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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Feed a Grieving Soul: Six Comforting Foods to Make for Those Who are Planning a Funeral

on September 28, 2014

Funeral planning is often a long and very sad process. No one enjoys funeral planning, and yet it has to be done. If one of your loved ones is in the process of funeral planning, help brighten their day a little by offering to make a meal for after the funeral or by bringing a meal to their home. Here are six comforting meals that are perfect for the grieving.

Comfort Food for Funeral Planning

1. Chicken Pot Pie

Healthy and comforting, chicken pot pie is the perfect meal to make for a family during the funeral planning process. It is easy to make, easy to reheat and very delicious.

2. Spaghetti and Meatballs

During times of grief, people often revert back to eating the foods they ate when they were kids. A grown-up version of spaghetti and meatballs is the perfect food for comforting those who are grieving. Plus, it is easy and inexpensive.

3. Chicken and Dumplings

When it comes to comfort food, it is hard to top chicken and dumplings. This dish is sure to comfort anyone in their time of grief.

4. Ham and Macaroni Casserole

If you are baking for a large and hungry crowd, ham and macaroni casserole is the perfect choice. It is inexpensive, easy to prepare, and easy to make in batches. Plus, it’s a dish that is well loved by pretty much everyone, making it a safe choice.

5. Baked Ziti

For a noodle casserole that is just as comforting but a little more sophisticated, baked ziti is the perfect choice. This dish is easy and inexpensive to prepare, and it reheats well too.

6. Roast Chicken and Vegetables

Funeral planning can take so much time and energy that people often don’t feel like cooking for days. If you want a dish that will last for a while, choose roast chicken and vegetables. Not only is this funeral planning dish perfect the first time, but roast chicken is also perfect for leftovers.

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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A Brief History of the Calla Lily and It’s Meaning

on September 14, 2014

Calla lilies are a beautiful flower commonly seen in wedding and funeral planning. How did this flower become so popular? Read on to learn more about the calla lily’s interesting history.

Calla Lily Origins

Calla lilies are originally from Southern Africa, specifically around South Africa, Madagascar and Malawi. The flower eventually made its way to Europe, to the United States and to many other parts of the world.

Calla Lily Symbolism

The calla lily is a common symbol that has held significant, yet diverse, meanings for various people groups over time. In ancient mythology, the calla lily represented the goddess Hera, who was believed to be the originator of flowers. According to the ancient Romans, the calla lily symbolized lust and sensuality. According to the ancient Christians, the flower symbolized purity, virtue, chastity and the Virgin Mary. Today, calla lilies symbolize innocence, sympathy and the purification of a departed soul. This makes the flower perfect for funeral planning today.

Calla Lily Uses

Calla lilies are commonly used at weddings and in funeral planning, especially in funeral planning for young people who have died before their time. They can also be found in many flower arrangements, since they keep well and last for a long time.

Calla Lily Varieties

While white is by far the most common color of calla lily available, other colors exist and are used in funeral planning as well. Calla lilies are also available in pink, purple, yellow, orange and green. All of these varieties are quite beautiful, which is fitting since the name for the flower actually comes from the Greek word for beauty.

If you have funeral planning to do, be sure to include calla lilies in the service somewhere. The beautiful flowers are sure to add a small glimmer of beauty and hope on an otherwise sad day.

Partner With Baldwin Brothers Cremation Society of Central Florida

Baldwin Brothers Cremation Society of Central Florida wants to help you get through a difficult time as easily as possible. 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 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: , , , , , , , , ,

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

Filed Under: Funeral Planning Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Tips for Celebration Slide Shows

on June 27, 2014

If a family or friend member has passed away, then the funeral arrangements become a priority. Many of the traditional methods of ceremonies leave out the memories or the fulfillment of an individual’s life. Today, family and friends are adding into the funeral arrangements with a personal touch for the individual that has passed away. Slide shows are one of the ways that many are embracing the life that one had. If you are planning a slide show with funeral arrangements, then you can use the following tips for a better presentation.

