Resources

Blog

The Indiana Memorial Group Blog offers insights on navigating the complexities of loss, including coping with grief and planning funeral, cemetery, or cremation needs

Categories

Funeral Planning

What to Do First When Someone Dies

When a loved one passes away, the immediate aftermath can be overwhelming and confusing. Here's a step-by-step guide on what to do.

Funeral Planning

Complete Guide to Planning a Funeral

Planning a funeral can feel overwhelming, especially in the days following a loved one’s passing. With so many decisions to make and emotions to navigate, here is a clear guide to help you through the process.

Cemetery, Cremation

Burial or Cremation. How Do I Choose?

Choosing between cremation and burial is a personal decision that can feel overwhelming. Explore the advantages of each option.

Cemetery

The Complete Guide to Burials

Losing a loved one is challenging, and planning a burial can be stressful. Whether you opt for a traditional cemetery or a memorial garden, it's important to know your options. From choosing the right burial plot to understanding caskets and vaults, our guide makes the process easier.

Cremation

The Complete Guide to Cremation

Planning a cremation can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. We can guide you through every step.

Memorial Service

How to Plan a Memorial Service

Planning a memorial service can be daunting during a time of loss, but it also allows you to honor a loved one’s life. This guide will help you through the process, from picking the right time to adding meaningful themes and decorations.

Funeral Planning, Music

Choosing Music for a Funeral or Memorial Service

Music has the power to uplift and inspire, offering a beautiful way to celebrate the lives of our loved ones. Carefully selected songs can spark joyous memories and bring solace to those in mourning.

After the Funeral, Grief Support

What to Keep, What to Let Go of When a Loved One Dies

Practical strategies for anyone facing the difficult task of deciding what to keep and what to let go of after a loved one dies.

Etiquette, Funeral Planning

What to Do When You Can’t Attend a Funeral

Funerals are important for saying goodbye, but there are many reasons you might not attend, such as grief, distance, or health issues. Missing a funeral doesn't mean you can't honor the deceased. Learn practical ways to express your condolences.

Obituary

How to Write an Obituary

Writing an obituary can feel daunting, but it’s an opportunity to celebrate a life in a truly personal way. Whether you’re crafting a tribute for someone else or penning your own, this final message deserves care and creativity.

Eulogy

Three Tips for Writing a Heartfelt Eulogy

Being asked to write a eulogy can feel overwhelming, but it’s an opportunity to share your relationship and honor their memory. You don’t need to be a professional writer; a eulogy is simply telling the story of your connection.

Grief Support, Sympathy

Five Things to Say to Someone Who’s Grieving

It’s easy to feel self-conscious about what to say to someone who's grieving. Here are five things you can say, and five you probably shouldn't.

Grief Support, Sympathy

10 Ways to Offer Support to Someone Who’s Suffered a Loss

It’s not just about funeral arrangements; it’s about being there emotionally for your friend or colleague. From writing a heartfelt note to showing up for memorial services, here are 10 practical and thoughtful things you can do.

Grief Support, Sympathy

Why You Should Acknowledge Someone’s Loss

It's important to mention the deceased by name, reach out proactively, listen without giving advice, show understanding by sharing personal experiences, and offer support through gestures of kindness.

Children, Funeral Planning

Should Children Attend Funerals?

How can you determine if your child is emotionally prepared to attend a funeral service? If depends on their age and maturity level. Here are some steps to take to prepare them.

Back-to-School, Grief Support

When Grief Meets Back-to-School

For grieving parents, back-to-school season can feel like walking through a minefield. The anticipation of new beginnings collides with the heaviness of loss, making tasks feel monumental. Here are some ideas on how to make your way through.

Etiquette, Texting

Is It Okay to Text Your Condolences? Emily Post Would Say Yes.

In today's world, texting has become a vital way to show support. Learn how this once-debated form of communication can create real connections and provide comfort when needed, all while respecting traditional etiquette.

Grief Support, Journaling

Grief Journaling: How Writing Helps You Heal After Loss

Grief journaling offers a private way to process the overwhelming emotions that follow loss. Whether you're coping with fresh grief or feelings that resurface months or years later, writing helps you express what's hard to say out loud. Here's how to start—even if you've never journaled before.

