Whether you’re planning a memorial service at a unique location or hosting a graveside service at a cemetery in Charlotte, NC, it’s important that the service is personalized to the deceased. Studies show that the more personalized and memorable a service is the more it helps not only honor the deceased but also offer some relief for the bereaved during their time of loss.

How will you customize the graveside or memorial service? If you don’t know, don’t worry. There are a lot of different ways to go about it. The following list of ideas, for example, is a great place to start:

• Set Up a Memory Table – A memory table is an easy way to help make a memorial service custom and personalized. It’s a simple and free way to show items that either meant a lot to the deceased, show their personality, or represent the deceased to other people. You can put almost anything on a memory table such as photos, sunglasses, ticket stubs from special events, letters, favorite vases or flowers, beloved clothing, or anything else that was special to or about the deceased. You can also make several memory stations as opposed to just one table. There can be themed tables with each one showing a part of the deceased’s life, such as wedding memories, school items, and children and grandchildren.
• Put Out Special Food – Food is a serious comfort for a lot of people. Take inspiration from the deceased’s favorite foods and put out a special spread for guests at the service.
• Share Photos and Videos – Many bereaved families make photo collages or montage videos for a memorial or graveside service. These items are treasured by the family, but other bereaved like friends and coworkers would appreciate access to them as well. Consider uploading any montages or videos online to share with other people. You can use Google Drive, Drop Box, or YouTube. Make the files accessible with only a certain link and print the link on the service program so guests can access it if they choose.
• Add Decorations – It might seem like bad form to decorate a memorial or graveside service after a cremation, but decorations can actually make the service more special and unique. You can add decorations in any form you want, from lamps and rugs to artwork, flowers and everything in between. Bring decorations that somehow represent or honor the deceased. For example, if she loved to stitch, you could hang some of her work. Or if he loved a certain artist you could display copies of famous artwork.

If you need more ideas, look to the deceased for inspiration from his or her life, or turn to Gethsemane Cemetery and Memorial Garden. We have years of experience in the Charlotte, NC cemetery industry and are happy to help you in any way that we can. Please stop by and visit us or give us a call to learn more about what we can do for you in your time of loss.

There are tons of ways you can choose personalization at funeral homes and cemeteries in Matthews, NC. From making the event a celebration of life to using modern technology, personalized funerals and graveside services are the way of the future. They are popular because they allow the bereaved to both grieve their loss and celebrate the unique life of their lost loved one.

Here are a few interesting facts about personalized funerals in funeral homes and beyond to give you more information:

• Unique Coffins and Headstones – People want their lost loved ones’ coffins, headstones and other cemetery products to be just as unique as the deceased was. That’s why unique versions of these products, from green coffins made out of biodegradable materials to hand-etched headstones, are becoming very popular.
• Most families don’t want a traditional funeral – According to a recent study, 71% of families do not want a traditional funeral as they see them as gloomy or dark. Most families want something unique that reflects the special qualities of their lost loved one.
• Funerals are a celebration of life – Funerals are no longer sad and gloomy events. People want to celebrate their lost loved ones in special ways, remembering them for their unique qualities and happy memories.
• Religion is on its way out – According to the National Funeral Directors Association, the percentage of people that think religion is an important part of a funeral has gone down by more than 10%. More people are placing personalization over religion.
• People want a party – In another recent study, 500 participants were asked to name something they really want at a funeral. The top 5 answers were music, family, people, beer and flowers. When put all together, these 5 things equal a celebration.
• Digital obituaries – Since most obituaries are now placed on memorial websites rather than printed in traditional newspapers, they are becoming more and more important, thorough, and personalized.
• Memorial videos – Memorial videos put modern technology to good use. They allow families to make personalized tributes for the deceased for people to enjoy at the funeral and beyond.
• Webcasting – The internet is also allowing families to be a part of funeral services and graveside committal services even if they can’t be there in person. Funeral webcasting is becoming very popular all across the US and is only getting cheaper which makes it more accessible for everyone. All you need is a camera and an internet connection or cell phone service.

Gethsemane Cemetery and Memorial Garden is here to help if you have more questions about personalized funerals or Matthews, NC cemeteries. We offer a range of services designed to help you put your lost loved one to rest in a respectful and beautiful way. Please feel free to stop by and visit us or give us a call to learn more about the different ways to personalize a funeral, or for more information about what we can do for you in your time of loss.

