Feature Stories

The Cremation Process: How Cremation Works

A step-by-step guide to planning for a cremation.

Cleaning Out a Loved One's Home: Where to Donate Stuff

Bequeathing extra items to charity is a constructive way to honor a loved one's memory.

Arranging the Interment of Ashes

Interment of ashes is when cremated remains are buried in the ground or placed in a building designed to hold ashes, known as a columbarium. This is an option if you prefer not to scatter them or display them in your home.

It's Never Too Late for a Memorial Service

For an entire year from 2020 to 2021, pandemic restrictions meant we couldn’t say goodbye to our loved ones the way we wanted. Often, we were unable to be with them when they died—and to make matters worse, we weren’t able to gather to hold the funerals that would help us mourn properly. Whether we could only gather with a few close family members, or we watched a small service online, or we skipped the funeral altogether, pandemic funerals have often been unsatisfying and left us feeling unresolved grief. 

What to Do When a Loved One is Terminal

If your loved one has received a terminal diagnosis, you are likely scared and/or overwhelmed. You know there's a lot for you to do, as you're an important part of their support system, but you don't know what it all is. Here's a checklist of what needs to be done to provide care and prepare for their death.

The Surprising Ways a Funeral Director Can Help You

If you've never had to help plan a funeral, your idea of a funeral director's job is probably a little vague. They arrange the funeral, right? They handle the burial or cremation, and are at the visitation and the funeral service to make sure everyone's in the right place at the right time. Is that it?

Find Comfort in Legacy's Grief Support Groups

The loss of a loved one can turn your world upside down in an instant and leave you feeling isolated from the world at large, but you are not alone. In , you’ll find help from others who have stood where you are standing right now. Our private Facebook groups offer a safe space to share your bereavement and connect with others experiencing the same kind of loss you are.

What Kind of Flowers Should I Buy for a Funeral?

A guide to which sympathy flowers are often used to remember the most important people in our lives.

What to Wear to a Funeral (video)

This guide explains how to choose appropriate clothing for funerals and memorial services in today’s more casual world. It outlines respectful attire options for women, men, and children, with additional guidance for seasonal services, family members, and funerals with specific dress requests. Emphasizing modesty, neutral colors, and consideration for the grieving family, the article also clarifies what to avoid wearing and offers practical advice for situations where expectations are unclear. Overall, it helps readers balance personal comfort with tradition and respect, ensuring their appearance supports—not distracts from—the purpose of the service.

What Makes a Good Funeral?

Have you ever been to a really good funeral? No, that doesn't have to be an oxymoron — a good funeral is a real thing, and it's something we should all hope to achieve for ourselves and our loved ones.

How to Preserve Our Precious Memories Forever

Departed family and friends remain with us in the stories we tell and the memories we share.

What Documents Need to be Prepared Before a Death?

These six papers need to be ready so everyone can rest a little easier.

What to Say When Someone Dies

When someone you care about is grieving, finding the right words can feel overwhelming. This article offers practical, compassionate guidance on what to say—and how to listen—after a death, emphasizing simplicity, empathy, and sincerity. It explores supportive responses for a wide range of situations, from sudden or traumatic losses to long illness, strained relationships, and losses involving children, coworkers, or even strangers. With expert insights, examples of thoughtful phrases, and reminders of what to avoid saying, the guide helps readers express sympathy in ways that acknowledge loss, offer comfort, and remind the bereaved that they are not alone.

Tips and Advice for Pallbearers

Serving as a pallbearer is a serious job, but it doesn't have to be overwhelming.

Top Funeral Songs 🎵

This article examines the deep emotional connection between music and funerals, explaining how songs and hymns help families honor loved ones, process grief, and find comfort during memorial services. It presents a curated list of 76 popular funeral and celebration-of-life songs, organized by themes such as remembering parents, partners, or children, as well as religious, uplifting, humorous, love, and alternative music choices. The article serves as a practical guide for selecting meaningful music that reflects personal memories and supports emotional healing.

What Is a Green Burial or Natural Funeral?

The basic point of a natural or "green" burial is to tread as lightly on the earth as possible with the way we lay a body to rest.

The Embalming Process: How it Works

Embalming is a process performed by licensed funeral professionals that slows the decomposition of a human body after death by adding chemicals to replace bodily fluids. It's typically chosen by families that wish to have an open-casket funeral service.

What to Expect at a Memorial Service Held at Home

A casual setting can make it more comfortable to share memories.

What Is a Eulogy?

A eulogy is a remembrance speech that pays tribute to someone who has died.