Abbey Caskets' Blog | Abbey Caskets

A Reflection on Our Service of the Longest Night

For some, Christmas can be a reminder of all the loss that they’ve had to endure through the year. Or even a loss that occurred years ago that still causes great heartache. On December 21st a small group of people gathered in the Guest House Chapel to observe the Service of the Longest Night, hosted by Abbey

13Nov

Ten Helps for an Alzheimer’s Family

Like millions of other people, my neighbor Bob cared for a loved one with Alzheimer’s Disease. For three years, I watched Bob’s wife, a once bright and vivacious woman, turn into a shell of her former self. When I met them in the condo hallway, she gave me a blank look. Then Bob gently told her, “Say hello.” With

30Oct

Create a Great Funeral Day

Yes, this is a real “holiday.” Observed on October 30th, this holiday was registered in 1999 as a day for people to think about how they want to be remembered and let your family know your plans. Avoid a “Facelift Funeral” with Create a Great Funeral Day by Gail Rubin acknowledges the fear that people have about

17Oct

Finding the Strength to Go On After the Death of a Child

When my daughter, Judy, died after being in a coma for five months, I thought I could not survive the grief. Those five months were a roller coaster of hope and despair that began in August and ended with Judy’s death the following January. The tender love of a parent for a child may be the purest and most

18Sep

What Are My Choices Regarding Life Support?

My wife’s aunt and her husband became seriously ill at the same time. Although married 58 years, they were still opposites in many ways, as reflected in their wishes regarding life support. Janet wanted every possible measure taken. Marty said, “If I’m on my way out, don’t get in my way.” At the time, I saw a

14Aug

Writing a Loving Obituary Ahead of Time

A few years ago, while they were still healthy and independent and a comfortable distance—it seemed to me—from dying, my parents asked me to write their obituaries. “I know it seems strange,” Dad said. “But we’d like to be sure that everything important gets mentioned.” After my initial discomfort with writing

22Jul

Your Consumer Rights When Planning a Funeral

Planning a funeral is not something most of us do very often – and when we do, it’s almost always on a tight time frame and under emotional duress. So it’s perfectly understandable if we feel unprepared in terms of knowing what to expect, hope for, and demand in the process. When you go to a funeral home, the

31May

Helping a Child Grieve and Grow

When our firstborn was new, I read a news story about the brutal murder of a child. A mother tiger roared in my soul as I read the story, and I realized to what great lengths we go to guard our offspring. That protective instinct is essential to our children’s survival. We baby-proof our homes; we teach the danger

24Apr

Talking About End-of-Life Decisions With Your Parent

When we were children and adolescents, our parents had the challenging responsibility of talking with us about difficult topics. Teaching us the facts of life, guiding us to choose good friends, and cautioning us about smoking and drug use were never easy discussions to have. Raising these topics was doubly hard

04Apr

Reverence: The Image of God Respected

“The younger monks must respect their seniors, and the seniors must love their juniors.” —The Rule of St. Benedict, Ch. 63 The monastery cemetery is a place of order. Four quadrants of seven rows each; nice neat rows of markers, each bearing a name and two dates; and in the middle, overlooking everything with

Abbey Caskets’ Blog

A Reflection on Our Service of the Longest Night

Ten Helps for an Alzheimer’s Family

Create a Great Funeral Day

Finding the Strength to Go On After the Death of a Child

What Are My Choices Regarding Life Support?

Writing a Loving Obituary Ahead of Time

Your Consumer Rights When Planning a Funeral

Helping a Child Grieve and Grow

Talking About End-of-Life Decisions With Your Parent

Reverence: The Image of God Respected

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