Though our laws and perceptions of what it means to be a family are becoming more inclusive, it can still be challenging for those with non-traditional next of kin relationships when it comes to planning a funeral or a burial at a cemetery in Huntersville, NC. The most common non-traditional relationships are same-sex couples, Common Law marriages, and separated but still married couples.

Thanks to modern legislation, legally married same-sex couples have the exact same rights and next-of-kin spouse status as heterosexual couples. However, the this is only the case if the couple is legally married at the time of death. Without proof of a legal marriage, the funeral home or service will have to look to a different member of the family to take on final disposition responsibilities and decisions.

Marriage is a complicated relationship, and oftentimes married couples are separated but not legally divorced. In this scenario, the spouse would be still be responsible for making all necessary funeral arrangements and paying for them. Unless there is a clear legal proof of divorce, the marriage is still valid, and the spouse is the next of kin. This is more common than you might think and is a confusing situation that causes a lot of delays in making funeral home or cremation plans.

There are three criteria that have to be met in order to couples to be considered legally married under general Common Law. If you are married under Common Law, it’s important to know that it might be tricky for a funeral home or service to validate a Common Law Marriage after one of the people passes away. Unless a Declaration of Informal Marriage has been filed by a county clerk, many funeral homes will ask a different next of kin person to sign the necessary funeral documents as there are penalties involved in allowing a non-documented marriage to serve as legal standing to be a next of kin. To avoid any concerns or issues after a death, Common Law couples should file with the county clerk before a death.

These days, most states have a process in place for getting around difficulties with next of kin relationships. Depending on the state, there is usually a form that people can fill out, sign and file to give a specific person the responsibility of all death-related decisions. This form allows you to choose who you want to make your funeral arrangements and is valid at the vast majority of licensed funeral homes and cremation providers.

Be sure to look into the specificities of your state law or reach out to a lawyer for the most up-to-date information and guidance. This way you will be as prepared as possible.

Gethsemane Cemetery and Memorial Garden is here to help if you have more questions about Huntersville, NC cemeteries or planning a service with non-traditional next of kin relationships. You can stop by and visit us or give us a call to learn more about what we can do for you in your time of loss.

There are tons of burials happening at cemeteries in Charlotte, NC and cremations at crematoriums happening all the time, just as there are tons of different religions co-existing in the area at the same time. The religion and cremation vs. burial debate is not a new one, as some belief systems have been encouraging or discouraging cremation for centuries.

For many, the choice between burial and cremation is a religious one, as some religions accept cremation, while others do not. Since there are so many belief systems in Charlotte, NC, here is a short list of what some common religions say about cremation and burial:

1. Christianity – Cremation is fully accepted in Christianity. There are even verses in the Bible that seem to encourage the practice. Take, for example, Genesis 3:19, “By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.” However, there are some Christians that cite biblical examples in support of traditional burial, such as Christ being buried, or various Old Testament burials. All in all, when it comes to Christianity and burial, it really depends on what the individual prefers.
2. Judaism – The Jewish faith does not allow cremations, as per scripture in the Torah. However, some more modern Jewish families do choose cremation if it coincides with their personal beliefs.
3. Hinduism – The Hindu religion pretty much mandates cremation. Hindus believe that fire is a purifying agent that can help release the deceased’s spirit from its physical body so it can move on to a spiritual dimension. Hinduism also calls for a memorial service after the cremation to keep memories of the deceased alive.
4. Spiritism – Spiritism, or Reincarnation, is a kind of belief system that promotes the idea that all humans carry immortal spirits that will go to another host after death. Cremation is also widely accepted in Spiritism. However, believers do require a certain period of time between the death and the cremation as they believe that the spirit can sometimes remain with the body for a time after death.

At the end of the day, no matter what you believe, the only important thing is that the deceased is treated with respect and remembered fondly by those that loved him or her. There are tons of options for you to honor and remember your lost loved one, be it through traditional burial at a cemetery or a cremation. You are sure to find the right solution for you, your family, and your beliefs in Charlotte.

Gethsemane Cemetery and Memorial Garden is a Charlotte, NC cemetery that offers compassionate, expert, and considerate services. We have experience working with people from all kinds of religious beliefs and backgrounds and would be happy to do what we can for you in your time of loss. Please stop by and visit us or give us a call to learn more about what we can do for you and your lost loved one.