Ascension Funeral Group @ascensionfuneralgroup - Tumblr Blog

How to Celebrate Your Loved One's Life

When you lose a loved one, it can seem hard to celebrate the life they lived due to the amount of sadness you feel. While planning a funeral isn’t the most exciting time, you can add special touches to your loved one’s arrangements in order to honor their life, the things they accomplished and what made them special to those around them. In a time that is filled with sorrow, it will help provide you with reasons to smile and remind you of your favorite memories that will be with you forever. At Ascension Funeral Group we will work hard to provide your loved one with the best celebration of life. Ideas for a celebration of life are below.

Tribute Video One idea that many people use in order to celebrate the life of a loved one is a tribute video. These videos will have memories throughout your loved one’s life. The video can be a combination of family photos, music and special effects that will help to show what a great life the person you love lived. Plus, it will provide family and friends with a meaningful keepsake when the celebration is over and you will be able to watch it for years to come.

Tribute Wall An online Tribute Wall is automatically created when an obituary is placed on our website. The Tribute Wall enables visitors to share their favorite stories, photos and videos of your loved one, it also allows you to connect with family and friends. The tribute wall allows people to leave comments regarding condolences or words of encouragement while also providing obituary and funeral service information. The tribute wall is a permanent web page that you will be able to visit whenever you’d like in order to read old memories people shared and to remind you of what a great life your loved one experienced.

Ascension Funeral Group serves the Mobile, Alabama area with funeral and cremation services, grief support, pre-planning, and more. Visit us online at www.AscensionFuneralGroup.com! Call us anytime at 251-634-8055 or connect with Ascension Funerals & Cremations and Forest Lawn Funeral Home on Facebook and Twitter!

#somobile #afg #fridayreads

How to Plan a Memorial Service

A memorial service is a wonderful way to pay remembrance to your deceased loved one. There are many advantages to holding a memorial service instead of, or in addition to, a traditional funeral service. With that, there are many factors to consider to plan the memorial service you really want.

Why a memorial service? Today some may want a spiritual service but not necessarily a religious one. Memorial services give you that option. They also offer flexibility with timing. People are spread across the globe with varying schedules. Contrary to funerals, there are no hard and fast rules with timing of memorial services. Finally, holding a memorial provides a personal service that truly reflects the life of the deceased.

Here are 4 steps to planning a memorial service

1. Narrow down your date There is limitless flexibility with timing of memorial services. Many people opt to hold one around the birthday of the deceased or another important date. Mother’s Day and Father’s Day are popular choices. Decide on the date you will hold yours to be able to move forward in the next steps of planning.

2. Choose a venue Now that you have a date you can make sure your venue is available. Memorial services can be held literally anywhere. Secure a spot that was a favorite of your loved one or highlights a favorite activity. Good examples are gardens and beaches. But, you can have one anywhere including sports arenas, bowling alleys and baseball fields. Remember, even if your venue is a public place you’ll want to double check for conflicting usage of the facility on the same day.

3. Decide on the right atmosphere To memorialize your loved one, aim to create an overall atmosphere they themselves would have enjoyed. Unlike funerals with a formal theme, you really have limitless options for atmosphere planning.

3 items to consider when planning the perfect atmosphere

● Decor: flowers, greenery, linens ● Music: what type of music best reflects their personality? ● Food: food and drink is certainly not mandatory but is a nice touch especially if the service runs through a meal hour. Decide the type of food and drink you’ll serve. ● Tone: what tone best memorializes the deceased? Would they appreciate more of a formal, somber tone? Or, were they jovial and an upbeat tone is best suited? ● Get creative: the beauty of memorial services is that you can really think outside the box. Did they have a favorite food or scent? Light a scented candle, put out food items they loved, use essential oils. Did they have a favorite hobby? Place items they made or tools used in the hobby out for view. Many people opt for all of these and set up a memorial table.

4. Invite your guests The vital details are done. Now it’s time to send out guest invites. Be sure to include small but important items such as if you will serve food, a certain dress attire or if there will be a unique activity (“Please join us to lay ashes in the ocean after the service.”).

Ascension Funeral Group serves the Mobile, Alabama area with funeral and cremation services, grief support, pre-planning, and more. If you need assistance with planning a memorial service for your loved one, visit us online at www.AscensionFuneralGroup.com! Call us anytime at 251-634-8055 or connect with Ascension Funerals & Cremations and Forest Lawn Funeral Home on Facebook and Twitter!

