Carol Van Ahlers

Flowers at a memorial service add a special loving touch of remembrance from families and friends. It is a beautiful way to honor the passing of a loved one and can bring solace and joy to surviving family members. However, the idea of managing an overwhelming amount of flowers during and after the service often […]

Many obituaries now conclude with a statement that donations to a certain charity are appreciated in lieu of flowers. This may reflect the wishes of the deceased or the surviving family members. What is the etiquette in such a circumstances? Here are a few guidelines: If you choose to make a donation in honor of

Our last blog talked about how the physical presence of the ocean can provide a sense of calm and peace to those who are hurting. Using our senses, we are able to take the grace and magnificence of the sea to help us work through emotions that are hard to deal with in our usual

Whenever I’m at the ocean, either driving by or lucky enough to spend some time on the warm sand, I have a sense of relaxation and rejuvenation. This got me thinking that the sea, with its vastness, its mysteries and beauty, might just be the perfect place to go when your soul needs to heal.

Grief is a river that you wade in until you get to the other side… Barbara Crooker’s poem “Grief”, which begins with these words, reflects her personal experience with loss and the overwhelming impact of her sorrow. Her words, like the words of poets from many generations, can be a great source of solace to

Losing a husband or life partner – it’s impossible to fathom or understand until it happens to you. Friends and family can be a loving source of support, but until they have experienced such a loss, they can sympathize but not empathize. As with so many challenges today, we can turn to the Internet for

This past Sunday was Mother’s Day, a time honored tradition that sets aside a particular day each year to make sure we remember to appreciate all those who have played a mothering role in our lives, our mothers and grandmothers, the mothers of our children and even our friends. Anna Jarvis of Philadelphia is credited

FEMA OFFERS FUNDS TO COVER FUNERAL EXPENSES TO FAMILIES WHO HAVE LOST LOVED ONES TO COVID-19. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is reimbursing certain funeral expenses to qualified families who have lost loved ones due to COVID-19. Applications to be considered for financial assistance on expenses incurred after January 20, 2020 are now being

Although some COVID restrictions impacting the funeral industry have been lessened, most families are still unable to hold the traditional memorial or funeral service immediately following the death of their loved one. This can be truly heartbreaking. Planning a gathering or memorial service, however, can begin at any time and may be helpful as you

We are greatly saddened on the passing of a beloved member of the Hilgenfeld Mortuary family, Pat Pina. Although not an employee, Pat was an integral member of our business family as the volunteer who ran our Grief Support Program for many years. Every other week, Pat would devote two hours of her day to