How Having a Bucket List Can Change the Way You Live

on August 14, 2014

Most people think of a bucket list as a list of activities to make their lives better in the proverbial “someday,” but did you know that having a bucket list can actually improve your quality of life today? It’s true. Don’t wait until it’s time to start your funeral planning to start your bucket list. Here are four ways that having a bucket list can change the way you live today.

Four Ways a Bucket List Can Make Every Day Better

1. It Will Help You Focus on Your Priorities

Without clear priorities, it is too easy to just spend your money and time frivolously until it’s time to begin your funeral planning. With a bucket list, however, you can start putting your time and your money towards those activities you can’t wait to accomplish before it’s time to start funeral planning.

2. It Will Give You Something to Look Forward To

With work, bills and family responsibilities, it can be easy to fall into a boring routine of doing the same old thing every day until it’s time for funeral planning. This kind of life can seem hopeless. With a bucket list, however, you have goals to look forward to and to strive for.

3. It Will Help You Expand Your Horizons

While making your bucket list, the world is your oyster. You can put absolutely anything on your list that you want. After you fill it in with all the usual things, you may start thinking of new things you would like to try before it’s time to start funeral planning.

4. It Will Help You to Start Taking Steps in a Positive Direction

Without a bucket list, you are stuck with the feeling that things will get better “someday,” but someday never seems to come. Instead, it’s time to start funeral planning before you know it. With a bucket list, however, you have a clear plan of what you want to do, which is the first step in actually making it happen.

Partner With Baldwin Brothers Cremation Society of Central Florida

Baldwin Brothers Cremation Society of Central Florida wants to help you remember your loved one the way they would want to be remembered. With everything from flower arrangements to memorabilia and urns & caskets, we have your needs covered.

Proudly Serving Central Florida

Winter Park – (407) 569-0992

New Smyrna Beach – (386) 957-1693

Lady Lake – (352) 639-2563

Filed Under: End-of-Life Preperations, Funeral Planning Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

Eight Unique Ways to Honor Your Loved One at The Funeral

on July 30, 2014

Your loved one was one-of-a-kind. Honor their life and their memory by making their funeral arrangements one-of-a-kind as well. Here are eight ways to make your funeral arrangements perfectly reflect the loved one you are wanting to remember.

8 Ways to Honor the Personality of the Departed

1. Showcase Their Collectibles or Hobbies

Did your loved one love super heroes, fishing or a certain sports team? Set out action figures or a fishing pole, or choose flowers in team colors.

2. Play Their Favorite Music

Whether your loved one listened to country, gospel or rock and roll, be sure to incorporate some of their favorite songs into the funeral arrangements.

3. Create a Slide Show

Relive all of your favorite memories with the deceased by sharing a beautiful slide show of their life from birth through old age.

4. Have Guests Share Their Favorite Memories

Alternately, let all of the guests share their favorite memories by providing an open mic as part of the funeral arrangements. People will love sharing their favorite heartfelt and funny moments.

5. Serve Their Favorite Food and Drinks

Did your loved one always eat sandwiches or drink Jager bombs? Serve them at the meal after the service, or take everyone out to the deceased’s favorite restaurant to get them.

6. Create a Monument or Memorial

If your funeral arrangements include cremating your loved one instead of burying them, you will need a place to visit. Plant a tree or build a small stone statue in their honor for a lovely place to visit.

7. Make a Donation in Their Name

Honor your loved one and help others at the same time by making a donation in your loved one’s name. Choose an organization that works to fight the disease they died from or one that helps a cause they cared about deeply.

8. Pass Out Thoughtful Mementos

Give your guests something thoughtful to remember the deceased by. Seedlings, charms and photo candles are all thoughtful memorial gifts to include in the funeral arrangements.

Plan a Thoughtful Remembrance Ceremony

Baldwin Brothers Cremation Society of Central Florida wants to help you remember your loved one the way they would want to be remembered. With everything from flower arrangements to memorabilia and urns & caskets, we have your needs covered.

Proudly Serving Central Florida

Winter Park – (407) 569-0992

New Smyrna Beach – (386) 957-1693

Lady Lake – (352) 639-2563

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How Funeral Pre-Planning Benefits You and Your Family

on July 28, 2014

While no one wants to think about dying someday, the fact is that death is inevitable for all of us. Rather than just pretending that we are never going to die, it only makes sense to think about this tough subject and make any decisions in advance. Here are four reasons why funeral pre-planning benefits both you and your family.

4 Benefits of Pre-Planning Funerals

1. You Will Have the Aspects of Your Service that You Want

Most people have some idea of what they want their funeral to be like. Whether you want a sad gathering of your closest friends and family or you want a grand party to commemorate your life, you deserve to have the funeral you want. Your family won’t be able to do the proper funeral planning if they don’t know what your wishes are, however, so be sure to let them know in advance.

2. You Will Spare Your Family the Grief of Funeral Planning

Funeral planning is a tough process, especially since your family will undoubtedly be very upset that you are gone. Save your family some of the grief and heartache by making as many preparations in advance as you can. While doing your funeral planning in advance won’t make the funeral planning process easy for them, it can make it easier.