Etiquette, Facebook, Social Media

How to Announce a Death on Social Media

Here are some thoughtful tips and guidance on how to announce a death on social media.

Grief Support, Mother's Day Grief

Grief and Mother’s Day

Mother’s Day can bring up many feelings for those who have lost a mom or maternal figure. There’s no “right way” to deal with this day—what matters is finding comfort in a way that feels right to you. Check out helpful tips to honor her memory while caring for yourself.

Father's Day, Grief Support

The Father’s Day Grief No One Talks About

Father's Day grief doesn't always fit neatly into a Hallmark card. If you're mourning a stepfather, grandfather, or complicated relationship, here's how to navigate the day—and why your loss deserves acknowledgment.

Grief Support, Sister

Helping Your Sister Through Grief

Life changes in an instant, and when your sister loses her husband, she enters a place of grief that feels unfamiliar and overwhelming. You can't fix her grief, but you can walk beside her. Practical ways to help her navigate this difficult time.

Grief Support, Parent

How to Support a Grieving Parent While Processing Your Own Loss

When my father died, my mother faced the daunting reality of being alone for the first time in nearly 60 years. As I navigated my own grief, I grappled with how to support her through this profound loss. Here's what I learned.

Funeral Planning, Parent

Planning a Parent’s Funeral

When my father passed away, I faced a storm of emotions and decisions—and discovered there's no 'right' way to plan a funeral. Here's what helped me honor his 72 years.

Holiday Grief Support, Thanksgiving

When Thanksgiving & Grief Collide

Your grief doesn't pause simply because it's Thanksgiving. In fact, it can feel even stronger when those around you are celebrating. Give yourself permission to do what you need to do for yourself this season.

Father's Day, Grief Support

Grieving on Father’s Day? Ways to Keep Dad’s Memory Close

Father's Day without Dad is hard. Whether you share his stories, visit his grave, or simply sit in silence—here's how to keep his memory close

New Year's, Planning Ahead

The New Year’s Resolution Your Family Will Thank You For

What if this year, you made a different kind of resolution? Most people know they should talk about final wishes, but haven't. Why January is the perfect time, and how to start the conversation without being weird.

Christmas, Hanukkah, Holiday Grief Support, New Year's

Losing a Loved One During the Holidays: How to Make It Through

Losing a loved one during the holidays is especially hard, as festive sights and sounds serve as painful reminders of your loss. Discover ways to honor your loved one while still finding moments of joy.

Christmas, Holiday Grief Support

A Guide for Coping with Grief at the Holidays

The holidays can be a time of joy, but for those coping with grief, it often brings profound challenges. Learn about how you can navigate loss during this season.

Christmas, Grief Support, Hanukkah, Holiday Grief Support

Grief After Christmas: Why the Days Between the Holidays Feel So Hard

The days following Christmas can bring a wave of holiday grief—those emotions the busyness of the season seemed to hold at bay. The space between Christmas and New Year's is challenging. If you're feeling it more now, you're not alone. It's not a setback; it's part of the process.

Christmas, Hanukkah, Holiday Grief Support

Why It’s OK to Change Holiday Traditions After Loss

During the holidays, it’s okay to change how you do things. Experts say it’s important to allow yourself to make new choices, whether that means skipping some events, keeping favorite traditions, or starting new ones.

Christmas, Grief Support, Hanukkah, Holiday Grief Support

16 Holiday Gift Ideas for Someone Who’s Grieving

If you have a friend or family member who's grieving this holiday, a gift can say, "I remember them too." From personalized ornaments to self-care, a gift acknowledges both the joy of the season and the weight of what’s missing.

Christmas, Hanukkah, Holiday Grief Support

5 Ways to Support Someone Who Is Grieving During the Holidays

When you support someone who is grieving during the holidays, your presence matters more than perfect words. Here are five specific ways to support someone grieving during the holiday season

Christmas, Grief Support, Hanukkah, Holiday Grief Support

The First Christmas After a Loss

The first holiday season without a loved one can be difficult. How you celebrated before doesn’t have to be the same. Try new things and start new traditions—not to forget your grief, but to help you cope.