When you get married, you’re signing on for a partner for life. But sadly, death often gets in the way of this plan making the death of a spouse traumatic and stressful. From dealing with the emotional fallout to planning a service at a funeral home in Charlotte, NC, the stress of losing your spouse can have a severe impact on your emotional and physical health.

That’s where these tips come in. They can help you deal with the loss of a spouse in a healthy and healing-driving manner:

1. Memorialize – Remembering and memorializing a lost loved one, and especially a spouse, can go a long way towards healing as it allows you to reflect on the good memories, love and happiness in a healthy way. You can make a memorial with a cremation urn, photographs, or custom art.
2. Avoid Major Decisions – Grief can cloud judgement or lead you to rash decisions. Try to avoid making major decisions after losing a spouse as you might not be thinking clearly after the loss. Put off decisions regarding moving or quitting a job till later, as any decision you make will be clouded by the loss of your spouse and might not be the best choice in the long run.
3. Take Care of Yourself – Grief can have both physical and psychological symptoms. You may feel exhausted or in pain after losing a spouse or may find it difficult to think clearly or process your emotions. Many people try to numb themselves to deal with the pain of loss by turning to drugs or alcohol. This is unhealthy in the long run. Instead, take care of yourself by eating right, exercising, sleeping, and talking to a therapist if you so choose.
4. Acknowledge the Loss – It’s easy to allow yourself to get lost in the planning and details of a death, like planning a cremation service, and not allow yourself to feel your emotions. However, it’s important to take time to acknowledge the loss and let yourself begin to process it. Letting yourself mourn and deal with the fact that your life has changed is the healthiest way to proceed.
5. Make a Plan for Personal Belongings – Take as much time as you need before taking this step but do make a plan for your spouse’s personal belongings at some point in your grieving process. It’s important to move on in the way that’s right for you, so do whatever feels right to you, whether it’s putting the items into storage, donating them to a charity, selling them, or leaving them where they are.

Dealing with the death of a spouse will never be easy, but these tips may help ease your process in small ways. Gethsemane Cemetery and Memorial Garden is here to help with or range of services. We are here to help if you would like to learn more about dealing with a loss or your options for Charlotte, NC cemeteries. Stop by and visit us today or give us a call for more information.

Many people researching cemeteries in Huntersville, NC want to know the differences, if any, between caskets and coffins. If you’ve watched a movie or a TV show, you’ve probably heard the term “coffin.” But what about “caskets”?

What is a coffin? What is a casket? Are there any differences between the two? If you’re asking these questions, you’re not alone. The main differences begin in the details. Both coffins and caskets are burial containers used to hold remains of a deceased person for a funeral, wake, visitation and final disposition.

In the United States most people use the more modern casket, but the choice between the two is ultimately the family’s or the deceased’s depending on final wishes and plans. Coffins also do not have hinged lids. Instead, they have removable lids that must be fully lifted. Unlike caskets, coffins have six sides and are wider on the top than on the bottom. This tapered design was chosen to match the shape of the body as shoulders are wider than feet.

The vast majority of coffins are made out of wood and are also finished with cloth interior linings, but they do not have exterior handles for carrying. In fact, any additional decoration or handles are not considered part of the coffin but are instead called “coffin furniture.” Traditionally coffin furniture is used to display the deceased’s wealth or status. The other big difference between caskets and coffins is price. Caskets are generally more expensive as they have more decoration and use more elaborate materials.

Coffins, on the other hand, require less material as the tapered shape uses less wood and thus lowers the overall price. A casket is a special box made to hold the remains of a deceased person. These boxes are made in rectangular shapes with four sides and hinged lids. Caskets also usually have handles that make them easier to life and move and can be used for both cremations and burials depending on the material. Caskets can be made from a variety of materials, but the two most common are wood and metal. The average metal casket is made from stainless steel and the average wood from mahogany or oak. Most caskets are finished with soft interior linings to give the deceased a comfortable place to rest. It is important to note that it may be hard to find a coffin manufacturer as they are not in style and not as popular.  

At the end of the day, the differences between caskets and coffins don’t matter even though they are very similar.

Gethsemane Cemetery and Memorial Garden is a Huntersville, NC cemetery with the experience necessary to offer you additional information on caskets, coffins and other funeral services to help you plan a service that will honor and remember your lost loved one. Call today to learn more about what we can do for you in your time of loss. We are proud to be able to help you in any way we can.

Everyone has a right to choose their final wishes for once they’re gone, and these choices include who gets to plan and make important decisions. According to tradition, it is the next of kin that makes arrangements for services at cemeteries in Charlotte, NC. However, sometimes people wish to designate other people besides their next of kin to be in charge of their funeral planning after they’re gone, and that’s OK. Whether you want to designate a close friend, an estate executor, or even one of your children, it is possible to choose who arranges your funeral service.

But how do you designate other people besides the next of kin? According to state law, all instructions for last wishes must meet certain requirements in order for them to considered legal and binding. These requirements include:

• Signature of the decedent
• Acknowledgement of the decedent signature, meaning getting the document notarized
• Signature of the agent or successor agreeing to act as the decedent’s agent after death

Any modifications to a document must be in writing and also notarized in to make them valid. While these requirements seem like a lot, its actually easier than you think to meet them as many states have specific forms for people to leave final instructions and to designate someone other than their next of kind to make final arrangements. However, it’s important to remember that these forms do not trump or replace a Power of Attorney or a legal will, as they are only there to provide end of life instructions. Again, any and all written instructions, from a Power of Attorney to an end-of-life form, must be signed by both parties before the death.

There are a few other important next of kin topics. Start with these tips, and follow up with an attorney for more information and guidance:

1. Make and Distribute Copies – Don’t just fill out the forms and forget about them. Make and give out copies to important people like those named in the document or caregivers.
2. Be Specific – Be specific in your end-of-life instructions. Include information such as the type of disposition you want as clearly as possible.
3. Do Your Own Research – Understanding how your state handles end of life arrangements and associated legal matters is very important. Do some research of your own to make sure you understand.
4. Non-Traditional Relationships – Nontraditional relationships, like common law marriages, same sex relationships, or even families with lots of children often require additional steps and paperwork. Do research if you think this applies to your situation to make sure you’re covered.

Finally, it’s always a good idea to consult an attorney before making any official plans as they can best advise you on how to proceed.

You have every right to designate whomever you want to arrange your funeral service, but be sure to do it correctly to make sure your wishes are followed. Gethsemane Cemetery and Memorial Garden is here to help if you want more information on end-of-life arrangements or Charlotte, NC cemeteries. You can stop by and visit us or call us today to learn more about what we can do for you in your time of loss.