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The Federal Trade Commission is reviewing its FTC Funeral Rule (1984) to make it mandatory for funeral homes to post online pricing in addition to making pricing available upon request. “Had it been written in the internet era, online pricing would have been mandated,” Joshua Slocum, executive director of the nonprofit Funeral Consumers Alliance, toldRead more

When  people think of what type of flowers or arrangement to send for a funeral, words like beautiful and respectful come up. Others wonder, what color or what kind are appropriate? Funeral flowers often help facilitate emotional release, as some mourners struggle to express their grief verbally. Sending flowers is an expression of respect, sympathyRead more

A rise in virtual funeral planning and funeral streaming during the ongoing pandemic has led to frequent questions about planning virtual funeral services. This makes sense for a couple reasons: Some people are hesitant to meet in person to make funeral plans for themselves or a loved one. Some people are not comfortable traveling toRead more

A military funeral is a memorial service afforded to veterans, soldiers, marines and other military notables. Families can choose to incorporate military funeral honors  into the service. We’re often asked questions related to paying for the military funeral honors and the funeral itself. Does the military pay for funerals for veterans One of the most-frequentlyRead more

“Clothes mean nothing until someone lives in them,” designer Marc Jacobs once said. Burial clothes mean a lot, as this will be the final time mourners  see the body of a loved one or dear friend. Families ask us how to dress a deceased loved one for a funeral; the answer depends on the individual.Read more

Funerals look different today than they did just one month ago. The Coronavirus pandemic continues to alter our lives in new ways, seemingly on a daily basis. As we social distance, we also reflect and remain hopeful for a return to “normal.” For now, funeral rituals are changing rapidly to meet the needs and requirementsRead more

Planning your own funeral is not a gloomy experience but instead  a cathartic one – as long as it’s not happening during a time of crisis. There are a variety of reasons you may find pre-planning your own funeral a rewarding experience, which we outline in this post. This is one time when it’s OKRead more

A fascinating article about fresh flower altars at Japanese funeral services got us thinking about the significance of funeral flowers. The Japanese word seikasaidan is used to describe the art of Japanese fresh flower altars. It’s amazing to look at photos of  the many flowers it takes to create these gigantic works of art. ARead more

Each year, some families in New Hampshire and Vermont can’t afford a funeral and need assistance interring the remains of a loved one. Phaneuf Funeral Homes and Crematorium has worked with more than 100 indigent families annually that simply don’t have the funds to give a departed family member a dignified farewell. In fact, ourRead more

“Why do people waste all that time on a funeral?” “The whole process of a funeral, What’s the point of that?” “Are funerals a waste of time?” When we consider that funeral services are for the living and not the person who passed, no, funerals are not a waste of time. Funerals, which take manyRead more