Sitting shiva: A guide for the planner
If you haven't read our artciles blogs about shiva make sure to check them out. Our first blog Shiva 101 talks about what is shiva. The second blog deals with Shiva Etiquette. This blog tells you how to help your Jewish friends mourn. Shiva is observed by Jewish mourners for seven ...
Continue ReadingShiva Etiquette: A guide to making a shiva call
What is Shiva? Shiva or "sitting shiva" is the act of consoling a Jewish family who has just lost a loved one. You can learn more about shiva here in Shiva 101. We spoke with Sharon Rosen, founder of ShivaConnect to provide us additional insight on the topic on how ...
Continue Reading5 Ways to “Go-Green” at Your Funeral (and Save Money)
You go out of your way to put every plastic bottle, can, and paper in recycling. You compost your organic materials. You collect rainwater to irrigate your garden, and installed solar panels on your roof to reduce your dependence on the electrical grid. Like many Americans and Canadians you are ...
Continue ReadingGreen Burials - Going Green Until The End
Americans are leaning more and more towards being environmentally conscious consumers. As a society we have become accustomed to: recycling, composting, conserving water, purchasing locally made goods and locally grown food, driving fuel efficient vehicles, utilizing reusable coffee mugs, researching product manufacturing labels, and generally engaging in activities that reduce ...
Continue ReadingThe Top 3 Things You Should Know When Funeral Planning
Planning a funeral can seem overwhelming, but following the 3 simple tips below will ensure you are prepared and don't overpay for funeral services. 1. Know the Funeral Rule The Funeral Rule was established by the Federal Trade Commission to protect consumers at this particularly vulnerable time. Be sure to ...
Continue ReadingDeath with Dignity - Understanding Your End-Of-Life Rights
Death with Dignity is a movement to provide options for the dying to control their own end-of-life care. Melissa Barber of the Death with Dignity National Center helps us better understand the laws and options available to residents in select US states which support Death with Dignity. What does it mean to die ...
Continue ReadingDeath Over Dinner
It has become apparent in the recent months that talking about death is trendy. That's right, TRENDY. From Death Cafes to new end-of-life planning websites (too many to list here) to Death Over Dinner, the most recent addition to the global movement to talk about death before it is too ...
Continue ReadingWhat do I do? It's kind of weird...
By Mark Eyerly for Drexel's Market Street Publication If the hearses outside the hotel weren’t enough to remind Rachel Zeldin that she turned her life upside down, her fellow vendors in the exhibit hall at the Pennsylvania Funeral Directors Association drove the point home. Casket manufacturers. Embalming fluids salesmen. Cremation ...
Continue ReadingThe Golden Girls Plan a Funeral - A Humorous Take on a Serious Topic
Ready for some funeral humor? Watch this throw-back as Rose, Dorothy, Blanche, and Sophia make arrangements for putting a "frenemy" to rest. As is in the intended nature of a classic sitcom, hopefully these funeral clips offer a little bit of humor on the traditionally dark topics of death and funerals.
Continue ReadingShiva 101 - A Simple Guide to Shiva Practices
Funeral and mourning rituals and traditions vary greatly between different cultures and religions. Today we are taking a look at the Jewish mourning tradition of "sitting shiva". To help us understand what this means and what we can do as mourners or supporters of mourners, we have consulted with "The ...
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