Funerals are a once-in-a-lifetime event. All life must reach an end. Hopefully the departure is after a long and healthy life filled with family, friends and memories. Even though death is a part of life, it can be a shock. Taking into account your own mortality is a difficult prospect.
Perhaps it is easier to make the preparations for your own demise as opposed to the pain of burying a friend or loved one. Funerals can be difficult and sad times. Though it is instinctual and we all realize our time is finite, the sadness of saying goodbye is not something people look forward to.
Adding to the grief of loss is the monetary burden of paying for the funeral. Sometimes, though difficult, it is best to know what to expect. Here are more of the common questions that arise when planning a funeral.
Funerals are a very tough time for everyone involved. If you have had a loved one pass away or are simply planning ahead for your own future, there are many choices you will have to make. You need to decide on a budget. Funerals can be very expensive but you do have options. Many of your choices may depend on how you view death and what your religious preferences dictate.
There are flowers, caskets, cremation, eulogies, burial sites, viewings, wakes and a host of other terms that will be thrown at you. If you are planning for your own future and to help minimize the details your family will have to go through, you need to envision what your funeral will look like.
Perhaps you believe that death should not be a time of mourning but instead a celebration of life for the living. Regardless of what you envision, you need to have a detailed plan and leave those details in writing.
A wake is used in many cultures as a time to mourn the departed yet rejoice in his or her life. It can be held before the burial or later in the home of a loved one. Traditional wakes, such as those used in Irish cultures, combine eulogies for the departed with a more party-like atmosphere.
Many cultures believe that a celebration of the departed one's life is more important than mourning their passing. Of course there is sadness and tears but it is a time to gather around and discuss the good things the person has done or has embodied.
A typical funeral can cost thousands of dollars. The exact amount depends largely on what you want to include and how elaborate the affair will become. Some funerals can be as little as $1000.00 or can be intricate and elaborate celebrations that skyrocket into hundreds of thousands of dollars. There are so many different choices when it comes to having a funeral that it is almost impossible to list them all on multiple pages with the pricing.
Many people take out burial insurance along with their life insurance. This is to ensure that a good portion of the funeral costs are covered. How much your insurance will cover depends largely on the amount of policy you took out. Burial insurance will typically have no restrictions outside of the amount of the policy. Life insurance will only be payable under certain circumstances and cause of death.
Most life insurance policies do not cover certain causes of death such as suicide. You need to review your insurance policy to determine how much is paid out and what, if any, stipulations are attached to the policy.
Burying a loved one is an extremely stressful situation. If money is a problem, it can seem overwhelming but there is hope. Many organizations such as the Salvation Army and other charity groups can help shoulder the expenses. You may not get the deluxe coffin with hundreds of flowers but you can still give your departed loved one a beautiful parting ceremony. When you meet with the funeral home ask them for any help or information on groups that can help you with the funeral expenses.
It is now a law that family members must give express permission to embalm or refuse embalming service. Whether or not you wish to be embalmed or have a family member embalmed will depend on several factors. The first is how long the deceased will wait before burial or cremation.
If there is a lengthy time period then being embalmed must happen to preserve the body from decay. There are also certain stipulations placed by the Board of Health that dictate when a body must be embalmed due to certain forms of death or disease.
Planning a funeral is a difficult task. To help ease the loss of a loved one, use a funeral card dedication poem, like the My 3 Strands Eternity Card to remember how you are still connected by love, faith and hope.
Almost black this is an old wooden texture that with lots of marks and scratches would make a great wood grunge background.
Perhaps responding to comments is a straightforward issue for a lot of you, but it's something I'm always trying to figure out the best way to deal with.
Obviously if the comment is of a personal or private nature, I respond via email. If I want to be sure the commenter reads my response, I respond via email. But sometimes I think it's more conversational to answer in comments and encourages more discussion. If you ask the blogger a question in comments, do you subscribe to the comments? If the post gets a lot of comments do you feel annoyed by all the email you then get because you subscribed? Just curious.
An interesting question since I just recently complained (in a blog comment) about getting comments or compliments by email. I'd much rather see them on my book blog where my readers can see them too. Even those of a negative nature toward something I've written should be available to my readers, it's part of the dialogue.
I have a couple of issues about blog commenting but I'm so glad you brought this one up Amy. I hope you get some good input on this subject.
Too bad there is not a button that says, "Do you expect a response to your comments?" Because, to be honest, I never expect a response to my comments, and I am surprised when I do get one (and they are always via email). And perhaps I bug people when they comment on my blog, and I don't respond either. I guess in my case, blogging and reading blogs (and occasionally commenting)take up a lot of time, so the one place I can save is in responding to my own blog comments. I think I'll get there some day. (and I hope I still have readers when I do!) ;)
Good question. Whenever I leave a response in a comment, I'll subscribe if I want to follow up or see what every one else has to say.
Kind of an interesting question. If there's a question in my comments, then I typically want to respond to it. It's hard when they don't leave an email addy to or don't have a blog to find a way to contact them. I don't mind email responses because I'm not a comment addict. Someone who commented recently on my blog has her own blog and was discussing "comment whores". I found it rather amusing. Don't get me wrong, I like to have people respond to what I post on my blog, it just doesn't ruin my day if no one comments.
