Five Things You Must Do Before Traveling With a Loved One’s Ashes

on October 15, 2014

If your loved one has chosen cremation services and to have their ashes spread in a specific location, chances are that you will need to travel to bring their ashes to their desired destination. Traveling with ashes after cremation services isn’t as simple as packing the ashes in your suitcase, however. Here are five tips you’ll need to know before you transport a loved one’s ashes via plane.

Travel Tips with a Loved One’s Ashes

1. Make Sure the Airline Allows Cremains

While most airlines will allow you to travel with ashes, certain airlines may have guidelines or restrictions that affect how you travel. For example, some may not allow you to carry on the cremains, some may not allow you to check them, and most have guidelines for the type of container the cremation services staff should use.

2. Alert the Airline Ahead of Time

Even if you know that the airline allows you to travel with ashes, you will still want to let the airline know in advance that you will be traveling with them. This will help you reduce or eliminate the chances that you’ll encounter a problem on your travel date.

3. Research Current Laws, Guidelines and Procedures

Laws can vary widely depending on your location, and they are liable to change at any time. Make sure you research the latest laws, guidelines and procedures by speaking to the cremation services staff and the airline and by researching that latest Transportation Security Administration (TSA) requirements.

4. Bring All Documentation with You

Before you go to board the plane, be sure that you have all of the documentation that you will need. This includes, but is not limited to, the death certificate and the cremation services documentation.

5. Contact the U.S. Embassy if Traveling Overseas

If you are traveling overseas with your loved one’s ashes, don’t forget to check the laws of the country where you are headed. You will likely want to speak with someone at the U.S. Embassy overseas about your cremation services and transportation plans.

We Can Help with the Details

Baldwin Brothers Cremation Society of Central Florida wants to help you celebrate the life of your loved one with honor and dignity. 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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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.

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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Cremation Services: An Ancient Practice in the Modern World

on May 14, 2014

An increasing number of Americans are choosing cremation services instead of burial. The reasons that people choose cremation services are varied. In general, it’s less expensive, and some people say that it’s a greener practice that’s better for the environment.

Trusted Cremation Services in Central Florida

Some people choose cremation services because it is a time honored tradition. In fact, researchers have uncovered evidence that cremation services were first practiced in the early Stone Age. They believe that people living in the Near East and Europe may have been cremating people as early as 3,000 B.C.E.

The practice of using cremation services only grew from there. Late Stone Age peoples across northern Europe and into Russia adopted the practice, which moved south after that and reached Spain.

The ancient Greeks, long recognized for the sophistication and complexity of their culture, also widely used cremation services. According to historians, the Greeks favored the practice because it was considered healthier as well as being a more efficient means of dealing with soldiers slain during war. The Romans followed this practice, but the reluctance of early Christians and Jews to utilize cremation meant that the practice began to fade in the centuries following the birth of Christ.

Cremation services did not see a sizable renaissance until the latter half of the 19th century. Technological improvements perfected by Italian Professor Brunetti in the 1870s made the practice popular in Europe and in North America. Before the decade was out, crematories were being built in the U.K. and America.

Proponents of the movement toward cremation services in the 19th century included medical professionals who felt it was a healthier practice and members of the Protestant clergy. Many early crematories were operated by cremation societies, the members of which were concerned citizens who believed in the health and efficacy of the practice.

Today, almost 2,000 crematories are operating in America alone. That number is expected to rise as more people are drawn to cremation services.

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: Cremation Services Tagged With: , , ,