#fridayreads #somobile #memorialservice

Sentimental Ways for a Recently Lost Loved One to Live On

#fridayreads #somobile #afg

Top 5 Activities for Father’s Day

June 17 is quickly approaching! Whether it’s memories of cookouts, baseball games, long car rides, or any happy memory from childhood, Father’s day is a time to celebrate those days. Now, we understand the struggle of trying to plan the perfect day to show Dad you love him. Even the most experienced planners have a hard time when it comes to planning for family members. So, we have collected a list of our “Top 5 Father’s Day Activities” to help whenever

you get stuck.

#5 - Take a Hike If bonding time is the goal this Father’s Day then hiking is a great way to get that one-on-one time. It can be as simple as taking a walk around the street or taking a hike at a nearby trail. Spending time outdoors and with family is a great way to show your dad that you’re thankful for him.

#4 - Visit a Local Brewery Local Breweries are always a fun and relaxing time. Take Dad to a brewery and let him try all the different varieties they have to offer. Many breweries provide games for guests during each visit. If you have any furry family members, many breweries are pet-friendly and have outside eating and drinking areas. Breweries are also great places to meet new people.

#3 - Treat Him to a Home Cooked Meal Switch it up and you cook him a meal! Growing up, the parents take care of providing food, but now it’s time for a change. After a fun-filled Father’s Day, surprise him by coming home to his favorite meal. If you’re looking to boost the nostalgia, bring out some old photo albums and let him reminisce on the ‘good ole days”.

#2 - Take Him to a Concert This one is the priciest of the Top 5, but worth every penny. Concerts are a great way to treat Dad. Do some investigating and find out if any artists that he likes are playing near you. Inviting some of his friends or maybe even some close family members is a great way to take the day to the next level!

#1 -Go Fishing If your dad enjoys fishing, why not take him out on Mobile Bay? Whether you decide to fish from the shore or from a boat, a day on the water is always fun! Pack the cooler and your fishing gear and get ready to create wonderful memories.

The best part about father's day is spending time together and creating new memories. You can do just that with the list of fun activities above. However you choose to celebrate this special day with your dad, we hope it is the best!

#fathersday #somobile #ascensionfuneralhome

Typical Scams on the Bereaved

It’s an awful thing to know that there are people out there who are constantly trying to scam people in order to take advantage of them. While we know many scammers target elderly individuals, were you aware that there are some people who specifically go after those who are bereaved? Keep reading below on typical scams that can occur on the bereaved.

Life Insurance Many scammers will call a family after they have lost a loved one and claim that they are an insurance company provider who has a life insurance policy on the deceased. Typically, they will say the policy is valued at around $50k but the individual was behind on their payments. The family will then be asked to pay in order to reactivate the policy in order to receive the policy. They will ask that you wire transfer the payments to them, along with a copy of the death certificate.

Credit Cards An alert has been issued to all consumers by the Better Business Bureau regarding a scam, which targets the loved ones of bereaved families claiming to be a collections service. They send fake invoices that are addressed to the deceased with invoice ranging anywhere from one hundred to one thousand dollars. If you believe that you have received a false report, run a credit check on the deceased individual. You can view all open accounts by using Experian.com or Transunion.com.

Medicare Be advised that companies like Medicare and Medicaid will never call you and ask for information over the phone. One common scam on a bereaved family is when a scammer calls and claims that their insurance cards need to be updated. You will be asked to verify your birth date and your social security numbers. Do not provide this information over the phone if this ever happens to you.

Tax Fraud One very sophisticated phone scam can occur regarding tax fraud. The scammers will call claiming to be IRS employees and claim that the deceased individual owes money on taxes. In some instances, they may even threaten to have you arrested if you don’t pay all or part of the owed taxes. Keep in mind that the IRS will NEVER demand payment immediately over the phone when there are taxes owed without first sending you a notification in the mail asking for credit or debit card numbers. They would also never threaten to bring in local police or law enforcement to arrest you for nonpayment.

There are many more types of scams out there that families of recently deceased individuals can be at risk too. The above are just a few of the most typical and common that you should be aware of. If you or someone you know has been the target of one of the above scams, visit the website of the Federal Trade Commission for further information on what action to take.

#somobile #ascensionfuneral #fridayreads

With the recent passing of former First Lady Barbara Bush, comfort care has been in the spotlight. Even though, it has been around for a while, here are some insights on what comfort care truly means.

#comfortcare #afg #somobile

Comfort Care and End of Life Planning

Losing a legacy In the wake of the passing of Barbara Bush, a spotlight has been shone on comfort care. Although a public figure and leader on many fronts, the former first lady was more quiet about her long-term struggle with Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Those familiar with these conditions understand the toll they take on the quality of life in the later stages. Mrs. Bush sought comfort care, also known as palliative care, as well as end of life planning as she battled these late stages.