I've always chosen to reply to comments made in _my_ blog ~ by going to _that_ person's blog, and replying there.
Because I myself find it difficult to return to blogs, to see if any response to my comment, has been made. [Guess I'm way behind, because I don't sub to Comments, as you asked.]
I agree with Robin. If I comment on a blog, I usually subscribe to see what others say also. Great question!
I usually respond in comments with a pointer toward the comment I'm addressing, although I've been considering copy/pasting my responses in e-mail, as well, for people who don't have time to revisit to see if I've said something. It seems like that might be annoying, though, and spam-like.
It's the biggest part of livejournal I wish I could bring with me: threaded comments and the automatic e-mailing of direct replies. *pines*
I basically handle it just like you. If it's personal, or I'm not sure the person will check back for a response, I e-mail. Otherwise, I respond in the comments.
When I'm reading blogs, I always check back for responses, unless my comment was simply something like "Merry Christmas."
well, blogger doesn't make it easy to thread comments, so I tend to reply to comments via email. if blogger threaded replies to comments, I'd far prefer that, but not threading them makes them confusing to read--plus, I seldom return to a post I've commented on to see if there are any replies.
Great question, Amy! I've been getting more responses to comments back via email these days. I don't mind it (yet), because it's not overwhelming (yet), but I generally prefer to keep the conversation in the Comments section.
I don't subscribe to any Comments sections; I have enough to do, keeping up with the blogs in my Reader. If I ask a question and expect the blogger will respond to it, I take the responsibility of checking that post a few days later (admittedly, I don't always remember!)
I don't expect any response when I leave a comment on someone's blog unless I asked a question. I think one of the best ways is to respond on the other person's blog. I personally love to get comments (as do most bloggers) so it seems like the best place to do it. Plus, I've actually had a few people visit me because they read a comment I left on someone else's blog.
Interesting question - I usually e-mail or go to the other person's blog to comment, but it's not conducive to conversation
Hmm - I'm not sure. I tend to respond to comments both ways. If the comment brings up a question that makes me think my post is not clear, I reply in the comments section, otherwise I email. I think the problem with replying in the comments is that I don't always think to look back at the post to see if my question was answered.
When someone takes the time to leave a comment on my blog, I like to respond back individually if I can. I want them to know I appreciate the time they took to stop in and say something. Sometimes I may do a group comment if it's a general post like for the holidays. I usually leave my responses on my own blog because I figure it is all part of the ongoing dialog. I do subscribe to others' blogs when I leave comments either through blogger or Commentful in case someone responds to a comment I've left on his or her blog.
I admit that I do like it when people acknowledge my visit to their blog either by e-mail, leaving a comment on my own blog or commenting to my comment on their personal blog. The format really doesn't matter to me.
I understand people are busy and responding to comments can be time consuming, especially if you have a blog that attracts a lot of readers. If you have over 100 commenters, can you really be expected to respond back? Probably not. Still, I think it's a nice thing to do.
Provides HDMI, USB-A, and USB-C ports for connecting de-vices with these interfaces to a host equipped with USB-C, the new standard for charging, powering, and transferring data via USB.
Enables faster charging and syncing with full implementation of USB 3.1 spec, including 10 Gbps data transmission rates supporting 4K ultra-high resolution video for stunningly crisp detail and an immersive viewing experience.
USB-C's user-friendly reversible-plug design makes device connection simple, eliminating the annoyance of having to en-sure plug is inserted in one of two orientations.
Having a child is a dream that many couples are eager or even desperate to fulfill. They might even go so far as to reach for the modern miracle of fertility treatment. With the right method and a good doctor, it is possible for women to have children even after menopause. The largest obstacle is usually the cost, which can run into thousands of dollars. There are two types of loans for fertility, the first being a personal loan and the other being explicitly for fertility treatment.
Personal loans are often taken out from banks in order to supply the needed funds, especially if the patient is a couple without abundant long term savings. A fertility loan is provided by a lender who is familiar with the hospital and is summoned by medical staff or by third parties who act as brokers and middlemen. Either type of loan has the same risk and might have different interest rates. Patients are perfectly entitled to shop around to see where they can find the best deal. Fertility loans are not backed by assets. The individual’s credit is all that matters. They are backed by the person’s own regular income and must accept interest that reflects the lender’s statistical risk.
Fertility loans can be lower than bank loans in many cases, even though banks are inevitably behind many fertility loans. It is for a known purpose and there is no risk that the borrower will blow an open line of credit on extraneous or wasteful things. Fertility loans cover the treatment itself as well as related medical bills such as hospital stay and nurse visits for people who chose to do their medicine at home. Paying health professionals can be an enormous bill in itself, well beyond the initial cost of the treatment. Fertility loans could be lumped together with medical loans in general and are often supported by related providers. In some cases, even discretionary medical spending can take advantage of insurance benefits, so this can be a security for lenders. If a fertility clinic suggests a specific lender, the patient should be prepared to do his or her own homework. Any type of lender can act in a predatory fashion, and some have a profitable relationship with the clinic. Patients are always entitled to seek loans from a third party or from different institutions. It is usually hard to secure any loan in the way of thousands of dollars without stating the purpose. Interest on medical loans can close in on ten percent sometimes, but credit cards can be much worse. It is usually better to seek a loan specific to its purpose.