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After a funeral or memorial service, families often have questions about what to do with all the flowers. Should they stay at the gravesite? Can family members take them home? What happens to the larger arrangements? There really isn’t one right answer. What happens to the flowers depends on the type of service, whether there

When did it become commonplace for flowers to be sent to families after a loved one has passed? Actually, the rituals associating flowers with funerals goes way back in time, some 60,000 years ago, to the prehistoric era when flowers were placed around bodies after death. But for more recent history, flowers became the “gift”

Kate Greenaway, a 19th-century English children’s book illustrator published a pocket-sized gift book in 1884 entitled “The Language of Flowers.” The book contains an alphabetical list of over 200 plants and their figurative meanings. It is illustrated with color illustrations and accompanied by flower-themed poetry by writers of the day like Robert Burns and William

In our last blog, we discussed some of the misconceptions about pre-planning your funeral arrangements. Here are a few of the details that tend to catch people off guard — in a good way.  Your Price Doesn’t Change, Ever* When you pre-plan and pre-pay, you lock in today’s price. It doesn’t matter if you use

Many people today don’t give funeral pre-planning serious consideration. It may not be because they doubt its value, but there are a few common myths out there. Let’s clear some of those up. “I’m too young to think about this.” Pre-planning isn’t about expecting the end soon – everyone will eventually die. It’s about sparing the

Who has the legal authority to make funeral arrangements after someone passes away? In California, this right generally follows a legal order of kinship unless the deceased left written instructions naming someone else. Typically, the surviving spouse or registered domestic partner has the first right to make decisions. If there is no spouse, the responsibility

When someone dies and no family or next of kin can be located, the goal is to handle the death with compassion and dignity.  Locally, the case will most likely be referred to the Orange County Public Administrator (PA). The Public Administrator is responsible for making a diligent effort to identify and notify relatives, secure

When a loved one dies, families are often faced with difficult decisions at an already emotional time. If paying for funeral, burial, or cremation services seems impossible, it is important to know that there are options. The first step is to speak openly with a funeral provider about your financial circumstances. Most funeral homes have basic options which are designed

The memories we share with loved ones are among life’s greatest treasures. Taking steps to preserve those memories can create lasting connections that bring comfort for years to come. There is no time like the present to start recording family stories, life lessons, and favorite memories. A simple video interview or audio recording can capture

When a loved one passes, we often focus on the the things they leave behind, their homes and all that fill them, heirlooms and financial assets. While its important that these go to the right people and can hold special meaning, many families discover that the most treasured inheritance is something far less tangible: memories.