3. You Will Minimize Fighting Between Family Members

Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for fighting to break out during the funeral planning process. People are grieving and tensions are high. Help everyone to get along during the funeral planning process by getting as much of the process done in advance as you can. Then, no one will have anything to argue about.

4. You Can Have Things Ready to Go in Advance

While the funeral planning process trumps most everything else, it doesn’t change the fact that people are busy. Any planning that you can get done in advance is planning that your family members aren’t burdened with when you die.

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Baldwin Brothers Cremation Society of Central Florida helps you through every part of funeral arrangements. With everything from flower arrangements to memorabilia and urns & caskets, we are prepared to cover all of your needs.

Proudly Serving Central Florida

Winter Park – (407) 569-0992

New Smyrna Beach – (386) 957-1693

Lady Lake – (352) 639-2563

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Five Things You Should Consider When Choosing Music for a Funeral

on July 16, 2014

Choosing the music to be played at a funeral isn’t the worst part of funeral planning, but it isn’t a particularly fun task either. You want to choose music that sets an appropriate level of sadness without being overly depressing, and it can be difficult to find just the right balance. Here are a few guidelines you should consider during your funeral planning.

5 Helpful Tips For Choosing Funeral Music

1. Consider the Mood You Want to Create

Do you want a mood that is sad and reflective or a mood that is hopeful and uplifting? Either is appropriate, but you need to stay consistent. Take time during your funeral planning process to make sure that all of the songs you choose fit in well with the type of atmosphere you are trying to create.

2. Take the Deceased Person’s Personality into Account

Funeral songs are not a one-size-fits-all part of funeral planning. Honor the deceased by taking his preferences into account. Whether he loved classic hymns, rock and roll or smooth jazz, incorporating his favorite songs into the service is a great way to cherish his memory.

3. Stick to Popular Funeral Songs

If you are not sure which songs to pick, play it safe by sticking to the most popular choices. Common funeral songs include: “Angel” by Sarah McLachlan, “Memory” by Barbra Streisand, “Tears In Heaven” by Eric Clapton and “Unforgettable” by Nat King Cole. It is hard to go wrong with these common favorites.

4. Listen to the Words Carefully In Advance

No matter which songs you pick, be sure to listen to them ahead of time as part of your funeral planning process. You want to make sure that all of the words are appropriate so you won’t be surprised during the ceremony.

5. Consider Instrumental Music Instead

If you truly don’t know which songs to pick, consider going with strictly instrumental music. It is difficult to go wrong when there are no words. Choosing instrumental music makes your funeral planning that much easier.

Learn More

Baldwin Brothers Cremation Society of Central Florida helps you through every part of funeral arrangements. With everything from flower arrangements to memorabilia and urns & caskets, we are prepared to cover all of your needs.

Proudly Serving Central Florida

Winter Park – (407) 569-0992

New Smyrna Beach – (386) 957-1693

Lady Lake – (352) 639-2563

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The Hidden Meaning of Flowers in Funeral Arrangements

on May 30, 2014

Ordering floral funeral arrangements is a wonderful way to express sympathy and respect for a departed loved one. While everyone appreciates artfully displayed funeral arrangements, most people don’t realize that the flowers used in these bouquets have a language all their own.

Experienced Funeral Arrangement Services

Many funeral arrangements include lilies. In fact, white stargazer lilies are some of the most commonly seen blooms in funeral arrangements. These flowers are undoubtedly lovely, but they are so frequently used because of the innocence and purity they symbolize. Many mourners believe that the soul of the departed has been washed clean, and the lily is a tangible reminder of this.

Carnations also are popularly chosen for funeral arrangements. Many different colors may be seen, but those most often used are pink for remembrance and red for admiration. White is another typical choice when the giver wants to express the purity of their love for the departed.

Gladioli are a tall, majestic bloom, and they are available in a wide selection of hues. A deceased loved one who exhibited moral integrity and tremendous strength of character can be symbolized with gladioli. With multiple blossoms and straight, elegant lines, a gladiolus is always a good choice.

Chrysanthemums, sometimes called mums, are widely used around the world as a flower of mourning. In fact, the mum is so closely associated with death in some cultures that its use is reserved exclusively for funeral arrangements. Mums are used less selectively in the U.S. Nonetheless, they frequently make up a part of funeral arrangements.

The rose is among the most precious and enduring symbols of love. As such, it is often seen among funeral arrangements. Roses grow in a great variety of colors, and each carries significance. Yellow demonstrates the enduring bonds of friendship while white signifies reverence and humility. Pink might show appreciation and red courage.

Whichever blooms they may contain, funeral arrangements connote a world of sentiments and are a tangible expression of grief.

We’re Here to Help.

Baldwin Brothers Cremation Society of Central Florida helps you through every detail of funeral planning. With everything from flower arrangements to memorabilia and urns & caskets, we are prepared to cover all of your needs.

Proudly Serving Central Florida

Winter Park – (407) 569-0992

New Smyrna Beach – (386) 957-1693

Lady Lake – (352) 639-2563

Filed Under: Funeral Arrangement Tagged With: , , ,