Meal Train Ideas

Popular Meal Ideas to Offer Someone Grieving

After an individual experience a transition loss of a loved one, they may need some additional support in their life. It is complicated to schedule the details with one of the funeral homes in Lake Helen, FL, because they may be experiencing fluctuating emotions from the grief, so offering any help may be well received. There are some things to consider when creating a meal train, so we have listed them in this article.

Get Specific Information

Every household will be different, so the first thing you need to do is speak with any individuals who will be part of the meal train to see their needs. There are some essential questions that you can ask to help bring clarity and make sure they’re getting what they need, so here is a list to start with.

What kind of appliances does the household have for heating or reheating food?
Do they have any favorite restaurants or meals that could be delivered with delivery service?
Are there any intolerances or food allergies to be aware of?
Do they have any food preferences or needs like vegan or vegetarian options?
How would they like to be notified when their food is on its way?
How many individuals are currently in the household that will need to be fed?
Are there children and adults that need to be considered for options?

Organize the Event

Once you have all of the questions answered and any others that seem essential, you can start organizing the event. It is recommended to use email, specialized online services, or even social media because this will allow you to fully list all the details that are required for the meal train and, at the same time, allows volunteers to sign up for times and dates that work for them.

A few meal tips to consider is that you prepare all the meals and containers that don’t have to be returned because this will help reduce the stress level of the household. It is recommended to include beverages and desserts, and it can be a kind and thoughtful extra addition to throw in a note or treat for the family.

If there are children in the household, you may also purchase food items specifically designated for them because this can help alleviate some of the pain of the loss, even if for just a short period.

Quality and Compassion for All Our Clients

If you are looking for specific recipes, there are thousands available online, but traditional favorites are items like casseroles and easy-to-prepare meals like a build-a sandwich tray. Offering support is essential, but if you require planning services with one of the funeral homes in Lake Helen, FL, we can help you through the process. We are locally owned, and we take great pride in understanding what it takes to create a truly memorable event. We work hard to treat all our clients with compassionate care so contact us today if you have any questions or would like to schedule an appointment.

Flower Options for Cremation

With So Many Flower Types, it Can Feel Confusing What to Choose, so here’s More Information

When it’s time to plan cremation services in Daytona Beach, FL, due to a loss, there will be multiple details that you can choose from, and flowers are just one of those. There are many different kinds available for the arrangements, so we have laid out the most common options and their meanings to help you pick one appropriate for your loved one’s event.

Color Significance

White

White is the most common color of funeral flowers, and it’s also known as a sympathy color. The color can create feelings of honor, peace, and even innocence for some people, and it’s a great choice for any service.

Purple

Purple can signify dignity and respect, and it works well as an accent flower color. It can be paired up with white or pink and create a feeling of peace or comfort for those in attendance.

Blue

This color is meant to express mourning and deep condolences and loss, but for some, it also can represent feelings of hope and good wishes for the family.

Pink

This color option represents sympathy and softness and is known to be a respectful color choice.

Yellow or orange

If you’re having an event like a celebration of life or a more joyful service, you might want to pick a brighter color like yellow or orange. In some cases, they may evoke feelings of happiness or positive memories, so consider the kind of event you are going to be holding when choosing.

Red

Red is known for being the color of strength and beauty. It’s popular because it can add a sense of vibrancy to any arrangement at the visitation or services.

Flower Options

Daisy

Daisies are seen as a more cheerful type of flower, and they are popular for helping to create more bulk in arrangements. They are also a common flower choice at services for infants or children.

Lily

This is the most popular option for funeral flowers because they represent dignity, grace, and peace. They are also an incredibly elegant flower choice and work well in any flower bouquet.

Carnation

Carnations are popular because they’re one of the more affordable options available, and they also come in many different colors. They are used to help support larger flowers like lilies or roses and highlight other unique flowers in the arrangement.

Roses

Roses signify respect and love, and they come in many different colors to choose from. They can represent vibrancy by selecting yellow or commemoration by choosing pink so consider your loved one if you are picking flowers as part of your arrangement.

Quality and Commitment to Our Community

These are just a few of the available options on the market, so you may want to do some additional research to pick the right arrangement at the cremation services in Daytona Beach, FL. The details can make all the difference, and if you have not had to plan services before, we would love to help you through the process. We are a locally owned company that understands integrity, so contact us today for an appointment.

Questions for the Funeral Director

Getting the Right Director is Essential, so here are Some Questions You Can Ask to Get you Started

Going through the loss process can be an incredibly challenging experience for some, so when it comes time to start talking to funeral homes in Daytona Beach, FL, you want to make sure you are prepared with all the right information. There are several considerations and questions that you can ask to help give you a better idea of the company you are talking to is the right one for you, so keep reading for more information.

Considerations

If you have never been through the process of planning, the experience can feel overwhelming because you are not only dealing with the emotions of the last, but you’re trying to plan all the details. Multiple events can be included in the services, and here are just a few to consider.

Reception services or food services
Casket or urn choices to pick from
Decorations to be included
Flower arrangement options
Purchasing the plot or space in a columbarium
Herse rental
Eulogy reading or video tribute

These are just a few of the options that individuals can pick for services, so once you start speaking with companies, it can be helpful to get a list of services that they offer to help you narrow it down.