Comfort care has been around for decades. But what exactly does it mean?

What is “comfort care?” Comfort care means simply that the suffering party has chosen to cease all medical interventions that may prolong their life. They instead opt for measures that keep them comfortable. In our modern age of medical technology, there certainly exists many means of keeping us alive. Is this always wanted? In the case of Barbara Bush, those interventions were not her desire.

It’s good to remember that when a loved one makes the choice of comfort care, it doesn’t mean that they will be suffering.

Along with our modern medical interventions, there is also very effective pain control medication. These thoughts wrap families in comfort themselves as they approach this important decision and the days that follow. For many who decide on comfort care, they go under the care of a hospice organization. This can be ordered by the attending physician.

Understanding when it may be time Deciding to make a comfort care declaration is often the choice of those with terminal illness. However, it can also be something a family faces after a catastrophic event. Auto accidents that result in comas are one such example. It is safe to say deciding on comfort care is never easy. In the case of Barbara Bush, she was coherent and able to make her wishes known herself. But that is not always the case. That is why having advance directives in place now is best to know up front your loved one’s wishes if the unthinkable were to happen.

End of life planning The next step right after entering into comfort care is end of life planning. Medical professionals in your circle can help understand how long your loved one may have left depending on the condition. However, it’s best not to wait. As the process progresses emotions are high. Then it can be tough to make end of life planning decisions It’s best for everyone if the planning begins right away once comfort care is decided. The silver lining is often times that the sufferer helps in the planning if it starts soon. It brings peace to many to know the funeral wishes, arrangements, and other details are exactly what their loved one wanted.

Your friends at Ascension Funeral Group are here to help you with this difficult time. Please email us or give us a call with any questions you have.

#somobile #comfortcare #ascensionfuneral

#urns #ascensionfuneralgroup #somobile

How To Buy An Urn On Any Budget

Losing someone is one of the most difficult phases you can experience. Cremation is becoming a more common choice, with about half of all Americans choosing it over traditional burial. You may find yourself faced with decisions on more details of your loved one’s cremation. Funeral expenses can typically run into the thousands. But choosing an urn after cremation on any budget need not become a worry.

If your loved one has decided upon cremation there are some considerations in choosing the urn. There are many appropriate choices that fit all budgets in urn choices.

Here we answer the top 3 questions on how to buy an urn on any budget

What is the first step for me to choose an urn? The first step is to determine where you will store the urn. Perhaps the deceased made their wishes clear on where the urn is to be stored. You may find yourself and your family having to make that decision yourselves. Storing the urn in a place that reflects as best it can the person they were is a good starting point. For example, you may choose to store it in a display case, on the mantle or in the bedroom. Here are some further considerations on the storage of your urn.

Outdoors: If you will be storing the urn in an outdoor space, certain materials will be needed to ensure the urn withstands the outdoor elements. Buried outside: urns designed for underground are available In the home: you may opt to go with a more decorative design if your urn will be on display or seen by you or others regularly. It’s nice to choose a design that reflects your deceased loved one’s personality.

How do I set a budget? After you have determined where exactly the urn will be kept, you can next set your budget. Funeral expenses are very challenging to manage at times because of the emotional state the family and loved ones are in. We are here to help you navigate this difficult time and there are many options today for urns in every cost range. Before moving on to any other steps in the process, however, it is important to set your budget expectations up front. Only then can you look for an urn within that budget range and not get sidetracked or overwhelmed by other choices. It’s great news that today there are very high-quality urns at affordable prices. If your budget is higher for an urn, there are lovely choices in gold, bronze, glass, marble or other materials. You may even choose a customized urn with engraving or other personalized touches. Urns can be purchased at your funeral home or online, which is a very budget-friendly option and can be as low as under $50 depending on the size.

What size do I need? A rule of thumb is that one cubic inch of ash is produced for every pound the person weighed. With that, you can roughly figure out what size urn you will need based on their body weight. You may want to buy an urn that is slightly larger than what your calculations say you need just to be safe.

We hope we’ve answered some questions for you. Have more? Give us a call today!

Ascension Funeral Group serves the Mobile, Alabama area with funeral and cremation services, grief support, urns, pre-planning, and more. Visit us online at www.AscensionFuneralGroup.com! Call us anytime at 251-634-8055 or connect with Ascension Funerals & Cremations and Forest Lawn Funeral Home on Facebook and Twitter!

#ascensionfuneralgroup #somobile #urns #fridayreads