Carol Van Ahlers

Make new friends but keep the old. Some are silver and the others gold. That quote from my Girl Scout days still rings true for me as it may for many others. Friendship is a gift you give yourself by meeting new people and keeping them in your life. This week’s blog addresses ways to […]

“A friend knows the song in my heart and sings it to me when my memory fails.” ~ Author Donna Roberts The ability to experience friendship is one of life’s greatest pleasures. Individuals who are fortunate to have friends in their lives often enjoy a longer, more satisfied life. Both mental and physical health benefits

Although the date varies each year, in 2023 the Summer Solstice occurs at 7:57 am PST. But what exactly does that mean? The solar event, leading to the longest day of the year, is when the earth’s tilt toward the sun is at its maximum. The sun is at its highest elevation at noon and

Several years back I read a book entitled “The Language of Flowers” written by Vanessa Diffenbaugh. I enjoyed the read, but mostly due to the fascinating aspect of learning about the symbolic meaning behind flowers and the reasons they are shared with others. In doing some research on the subject, I came across information from

Our local Cypress College, has been rated as one of the top ten schools in the country for individuals who wish to pursue a career in Mortuary Sciences. Although there are several colleges that offer an associate degree in the field, Cypress College is only one of a few colleges in the country that offers

When someone we know loses someone they love, we naturally want to be there for them at the time of loss. We do our best to attend the memorial service, send flowers or a card, take time for a phone call or short visit. But after time goes by, the caring that is so evident

According to the Veterans Administration, “veterans, service members, and some family members may be eligible for burial in a VA national cemetery.”  Those who qualify are also eligible for several burial benefits at no cost. These include: A gravesite at one of 120 National Cemeteries. Many cemeteries are limited in space or no longer have

I remember a silly poem that my dad used to say to us each Spring. “Spring has sprung, the grass is ris, I wonder where the flowers is!” Spring is here, the grass is green and long and I think if you look very closely you might see a few blooms here and there. Not

As March is Women’s History Month now is a perfect time to celebrate the women who have been at the helm of Hilgenfeld Mortuary for the past several decades. In 1987, Margie Hilgenfeld Field took over as president following in the footsteps of her father Melvin. Margie had been involved in the business since 1971

We are all aware of the emotions that come hand in hand with loss – sadness, fear, denial, anger. But what about the physical impacts of grief? They are real and can feel quite debilitating at first. In most cases, these physical effects will diminish as you move through the grieving process, often sooner than