Essential Question to Ask

How long have you been in business?
What is your process for coordinating with morgues, cemeteries, crematoriums, or hospitals?
What is your role as a funeral director?
How many individuals are on staff, and how can they offer support?
Do you have a transparent and itemized price list?
What paperwork will be needed with decision-making to get the planning completed?
Are you corporately or independently owned?
What type of services do you offer?
Are you willing and open to religious or cultural traditions?
What kind of support is provided by the funeral home during the process?
What are the options for cremation or burial and the strategies?
What happens if an individual changes their mind about services they would like to have?
Can they accommodate the number of attendees that will be coming to the event?
Do they have additional facilities if there will be a reception or memorial service?

These are some of the main questions that can be helpful to have the answers to, and they can let you know if you’re working with a company that’s going to meet your needs. If, at any point, there’s confusion or the answers are not straightforward, it’s OK to ask for clarity or to choose to work with a different company.

Professional and Exceptional Services

When you start looking at funeral homes in Daytona Beach, FL, you want to make sure that you’re working with a company that understands how to get the job done with compassion and honesty. Losing a loved one can be an incredibly painful experience, and we are here to help you through the planning process with care and understanding of the pain of loss. We offer multiple services, so contact us today if you want to schedule an appointment.

If Using a Standard Urn is Not What you Need

Traditionally when an individual goes through the cremation process, their remains will be stored in a vessel called an urn. For a long time, these containers have had a standard shape and size, but with a growing demand for more alternative options, companies are adjusting to this. There are other urn styles to choose from after the cremation services in Lake Helen, FL, and here are just a few suggestions available on the market.

Use Everyday Items to House them

If you like to have an alternative option to traditional ideas, one of the first things you could consider is using items the individual loved. Some companies specialize in wall-mounted urns with plaques on the front of them that can be engraved with anything from your loved ones’ inscriptions to favorite quotes.

Other items that you could use are if the individual was an avid fisherman, you might consider taking a favorite tackle box and adorning it with their fishing tackle and having their remains stored there. If they were an avid baker, you could take a favorite cookie jar and make a memorial plaque for the outside of it and house them inside. In addition to all of these, other companies specialize in oak aging barrels that are personalized for the whiskey connoisseur.

Art Candles

There is a company specializing in creating sculpted art candles that will hold a space for the individual cremated remains and includes a candle that makes a beautiful centerpiece.

Picture Frames

What could be more fitting than having a picture frame that not only holds the image of your loved one but also their remains? This can be a thoughtful and wonderful way to remember them and offer some comfort in knowing that they are still with you.

Poker Chips

If the individual loved to play poker, there is a company specializing in creating earns out of a stack of poker chips. The chips are hollowed out and then adhered together, making an incredibly unique urn style to house the individual.

Geometric Wood

Another unique idea that’s available is for the individual who loved geometric shapes. There is a company specializing in making handcrafted wood urns that come in geometric shapes that can genuinely personalize the individual’s resting place.

Book Urn

There are many book lovers out there, so it may be appropriate to utilize one as a final resting place for your loved one’s remains. The books are made to resemble the real thing and will traditionally be made from wood and have laser etching on them with the interior hollowed out to house the rebates.

We Have a Commitment to Quality Services

As you can see, there are many options available to help hold an individual’s remains after they have been through cremation services in Lake Helen, FL. Personalization is key, and this is no different for the event planning for the services. You want to create a thoughtful and memorable event, and we are here to help you with the process from start to finish. We offer the highest quality of compassion and care on the market, so contact us today.

5 Ways to Create a More Authentic Experience for Attendees

Your loved one was a remarkable individual, and once they’ve passed away, you want to make sure that you are honoring them and highlighting how special they were. Planning the details at one of the funeral homes in Lake Helen, FL, can allow you to truly celebrate them, and making the event as personal as possible is essential. Following a few suggestions can help you give the event that extra touch of care that will show to all the attendees, so here are some tips.

Choose a Food They Loved

At some events, the coordinator may choose to have a reception that could be extravagant and be fully catered or have something simpler like appetizers. One way to make the event personalized is to select a food item that the individual adored. If they had a specific dish that they specialized in, it could be helpful to create recipes of theirs to help with the process.

Offer a Gift

It is a thoughtful gesture to offer some form of token or gift for the attendees to show you appreciate their support, so making a personalized memorial gift can be ideal. Choosing items that remind you of the loved one, like a favorite candy or a satchel with their preferred coffee choice, can both be ways to authentically remember them and share that with others.

Pick Personalized Decorations

The decorations are the largest way to create a truly personalized service, so utilizing items like memorabilia is highly recommended. Having photo displays, favorite music, or even color coordination can also be another way to incorporate them into the event, which can help with the loss process.

Create a Theme

If there was something incredibly unique about the individual, you might consider creating a theme with the function. If they loved specific seasons of the year or this could be embellished, or you could focus on hobbies that they had and highlight these.

Consider the Location

If the individual had a specific area that they truly loved, you might want to consider having the services in this location. In some situations, the event may be held at one of the local funeral homes, while the reception could be fulfilled at a family member’s home or in a community park that the loved one cherished.

This can also be applied to the burial location or if the individual is being cremated where their ashes are scattered. They may have had a specific area where they wanted either of these events to occur, so consider this when you are making all of the arrangements.

We are Here with Support and Compassion for You

Planning a personalized event can help celebrate the individual and remember the life and joy they brought into other’s worlds. Taking the time to plan a genuinely thoughtful event may feel confusing if you’ve never been through the process before, so when you’re looking at funeral homes in Lake Helen, FL, it’s essential to find a high-quality company you can trust. We are locally owned company and take great pride in offering genuinely thoughtful events for all of our clients, so contact us today for more information.