to provide the quality of care that you would like ? A trustRead more

There are several alternatives to traditional cremation, such as aquamation aka water cremation, though these alternatives are only legal in  some states. What is natural composition is a question our arrangers get asked. Natural composition is also called human composting, and is currently legal in Colorado, Oregon and Washington. What is natural composition? The naturalRead more

The Phaneuf Family Foundation launched in fall 2019 to provide funds for New Hampshire and Vermont residents who can’t afford the full cost of a funeral. After two full years of the foundation’s operation, here are some performance highlights: In 2020, the foundation was able to grant 41% of the requests it received; in 2021,Read more

Much of the news about the direct care workforce focuses on the labor  shortage and the increasing number of seniors needing care. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 7.8 million job openings for direct care workers through 2026. Americans aged 85 and up will be 4.5%  of the population by 2050, according to Forbes. AnRead more

Trekking the country and paying respects to prominent dead folks may not sound like everyone’s ideal vacation, but thousands of people visit famous graves every year. There are accessible celebrity graves across the U.S., including some in Massachusetts and New Hampshire if you don’t want to travel too far. Famous grave sites in MA ActorRead more