Funeral Arrangement Slide Show Tips

Tip 1: Explore Life. While putting together the slide shows, you will want to look at all areas of the individual’s life. Creating a chronological presentation of the individual with family, career and achievements offers an overview that everyone can honor from the funeral arrangements.

Tip 2: Highlight the Best. A picture is worth a thousand words. Make sure you add in pictures to the slide show that highlight the individual’s life, what made them happiest and what their strongest memories are. This part of funeral arrangementshelps to honor and remember the individual that has passed away.

Tip 3: Add in Favorites. Slide shows have the capability of adding in music, voice overs, poetry and art. You can add in the favorite artistic shows and commentary during slide shows. Doing this with the funeral arrangements creates a memorable collage of the deceased.

Funeral arrangements for an individual that has passed away offers a way to remember and celebrate the life of the deceased. If you want to contribute, then piecing together slide shows in honor of the individual gives a full scope of memories that everyone can embrace.

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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Celebrating All Stages of Life

on June 20, 2014

Traditional methods of a funeral service include a main ceremony for the individual that has passed away. However, many of the funeral arrangements today are expanding into a celebration of one’s life after they have died. This offers a light, warm and loving way to remember the individual that has passed away. Many that tie into these funeral arrangements are able to add in a personal touch to further remember the individual that has passed away.

Life Celebration in Funeral Arrangements

The funeral arrangements used for a celebration of life memorial are based on highlighting the individual’s key moments in life. Typically, one is able to look at different areas of their life and what was achieved. This is followed with the highlights in work, family and other achievements that have taken place. This part of the funeral arrangements is inclusive of looking at pictures, video and other collages that show the stages of life from the deceased.

Not only does the collage of one’s life add into the funeral arrangements for the celebration of life. Many will have memories and associations with the individual that they can share. It is also possible to add in music, poetry and other art forms that the individual may have loved. Adding in humor, celebration and life to the funeral arrangements offers a different perspective and memory of the individual who has died.

A Joyful Way to Remember a Life Well-Lived

If a friend or family has passed away, then creating funeral arrangements that celebrate their passing offers a different ceremony. Honoring the life of the individual with memories, achievements and with their favorite parts of life offers a different ending for the individual. Family and friends that add into these funeral arrangements are then able to have a different association with the passing away of the individual.

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Baldwin Brothers Cremation Society of Central Florida helps you through every detail of funeral arrangement. 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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How to Write a Remembrance Speech

on June 13, 2014

Preparing for a loved one who has passed away can often become difficult. If you have been asked to provide a remembrance speech during funeral planning, then you will want to know how to create the moment with a sense of honor for the individual. Creating a memorable and light speech that allows friends and family to remember the highlights the individual’s life assists with a smooth transition from the individual who has died.

Compassionate Funeral Planning Assistance in Central Florida

When working with funeral planning for a remembrance speech, you will want to add in the factual details about a person. A brief overview of their life, what they achieved and details about friends and family creates a simple introduction for the individual. You can then move into stories, memories or favorite poems or songs of the individual who has passed away. This offers a lighthearted memory for the funeral planning and honors the person who has died.

Typically, a remembrance speech should be an average of 5 - 10 minutes because of other ceremonies with funeral planning. You will want to keep the other ceremonial aspects in mind while you are looking at the funeral planning and your speech. Creating an overview of the individual’s life and making sure you add in a personal touch with your memories or in honor of the individual can then help you to create the perfect last memories.

Remembrance Speech to Honor a Life

Funeral planning for a friend or family member that has passed away is often difficult. Honoring the individual with a remembrance speech allows you to offer more for the family and friends as well as for the deceased. While working with funeral planning, you will also want to consider the approach for a remembrance speech. By creating a specific approach, you open a door at the funeral to highlight the best parts of one’s life.

Learn More

Baldwin Brothers Cremation Society of Central Florida helps you through every detail of funeral arrangement. 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 Planning Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

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: , , ,
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