Tag Archives: Funeral

“At the Funeral” by Mark Twain

Mark Twain offers us some lighthearted guidance on how to act at a funeral in his 1881 essay “At The Funeral”

For some, death has a unique way of not only modifying your perspective of a person but also altering your understanding of your own relationship with him or her. You may find that suddenly, after passing, an acquaintance has become … Continue reading

Posted in The Next Chapter | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Bringing the Spirit Home in Xhosa Burial Rituals

How the funeral rites of the Xhosa people of South Africa can transform a spirit into an ancestral guide

For most people, the culture, traditions, and even the existence of the Xhosa people would have remained unknown were it not for the death of anti-apartheid activist Nelson Mandela. Although the world will mourn his loss for years to come, with … Continue reading

Posted in Cultural Perspectives | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Ancient Greece’s Burial Traditions

Exploring the Ancient Greek's funeral traditions and ideas of death

Ancient Greeks are known for many things: their poems, their plays, their mythology, their philosophers and the Olympics. Some things that aren’t as well known include their burial practices. Ancient Greeks believed in gods and the afterlife, funerals were an important … Continue reading

Posted in Cultural Perspectives | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Planning for End of Life: Final Care After Death

Planning for death is overwhelming. We asked home funeral professional Sally Shannon for insight into your after-death options.

3 Tips for Understanding Your After-Death Options: One of the most important things to consider during your end of life planning is the final care you will receive after death. Home funeral expert Sally Shannon gave us a few tips … Continue reading

Posted in Practical Tips | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

What can the Funeral Consumers Alliance do for you? An Interview with Marjorie Bridges

Marjorie Bridges informs us on the many resources that the FCA provides to help plan funeral and memorial services

Today SevenPonds talks with Marjorie Bridges, who has been an active volunteer with Funeral Consumers Alliance of San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties for 15 years. A former president of the FCA and its sister non-profit, Funeral Education Foundation, lately she … Continue reading

Posted in Professional Advice | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

3 Gems of Wisdom on Planning for Death & a Home Funeral

Home funeral guide and End of Life Consultant Sally Shannon’s on home funeral planning

Sally Shannon’s three tips on planning for death and home funerals: 1) Know Yourself: Be clear about why you are making the choice for a home funeral, whether your values are spiritual, political, financial, etc., and consider the tasks that … Continue reading

Posted in Practical Tips | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment