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Nearly 2.5 million people per year have their identity stolen after their death!

There are a couple things you can do to ensure your loved one doesn’t become a victim of identity theft. Tone down the news obituary in the paper – do not give up too much information. Yes, you want to be personal and informative but don’t give away too much.

-Notify all 3 credit reporting agencies of the deceased and have them put a “deceased” flag alert on the account.

-Have someone at the deceased one’s house at all times. Especially during visitation, memorial or service.

-Contact the Social Security Administration directly and let them know about the death and having them flag the person’s social security number as inactive.

-Make sure identity documents are secure and kept away in a safe or a safety deposit box.

Post death identity theft is one of the fastest growing trends of scam artists in the United States today. Armed with your personal information, these scam artists can ruin your family’s credit by applying for credit cards and using your loved one’s credit.

Identity theft is the last thing you want to deal with while grieving over a loss. Remember, it is better to be safe than sorry.

Everyone will experience grief in their lifetime. However, everyone processes grief in a different way. Some devote time to work to keep them busy, some use a support group or private counseling service, but there is no easy way to get through it. People also express their grief differently. Some may want to talk it out, while others are more prone to closing off.

There will be times when you can take your mind off of your loved one, but there will also be times when things remind you of them – a restaurant, a football game, or his or her favorite song. Allowing yourself to feel your emotions is the first step towards accepting the passing of a loved one. Recognize what you are thankful for and what God has still blessed you with. Focus on what you do have, and not what you don’t have. Cherish the good times, and be thankful for the time you had with them.

Release your pain in a journal or confide in a friend. Try writing your loved one a letter. Having faith is the best healer. Just remember, the Lord will never give you anything you can’t handle.

In my opinion, the best way to overcome grief is through helping others. Giving back to your community not only gives you something to do that will distract your mind, but it surrounds you with friends and loved ones who can help you as you go through the grieving process. Would your loved one have wanted you to spend the rest of your life dwelling over their absence, or rather keep them alive in your heart?

“You may delay, but time will not.” – Benjamin Franklin

We all plan for many of life’s obstacles. Things like fire insurance, health insurance and auto insurance consume a lot of our time and money. Thing is, we tend to fail in planning for the inevitable – death.

Our main goal is to eliminate as much stress from your family as possible. When your affairs are pre­arranged, it leaves more time for your family to cope with the loss. There are over 40 questions on the death certificate alone. Chances are you won’t want to be gathering all that information while grieving over the loss of a loved one.

Nowadays, people are so busy with their daily routines that they fail to plan for the inevitable. The monotony and cyclical nature of our busy schedules can sometimes be consuming, but we must not lose sight of the things that are truly important.

Bob Johnson, Pre-need Director here at the funeral home, knows all about the do’s and dont’s of preplanning. Some advantages of preplanning include being able to arrange your expressed wishes, while relieving your loved ones from the burden of selecting funeral home goods and services, it could even meet Medicaid/SSI requirements, which might offer the flexibility to change funeral homes and beneficiaries if needed, along with freezing the cost of merchandise and services, and most importantly, providing peace of mind for you and your family.

Having seen so many people affected by the loss of a loved one, Bob Johnson realizes how important it is to make prearrangements by taking the burden off of a loved ones family. People consider this to be a sense of accomplishment, knowing that a loved ones family will not have to worry about the arrangements or the challenge of paying for it.

The funeral service industry is constantly changing, evolving as we trend, adapting to our customer’s wants and needs.

One of the biggest trends right now is “going green” for your loved one’s funeral service. Whether the deceased was environmentally friendly or not, keeping our environment safe is becoming a major issue. Here are a few ways to “go green” when it comes to funerals.

Recyclable paper for the programs – not only does it save the environment, it is also a more cost effective purchase!

Flowers from organic local growers – this is a great way to be environmentally conscious and the local growers benefit from your business.

Local and organic foods and refreshments – benefits you and the local growers the same way organic flowers does.

Planting an urn with a seed – a seed is planted in the urn with the ashes and a plant grows from the seed. Place it on your mantle as a constant reminder of your loved one. With death, comes new life.

Many people also choose to personalize their loved one’s funerals. Another way to save the environment is through the use of bequeathed items like the jewelry that the deceased wears for an open casket.

The decisions you make add a personal touch to your loved one’s funeral, no one service is ever truly the same as another. With the constant growing trends in the funeral service industry, it is ultimately up to you to decide on how you best want to remember your loved one.

Looking for the right funeral home for your loved one can be both, time consuming and saddening. There are many factors involved with this emotional process like finding the right location, costs of the service, and picking out an ideal ceremony for your loved one.

When figuring out the location for your loved one’s funeral service, you should think about where they would have wanted it. Picking a funeral home that is close to family and friends would be ideal for this occasion.

Costs of a service can vary since it depends on the type of decorations, floral arrangement, and whether you want cremation or casket.

There are a few things to consider when deciding on the type of ceremony for your loved one. Traditional services, closed or open casket, and eulogy speeches from a close friend or family member can all be discussed and figured out with the pastor or funeral coordinator, along with setting up a memorial service.

“To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under the heaven. A time to be born, and a time to die.”–Ecclesiastes 3:1-2

Finding the right funeral home can be a daunting task, especially while grieving over the loss of a loved one. You may want to ask yourself these few questions before selecting a funeral home.

How close is the funeral home to your home?

Is it locally or nationally owned?

Do they offer special packages or individual items and services?

All of your answers to these questions will aid in the selection of the funeral home that’s right for your family.

Funerals can be expensive, we all know that. But what most people don’t realize is that you can make the service as simple or as elaborate as you wish. While it is sometimes critical to stay within a budget, all purchases are up to your personal discretion. The décor and extra amenities are determined by your wishes. What’s right for one family may not be right for another. Sticking to a set budget and finding the specific options that are right for YOUR family will help you save money and have a great service.

I feel the most important thing in choosing the right funeral home is the staff and the facility. An honest and respectful staff, coupled with a warm and beautiful environment will not only help you make the right decisions throughout the process, but also allow you your time to grieve, while making you feel safe and comfortable.

“Remember that day we went tortilla tossing by the suspension bridge? I was just scrolling through your pictures on Facebook. I always had a good time laughing with you. You’re in a better place now, and thats something we can all find solace in. I’ll always have these pictures to reminisce over. Thank’s for being such a great friend.”

Messages like these can be found all across social media channels.

As a society, we’ve come a long way in how we grieve. With the strides we’ve taken in our digital presence and social media communities, memorials of our loved ones can be created in real-time.

Within two hours of Michael Jackson’s tragic death, word had spread throughout all channels of social media.

“I was in my hotel room during Baylor Orientation that summer when I read it on Facebook,” said one Baylor student. Rest in Peace posts and well wishes to the Jackson family were all anyone was posting about.

Facebook, Twitter, Legacy.com, and many more have given users an avenue to share their grieve while gaining support from their followers and friends. These communities have transformed into a hub of personal sharing, prompting people to create memorial pages and share stories of lost loved ones.

Social media and the Internet have allowed us to not only express our grief in different ways, but to honor and preserve the memory of our loved ones.

The hardest part of losing a loved one is being left behind. The delicate memory of them is all we have as we continue to face life and its many challenges without them. The holidays, social gatherings, anniversaries and birthdays.

When my wife, Yvonne, passed at an early age, there were many things we planned to share that I had to now face alone. My desire to carry her memory with me was a greater challenge than I expected. I wanted to remember her, the wonderful things about her, and I wanted everyone who knew her to remember them too. So I decided to throw her a birthday party.

Now, I understand that a birthday party for my late wife might not be the most traditional avenue for honoring her memory. But, it was a beautiful and meaningful celebration. Our closest friends and family gathered to share stories, memories, photos and home videos. Suddenly the fragile memories of Yvonne were brought to life and given new strength. With love and laughter we remembered the blessed life she lived, and with the support of each other, we prepared to face tomorrow without her, thankful to have known her.

Moving forward doesn’t have to mean leaving behind. Remembering the loved ones we have lost does not inhibit us from living our own lives. Remembering those who have influenced and molded us allows us to be the best versions of ourselves.

So whether it’s throwing a party, wearing a locket, revisiting a special place or following through with an old tradition, go forward, live your life joyfully, and keep your memories alive.

I Know I Will Never Forget.  I Know I Will Never Forget.

I have a close friend who lost her husband in one of the twin towers:(

I have a close friend who lost his father that day… he was on the 94th floor:(

Here’s to a safe & very pleasant day, especially for for those who labor:)  I am very thankful for employees & employers who make it possible, but today is for employees, the backbone of America!!  Today, may you rest & in the days ahead, may you realize your version of “The American Dream”!!!  Thank you for your time.  Thank you for your blood, sweat & tears.  May your efforts not be spent in vain, but rather may they directly or indirectly help your fellow man!  In my eyes, a couple of things are certain… we’re all in this together & we all need each other!!

(And for those who are seeking employment, may you find not only employment… may you find work that truly satisfies your soul!  Godspeed:)