Month: February 2023

Many individuals and families wish to create a tribute of sorts for their loved one after their cremation services in Irving, TX. While there are several ideas out there for tributes, if you want to make an impact inside your home, consider creating a memorial wall.

The wonderful thing about this idea that the only space you need is a wall. It could be anywhere you wish in your home and can be as small or large as you want. You can also choose to add the urn for display on the wall or keep the urn on display in a separate location. While the style and design of the wall is able to be completely customized for your preferences, there are a few guidelines you can follow to help with the overall design aesthetic.

Deciding on the Picture Frames

Even though the wall will be made up of several individual pictures, you want the picture frames to match ins some sort of way. This could mean that the frames are all painted in various hues of the same color. For example, all the frames could be painted in blues with some being lighter, some being darker, and some in between.

If you don’t want to have the frames be all the same color tone, they could all be a certain style such as modern, or farmhouse. They could even all be from a certain ear such as Victorian. The bottom line is that while the frames don’t have to be the same, they need to look cohesive.

Select Additional Elements

Other than images, memorial walls can include shelves for items such as plants, candles, personal mementos as well as the urn. Decide on what elements you want to include now as you want these items to blend and join in seamlessly with the framed images. Waiting until later can make it difficult to add them in.

Lay it Out First

One of the most important things to do (especially if you have several images) is to lay the images on the floor and design the layout. Don’t start hanging pictures on the wall and try to “figure it out as you go” as this rarely ends up good. Instead, take some time and lay out the design on the floor. This way you have ample freedom to arrange and rearrange until you get it just right.

Measure the Spaces

Having even spacing between the images is what is really going to give the design a clean, organized look. When the spacing is different between various images, it makes the wall appear messy. Use a ruler or measuring tape and aim for 2 inches or so as this is a good length.

Final Thoughts

A memorial wall in your home is a wonderful way to honor and remember your loved one. These are great tributes to create because they can also be completed as a group project so that many family members can be involved. This tribute will be a welcomed site in your home after your loved one’s cremation services in Irving, TX.

Watching a friend go through the grief of losing a loved one can be heartbreaking. You want to be there for them and help them through this difficult time but knowing the right thing to do or say can be challenging. As providers of cremation services in Dallas, TX., we understand you want to support your friend. While everyone handles grief differently and sometimes may need different things to help them though, we are going to talk today about some general ways you can show your support.

Create a Meaningful Care Package

Creating a care package is a wonderful way to show your friend support and help them in a practical way but suppling them with items they can use at this time. While sympathy care packages can be found already made online and in other retailers, creating a unique, personal arrangement can be a nice touch.

When it comes to adding items to your package, there are a lot of excellent choices that your friend can benefit from. Some of these include:

• Food – Your friend will most likely not be motivated to cook or even eat much at all. Adding items that are easy such as peanuts, granola or protein bars, dried fruit, and more can provide them an easy way to stay nourished.
• Daily Necessities – While shampoo and body soap don’t seem too exciting, they can be welcomed items when your friend runs out and doesn’t want to get out and head to the store to buy more.
• Comfort items -Adding in items like scented candles, fuzzy socks, a weighted blanket, or a soft cuddly stuffed animal can bring your friend a little comfort in this this difficult time.

Offer to Help Them Around the Home

Another way to help your friend is to offer to do perform chores and other tasks around the home for them. While they are grieving they may let things like washing dishes, taking the trash or other chores slack. You can step in and get these chores completed. Other things you can do are:

• Run errands for them
• Pick up groceries
• Help manage their bills
• Assist with children and/or pets

Not only will these things get done, but it will create a cleaner, more organized environment for your friend to be in which can actually lift their mental state a little.

Just Be There for Them

One of the most important things you can do as a friend is to just make sure your grieving friend knows you are there. Let them vent to you, cry on your shoulder, talk about their pain, or whatever else they may need. Don’t judge. Don’t try to “fix them”. Just listen.

If they feel up to it, take them out to lunch, a movie, or a hike in the park. Be around and let them know you are there for them in whichever way they may need.

If you would like more information about cremation services in Dallas, TX. , or resources to help those who are grieving, please feel free to reach out to us anytime and let us help you.

