Heads You Win: Remembering Harlem Funeral Director George Bernard Benta

You probably aren't familiar with funeral director George Bernard Benta, but we're guessing you've heard of a few of his famous clients. During his six-plus decades directing services at the Harlem funeral home his father founded, Benta handled the final arrangements for luminaries , James Baldwin, , and , among others. He made all families — famous or not — feel welcome, and became famous himself for his philosophies on life. Legacy contributor Susan Soper shares his story.

36 Questions That Will Make You Fall in Love (With Your Family)

The Funeral and Memorial Council created Talk of a Lifetime to help families have better conversations.

Funeral Pre-Planning

Why it's important to think about the end of life and plan ahead.

Take the Time to Talk

For most of us, talking about end-of-life issues with loved ones isn’t easy. But it can be a rich and rewarding experience that connects families and strengthens relationships.

Why Choosing Funeral Music is So Important

It's surprising how much a musical selection can affect mourning.

Tom Flynn, the Man Behind "America's Cemetery"

Tom Flynn, the founder of America's Cemetery, who was honored with the International Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association's 2018 Lasting Impact Award , died June 18 after a battle with cancer.

How to Shop for a Funeral Home

Compare costs and services to figure out what makes the most sense for your family.

How to Plan a Funeral After a Death

A loved one has died, and now it’s up to you to plan the funeral. It is challenging to plan a service and grieve at the same time, You don’t have to do it alone — expert funeral directors are available to help. Use Legacy’s checklist to guide you as you find a funeral home and   that is meaningful and comforting.

How Funeral Directors Can Help a Family

A funeral director can be one of your most important allies in the days and weeks after a loved one's death. Whether the funeral was prepared for years in advance, or the death was unexpected and you're making all the arrangements in a grief-stricken hurry, there's so much you can lean on a funeral director for. Here are eight important tasks a funeral director helps a family with.

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?

How to Pre-Plan a Funeral

Planning your own funeral may not be easy, but deciding your funeral arrangements in advance can give peace of mind to your family when the time comes. Learn why funeral pre-planning is helpful, then use our detailed checklist to guide you through the steps of pre-planning a funeral. 

Video Funerals Help Families Mourn During COVID-19

At a time when precautions against COVID-19 mean that large public gatherings are banned in some places and discouraged most everywhere else, how can we continue having funerals? It’s important to honor and remember the lives of our loved ones who have died, and mourning together with others who loved them is a crucial part of the grief process. We can still do this, even if we can’t get together in one place for a funeral. 

Aimee Stephens (1960–2020) transgender activist in current Supreme Court case

Aimee Stephens was a transgender woman whose job discrimination case went to the Supreme Court in 2020.

A funeral director in 2020: 'I worry about masks'

Sammy G. Oakey III is a fifth-generation funeral director, the president of in Roanoke, Virginia. In the 150 years since his great-great-grandfather founded the business, it has never changed quite as fast as it has in 2020.

Giving Tuesday Spotlight: Funeral Service Foundation

Tuesday, December 1, is Giving Tuesday, a day when we’re asked to step back from the shopping that dominates the days after Thanksgiving and do some good with our dollars. You might have a favorite charity to support on Giving Tuesday – or maybe you’re donating to a loved one’s favorite charity in their memory.

John Smith (1943–2021), former president of Arkansas Funeral Directors Association

John Smith, former owner of North Little Rock Funeral Home and the former president of the Arkansas Funeral Directors Association, died October 28, 2021, at the age of 78.

How to Plan an Ash-Scattering Ceremony

There are many options for holding a memorial service after a cremation.