When you begin looking at urns for your loved one’s cremains, you will notice there are a variety of different types. Not only are the designs and colors different, but also the materials that are used in creating the urn will vary. If you wish to have a sturdy, durable urn, a wooden urn is the best choice. Providers of cremation services in Farmers Branch, TX. share more about these urns as well as how to clean and maintain them.

The Different Types of Wooden Urns

Wooden urns are made from a wide range of hard and softwoods. With each type of wood having it’s own color, patterns, and markings, you have quite a few options to choose from. Some of the most popular types of wood and their characteristics are:

• Maple – Many maple urns have a straight-grained texture and are known for their durability since maple is a heavier wood. These urns are also strong and resistance to abrasion.
• Mahogany – You can find mahogany wood a popular choice of furniture and for urns. This wood has a reddish-brown tone and a variable grain and makes for an elegant choice of urn.
• Walnut – Walnut is a very strong and stable wood that comes in several varieties and can come in either straight or variable grain. This dark wood comes from the walnut tree which is one of the strongest and largest trees in the United States.
• Cherry – This moderate hardwood has deep reddish-brown tones and has have been a popular choice for furniture for centuries. When used for an urn it creates a classic piece that compliments any room.

Make Sure You Select the Correct Urn Size

Many people are unaware that urns actually come in different sizes. Because of this, you need to make sure to pay attention to the size and that it is appropriate for your needs.. To know if you are choosing the right size, the Cremation Association of North America (CANA) has set an industry standard. This standard size for an urn is 200 cubic inches. Note that generally speaking, urns need one cubic inch for every pound of body weight. So, for example, if your loved one was 220 pounds, they will need a larger urn of at least 220 cubic inches.

How to Properly Care for and Maintain Your Urn

Wooden urns are durable and can last for years as long as they are properly cared for. The first thing to know is that both sunlight and humidity can cause damage. When placing your wooden urn in your home make sure to keep it out of sunlight and do not place in a room with high humidity. Secondly, make sure to clean your wooden urn properly. Do this by always using a polish made for wood, do not use soap and water as water can also damage the urn.

Final Thoughts

While there are several urn styles and designs out there, if you want a durable urn with a natural beauty, a wooden urn is a top choice. If you would like to see your options, simply visit a providers of cremation services in Farmers Branch, TX. as they typically have many options available.

If you are considering holding a memorial service for your loved one after their cremation services in Irving, TX, one element that is very popular is a tribute table. Also called a remembrance table these tables are a place for you to display items and show guests who your loved one really was and what they were all about. To help inspire you and your tribute table, we are sharing some of our favorite items to display as well as design ideas.

Adding Personal Items

The most popular and common items to add to a tribute table are personal items of your loved one. This could be things such as photographs, school diplomas or awards, trophies, and another item you would like to display.

Along with these more common items, don’t be afraid to think outside of the box and add items that may be a little less traditional. Some examples of these could be things that portrayed a favorite hobby or passion they loved such as a favorite fishing poll or a ticket from a big sporting event they attended.

Candles and Flowers

While these items don’t portray your loved one’s life, they do help in acting as décor and helping the table look nice. Using things such as tea lights around the table can add a nice warm glow to the area and adding flowers can add a pop of color and some nice fresh scents.

Make Items Different Heights

To add interest to the table, you want to have the items that are being displayed doing so in various heights. This not only adds a nice visual appearance but it also makes the items easier for guests to see. If the items themselves are not different heights, you can add blocks or boxes on the table and drape with fabric. Then simply place items on top of the blocks and boxes and arrange accordingly.

Have a Focal Point

If the tribute table is large, it can be nice to have one item or a grouping of items act as a focal point. This could be an image that you have blown up from a photograph and have it displayed on the table with an easel. This could also be perhaps a large trophy with some smaller ones around it. Grouping items and creating a focal point this way will give the table a bit more of an organized feel.

Create Theme Tables

This is a really fun and interesting idea. If you want more than one table or if you have too many items to display on just one table, consider having more tables that are themed. Maybe one could be only photographs from their life starting from childhood on. Another table could be all about their hobby. For example, if they were an avid fisherman, you could include things like their fishing pole, tackle box, and images of them enjoying their activity.

Final Thoughts

Having a memorial service for your loved one after their cremation services in Irving, TX. is a wonderful way to honor them as well as be surrounded by those you love. While there are several ways to make a memorial service special and unique, having a tribute table can be a truly touching addition to any service.